It’s a quiet Sunday night. You can hear the fuzzy mumble of the neighbour’s t.v. over the thick silent air of a ‘non-versation’ in your dining room.
Like many others, you just had dinner with your family. Or should I say a thousand of your closest friends present on your mobile device?
There are no lively conversations. No laughter, not even the beloved snort that comes with it. Just intense quiet and the muffled audio spewing from your child’s headphones.
Are you worried that social media is taking over the art of conversations, the joy of family time and the insight into each other’s lives this brings? Here are some fun ways to help you put down your phones and spice up family time in this social media era.
- Phone Roulette
Place everyone’s phones facing up in the centre of the dining table. Whoever’s phone is the first to get a notification or ring must do the dishes that night. Finally, a sure fire way to get your kids to do the dishes. ☺
Want to up the stakes? Try adding a penalty — a pound or dollar must be paid for each notification a person received at dinner — tally them up at the end of the week (or a day of your choosing) to fund a fun-filled, exciting family day out. - Clean-up crew competitions
Split into two groups — could be parents and kids, boys and girls etc. Set the stakes (for example losing team does dishes for a week or Logs off social media for two days etc.).
Flip a coin to see who goes first. That team sets the time to beat — Remember this is a two-day sport. Set the kitchen timer as soon as everyone is done with dinner, and record how long it takes the team to clear the table, do the dishes and general clean-up.
The next night the other team goes, in hopes of beating team one’s record. The losing team has to do whatever stakes were agreed to. - Design a phone drop off basket
Whether it’s an intimate dinner with family or just before bed, a drop off basket is an amazing way to easily regulate cell phone use. And the best part is crafting it together as a family is a great way to spend time off our phones and together as a family.
Once drop off times — like family dinner and late at night — are agreed to, everyone can drop their phones in it and it’s locked away for the time being.
No more late night phone use resulting in sexting and stumbling unto pornography or sleep deprivation. And no more ‘non-versations’ at dinner. This plan is full proof.
There are many fun ways to spice up family time, make everyone think ‘Hey, I’m complete without my phone’ or ‘I don’t need to text all the time’.
Did any of these work for you? Or do you have more ideas? Share your story in the comment box below.
