10 Tips To Limit Screen Time As A Family In Becoming More Engaged

I noticed my family’s excessive reliance on electronic devices and decided it was time to limit our screen time. As a mother, I want my children to be more aware of their surroundings, engage with others, and appreciate the physical world. I believe all of us can benefit from taking a screen break that will help us focus on the value of interpersonal connections, the world around us in the present moment, and connect as a family.

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Leading By Example

As a speaker, writer, and blogger, I’ve learned to balance my online presence with family responsibilities. By prioritizing my family and being intentional with my time, I’ve managed to share meaningful moments with my children while pursuing my passions. My goal is to empower my children to derive their sense of self-worth from our relationships, rather than external validation online.

I’m an 80’s baby who’s been around since the dark ages of dial-up, and now I’m a mom to kids who think the internet just magically appears on their tablets. I’m on a mission to make my mini-mes put down their screens and smell the roses, or at least have a decent conversation with the humans around them. I figure we could all use a digital detox to remember that life exists beyond the glow of our phones, and that it’s actually pretty cool to be present in the real world.

Here are a few things that I’ve implemented and some I’m now moving forward to do here at home to limit our family’s screen time on digital devices to be more engaged as a family.

• Promote healthy habits and family bonding, Set rules for electronic device usage.
• No devices near the bed at night.
• No devices at the dinner table,
• Follow national screen time guidelines
• Spend time outdoors with nature or share in an interactive activity as a family such as a family game night that involves no electronic devices.
• Set limits for social media and email.
• Engage in device-free activities, read physical books, and print photos to share together in not having everything related to digital.