Imagine a dinner table where everyone is engaged, laughing and connecting. I think we would all love this for our families. Sadly, today’s technology seems to be getting in the way of even our family dinner table.
I encourage you to make your family table a Tech Free Zone.
What does this mean?
For our family it means when we are at the table, during meal times/snacks etc., that our phones or devices are NOT with us.
I have a “box” called my phone box. It’s just a little antique wooden box that is on an end table. It’s where my phone charger is located and where I like to keep my phone during the day, especially at meal times.
I am LOVING this for SO many reasons.
I am mainly using it for myself, but I try to encourage my husband to put his phone in the box when he is at home as well.
It keeps me accountable to how often I am on my phone “just checking” my FB, email, pinterest, Instagram etc. I just turn my volume WAY up so that if I get a call I am more likely to hear it. You could also connect your phone to a Bluetooth speaker so that you would for sure hear your phone from across the house if it was ringing.
If there is an emergency and I need to get online… I have a computer right there.
Now, I am not perfect at this AT ALL.
I daily remind myself to just put my phone in the box. Let it go. Release myself from it’s hold on me.
If you are not ready to put your phone “in time out” the whole time you are at home, consider using it just for meal times. For your husbands sake, for your kids sake, and for your sake.
Our church did a Connected 3D initiative awhile back. The goal was to make real life connections and help us to curb our usage of tech. Not get rid of it (tech is great!!!), just be accountable to how often we are using it in place of connecting with people that are there in front of us at the moment.
We had table tent cards to place on our dining tables.
I LOVED this. It is an EASY “no nag” way to encourage a Tech Free zone at the table.
Also on the card are a few discussion starters that you can use to get the conversation going with your family.
Click HERE to print.
I would recommend printing on card stock so that it will stand on it’s own.
Print one for your table, for your neighbor and your best friend. Share the love.
It’s time to get our family table back.
Blessings!
