My family is always using some kind of technology. Whether it’s the TV, computers, or iPads, everyone in this house is usually making use of some form of an electronic device. Technology can get in the way of spending quality time together as a family. Yes, you may be physically together, but everyone’s doing their own thing. When we were growing up, life was so different. We didn’t have all the technology that we have today. As kids, we grew up in a different lifestyle. I see many differences in the way kids are today compared to how we were when we were kids and I think a lot of it has to do with technology.
I chose to take the Tech Timeout™ challenge. Being a blogger, I spend a lot of time on the computer. There is always so much work that needs to be done. Yes, my blog is important, but my family should always come first. Sometimes I get so involved in blog work, that the time quickly passes by, and I feel bad that I hadn’t spent more time with my daughters. My girls are growing up so fast, and these are days we can’t get back. We do spend quality time as a family, usually on weekends. We’ll go to the beach, shopping, horseback riding. Those always turn out to be some of the most memorable moments.
Check out the list below for some ideas on things you can do as a family without technology.
A month or so ago, we had a black-out. We spent all day with no electricity. I had no choice but to put blogging aside. And you know what? I had a great day! My daughter and I went for a walk, played in the yard, and did some cleaning. It was actually quite relaxing, and after that I made it a point to strep away from the computer each day to do something fun with my daughter.
For the Tech Timeout™ challenge I pledged to spend at least 1 hour a day on Friday, Saturday and Sunday without any electronic devices. I knew it could be done. Getting my older daughter to turn off the TV, was a little hard. She fussed a little as she wanted to watch her favorite Disney Channel shows, but she did it. My family often has the tv on during Dinner. I decided to take our Tech Timeout during dinner on Friday night. We had a nice time as a family and got to talk about how everyones day went without any distractions. It was nice. On Saturday, we spent the day outside. The kids played in the yard, on the playground and rode their bikes and Power Wheels truck in the driveway. I also had them help me make smoothies which we enjoyed outside since it was such a hot day! My husband went fishing, so it was just my girls and I. On Sunday, we went shopping. I needed to make a Costco run and stopped at a few other stores too. Because we live so far away from everything, whenever we go shopping we make a day of it. Costco is over an hour away, so whenever we go, we stock up! Not having smart phones makes it easy to stay away from technology when we aren’t at home. If we had smart phones, I’m sure we would have used them.
Would you be willing to take the Tech Timeout™ challenge? Have your family take the pledge using the form below. I’d love to hear what you did during your Tech Timeout!
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I will receive compensation for writing this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
love it and i truly agree with you 🙂
Awesome list and these are the things that can bring a family together where tech things brings them apart.
That is something we’ve been doing more and more as well. You only live once, and I’d rather spend that couple hours playing with my kids or watching a movie then constantly working! Thanks for the ideas though! Awesome job!
Great list! I agree that we are too plugged in! We need to unplug more often
I love this and I definitely need to do it!
We love to have “no electronic days” at our house, too. Great list!
I love this idea, so true as a blogger things always comes up and I too feel like time ticks away! I have been trying to take at least one day unplugged each week and my kids love it!
Love, love, love this post!!! And thanks for the list!! Family time is so important!!!
Wow that’s a big list! We were just talking about something similar in Comm class recenlty.
Great list of things to do as a family. How times have changed! When I was a kid we didn’t have any tech so we naturally did all the things we now have to encourage our kids to do.
This is a very hard thing for a blogger to do! I made at least (most days more) the first hour after school to be family hour. I sit down with my boys and do homework or play board games!
I agree, it can be hard because you keep thinking of all that needs to be done!
This is such a great list. Sometimes I am not happy with how long we can spend on our gadgets these days. It’s very healthy to take time off!
Interesting challenge. I used to be hooked in blogging before that I missed some of the fun family time. My husband will take the kids to the playgroung but I chose to stayed home. Lately, I manage my time again and not much opps in blogging we’ve been having a lot of family time. This tech Timeout is indeed a good plan. Thanks for sharing.
It sounds like a great way to get the family together without huddling around a TV.
life without technology… not possible in this house of nerds..
my daughter participated in this last week, it was so hard for her, but she did it 🙂
Good thing I still able to spend my time with my family even i’m pretty busy doing my blog works. Gadgets nowadays could ruin once relationship. We need to enjoy life with the famiy too!
Great ideas! We really need to limit tech time here too!
I have been struggling for so many years to juggle family life and work. My kids are at school during the day, while I work the night shift. Sometimes, we only get an hour or two before we get to part ways again. It makes me sad to have to do this, but being a single mom, my kids understand that we have to make little sacrifices. The best time we spend together is during the weekends when we all sit down and watch college basketball games… with freshly popped popcorn! 🙂
This is much needed in our home!