- I noticed that my teens were spending a lot of time on their equipment and so was me.
- I proposed a digital detox weekend without time on screen so we could break and reconnect.
- We’ve finished two digital detox weekends, learning new things every time and hope to do more.
As a parent of two children, 13 and 11, I am always looking for ways to balance the use of technology in our home. Like most families, screens have become an inevitable part of our daily lives, whether for school work, games, or just moving on social media. I want my children to be digital savings, but I also want them to know that life exists beyond the screen. That is why I decided to create a Detox digital weekend – two full days without screens – only us, the real world and a chance to connect again.
Our detox moment
The idea of a digital detox came out of nowhere. In recent months, I noticed that my children were reaching their tablets and phones more often, whether for games, educational applications or even taking any help from their homework. I also often caught myself in mind by moving through my phone during family dinners or playing time. He felt like we were all physically present, but mentally elsewhere. The broken point was when I called my son’s name three times, and he didn’t even hear me because he was so immersed in his screen. This is when I realized we need a reset.
I opened the idea of a digital detox over the weekend for my family. I was expecting a resistance and I was not wrong. My 13-year-old protested, saying, “This is the worst idea ever.” My 11-year-old tried to negotiate “just a little” of screen time. I will admit it, and even felt a little concerned with the idea. What if I miss something important?
After removing our equipment, we probably closed them for the weekend, we had to become creative. To ensure that we stayed fully present, we informed relatives and friends close to our digital detox and kept a fixed phone available for each emergency.
The early hours were difficult. My youngest continued to seek his device to play a game and my older complained about boredom. I also felt the incentive to check my phone from the habit. But we gripped her, and the results were startling.
Without distractions, we planned outdoor activities, played on board games, cooked together and even started a puzzle that had collected dust on a shelf. One of the highlights was a long walk of nature, where we just talked. My children shared things about school and friends that I probably wouldn’t have heard if we were all looking at our screens.
By the end of the day, when the kids went to sleep, I found myself so consumed by experience that I didn’t even feel the need to control my phone. Instead, I went to bed feeling refreshed and ready to recharge for another meaningful, screen -free day.
What we learned from our digital detox
During our weekend without equipment I introduced Journaling, suggesting to document our experience, what we missed, what we liked and how it felt it was detached. By the end of the weekend, the change in our mentality was noticeable. Here’s what we learned:
- Boredom is an introduction to creativity. Without screens to fill every moment, the children began to come with their games and activities. My youngest turned a cardboard box into a spaceship, and my older wrote a short story about a dragon. It was amazing to see their imaginations enlivened.
- The presence matters. Without the constant distraction of the announcements, we were completely present with each other. We had deeper conversations, shared more laughter and really enjoyed each other’s company.
- We don’t need screens to have fun. Detox reminded us that some of the best moments happen out of line. Whether you were playing a backyard label or reading books together, we realized how much we would miss by relying on screens for entertainment.
- Improved sleep. Without the late night screen exposure, everyone seemed to fall asleep faster and woke up more refreshed.
Now we celebrate our offline achievements
To continue the momentum, we introduced what I call a Detox Detox Digital Board in our home. This board serves as a celebration of our offline achievements and a source of inspiration for the next open weekends. Whenever we finish a detox, add notes on new activities we liked, what we dislike and what we plan to do next.
So far, we have completed two Detox digital weekends, each bringing new experiences and valuable lessons. More than just a fun screen, the board has become a powerful reminder than we earn when we break away. It encourages us to be more present with one another, strengthens our family connection and helps us to appreciate the enjoyment of simple, screen-free activities.
Children have embraced this whole heart experience, often suggesting new activities to add, such as painting, teaching a new game on board, or planting a small garden. Over time, I hope this board will evolve into a tradition that we all look forward to, making Detox’s digital weekends a natural and exciting part of our family life.