Do you remember Sunday dinners when you were a kid? Do you remember what it was like to sit as a family in the living room, watching a favorite television show together with your parents? What about car rides to grandma’s house or your yearly vacation? Do you remember playing games along the way, asking your parents, “How much longer?” and “Are we there yet?” Boy, have things changed.
Today, parents and kids fill their ‘down time’ with distractions such as TV in the family car, video games, and other handheld devices. The truth is, it’s rare today to see people sitting around, enjoying one another face-to-face—without a technological device nearby.
Many families today struggle to implement or enforce a technology timeout, where all devices connecting us socially or to the internet are turned off at a certain time. Sadly, families are wasting precious time together—not truly being together, but instead being distracted by their technological gadgets.
It used to be common for parents to take the phone off the hook during dinner time and turn the TV off. But today, according to a Gallup poll, less than half of all families even share a meal together. Even when they do sit around the family table to ‘break bread,’ many still have some sort of device in hand, with televisions blaring and distractions everywhere.
The Impact of Technology on Family Connections
In North America, most kids over the age of 12 own a cell phone that doubles as a personal handheld computer. Teen culture is such that, according to the American Association of Pediatrics, children are showing addictive tendencies toward their technological devices. They feel ‘extreme stress’ when they are unable to use their cell phones or tablets. In the U.S., while half of all schools have some sort of policy to curb technological activities during the school day, many still allow students time to text or check Facebook.
Yes, times are changing. The problem is that this new generation of families—and the new definition of family that comes with it—aren’t doing much to connect on a personal level. It is ironic that technology is often seen as the gateway to connectivity when, for the average family, it is the antithesis of family bonding. After all, how well can a family bond if everyone is sitting around the table texting, typing, and interacting with the outside world instead of with each other?
A technology timeout is a good idea for many reasons. Essentially, parents who want to implement a timeout need to set a specific time of day when all technology is turned off and put away. Certainly, your teens will not like the idea at first, and it will take some effort to get used to. However, the positive results on the family can be stunning.
For instance, if you decide that at 7 p.m. every day, all phones and devices are placed in a basket and turned off until the next day, the hours that follow can be dedicated to family interaction. You could watch TV together or engage in meaningful conversation, free from the beeps, whistles, and reminders that come with being constantly connected. This time away from technology can help the family reconnect in a more personal way.
Time spent unplugged has become an important subject of research, with studies highlighting the negative effects of excessive screen time on health, education, and employment. We are living in an age where connectivity often serves as a distraction from life. Right now, as you’re reading this article, there’s likely something else—or someone else—that you could be spending your time on or with.
The key to balance in life is managing technology and quality time with ‘real’ people. Experts suggest that if you feel anxious or nervous when you can’t be ‘plugged in,’ you may be at risk of technology addiction. It’s also important to remember that we are called human BEINGS for a reason. It is healthy for both the body and mind, as well as for real relationships, to spend time just being—being together, being quiet, being reflective, and being free from distractions caused by technology.
A technology timeout can help you and your family maintain balance. It can also help restore the values of family time, fostering conversation and closeness among members. Consider balancing the time spent plugged in with an equal amount of time being unplugged, and gradually, your family will begin to truly connect in the meaningful ways that form the foundation of family bonding.
