Family Tech Timeout - Transforming Our Mobile Device Addictions Into Quality Time

Technology

Thinking about dinnertime are you and your children eating together and spending at least some family quality time together each night? Or, instead, are kids checking their Facebook pages while parents are scrolling through emails from work? 

Art really does imitate life as this YouTube illustrates...




Apparently this reality is universal and epidemic. According to a recent NPR poll, 25% of all children surveyed live in homes where on any given night the TV is on or someone is using an electronic device. Based on all the families I know personally, I'm guessing the real numbers might even be a whole lot worse.

With such a sad scenario around dinner tables across America 24/7 in small towns and big cities, I'm going to stick my neck out on this issue. In an ideal world, I'm going to bet that you and I both would rather enjoy family and loved ones more, especially at meal times, and not be so obsessed about all the technology in the presence of others. Right?

Like just about everyone else, I love and depend on my iPhone, iPad and a host of other devices. I also plead guilty to using Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest incessantly to stay connected socially and professionally. It's time that we all recapture what is nearest and dearest to us -- quality time with family. And there's no better moment than sharing a meal together at home or in a restaurant to enjoy each other.

Is this what your family dinner looks like? Image from Foresters

That's where Foresters new Tech Timeout initiative comes in. It's a place where kids and adults can both go to take the Tech Timeout pledge to turn off digital devices including TVs, smartphones, tablets, games consoles, computers and yes -- iPods and other music devices, too --  for an hour each day for one week.

Do something good today and improve your own family's life and dinner table ambiance. To take a stand kids, moms, dads and care givers are encouraged go to the Tech Timeout Facebook.

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT
Would love your comments on this post, too. Feel free to share a mini description of what your family dinner table is like these days.

FTC Disclosure: I depend on mobile technology but I am also an advocate of more quality family life for parents and their kids that seeks balance. I did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. Thoughts are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

·