[Study] The Importance of Finding Screen-Free Family Time

Do you miss the days where the whole family sat together at the dinner table for uninterrupted conversations and laughter? With technology playing a bigger role in our lives than ever before, these moments feel few and far between. Having opened the opportunity to connect with people anywhere around the world at any time, it has had a negative impact on how we interact in person on a day-to-day basis.

Why Go Screen-Free With Your Family

A study by Boston Medical Center found that when working parents arrived home after a long day, their children were so immersed in their device that only 30% greeted them, and 50% didn’t respond at all. This disconnect goes both ways. Over 50% of children say their parents check their devices too often, and 32% feel unimportant when their parents are distracted by screens.

What’s worse is the amount of screen time being consumed by family members. Research shows that children aged 8 – 18 are consuming on average 7.5hrs of screentime per day. Whether that’s TV time, video games, or scrolling social media, they are spending nearly one third of the day in front of some sort of device. This can negatively impact emotional, physical, and mental health.

This is why it’s essential for families to incorporate some screen-free time for everyone.

How to Reclaim Family Time

You don’t need to make every moment screen-free, but designating certain times to enjoy face to face connection is important. 

Screen-free zones or times:

Certain areas of the house can be made screen-free zones. For example, the dinner table should be a space where everyone sits and talks, not for people to be scrolling on their phones. You can also decide that certain hours of the day a screen-free time. You could decide that nobody is allowed their device until after everyone has sat down for dinner. This encourages connection and conversation without distraction.

Start a family tradition:

A great way to reduce the time spent on electronics is to plan a weekly family tradition. You could organise a games night or evening walks to bring everyone together and interact without technology. This reduces screen-time and increases quality time.

Use a tech basket:

If people can’t see their phone or laptop or tablet, it might be easier to keep them off it. A tech basket can be used to hold onto devices during screen-free time. They say out of sight out of mind, right?

Hot tub soaks:

Who doesn’t love an evening soak in a Beachcomber Hot Tub? There’s no way your family can say no to giving up screens and devices for a 30-minute jet-filled escape.

By setting expectations and guidelines for your family, you can easily change everyone’s relationship with technology.

Tell your kids: "Let's not post about it, let's just be here and be present".

 

One solution is finding enjoyable activities that bring everyone face-to-face and invite conversation. When the Scott Family founded Beachcomber Hot Tubs, they were inspired by the tradition of gathering as a family around a campfire. Much like this age-old tradition, a Beachcomber Hot Tub invites everyone to come around and enjoy the comfort and solace of warmth and relaxation and connect as a unit and with the nature around them. This is also an opportunity to easily remove any kind of interaction with technology! It's in this type of face-to-face social gathering, in the physical presence of our family and friends, that we make the connections that enrich our lives the most and equip the next generation with the skills to live a successful, healthy social life. Find your perfect hot tub now!