Creating your best screen-free family traditions
Screens can be excellent tools for entertainment, connecting with others, and sparking creativity, but they can also get in the way of spending intentional quality time with those around you.
By carving out dedicated space and time to go screen-free as a family, you’ll be giving your children a special opportunity to build traditions, harness their imagination, and foster connection. We know as busy caregivers it’s not always possible to put away the screens. That’s why we’re here with realistic ideas for how and when you can create screen-free memories with the ones you love the most.
The benefits of creating traditions
Did you have a special tradition as a child? Maybe you grew up in a household where your parents had festive Sunday night dinners. Or maybe you attended religious services together or had an annual camping trip. How did this tradition make you feel? Did it help you to feel closer to those around you?
One of the best ways to create your unique family culture is to establish your very own traditions. These can be similar to the ones you loved as a child or they can be totally new and different! And by eliminating screens from your traditions, your attention will be less divided, helping you to feel more present and grounded in the moment.
Remember that there are no right or wrong ideas. A tradition can be any activity or behavior that reflects your values or beliefs. Some traditions may have symbolic or religious significance, and some may not. They can be done on a daily, weekly, monthly, or annual basis.
Once you’ve established your traditions, they can be passed down from generation to generation. Everyone is welcome too — traditions can include blended families, extended family, members of the community, or friends.
How to establish your own screen-free traditions
Rest assured that family traditions don’t have to require a ton of planning or work. They can be as simple or as elaborate as you’d like. Take some time to read through these ideas for creating traditions with your family and see how you can make them your very own.
- Start a game night tradition. Playing games as a family on a designated night of the week can be a great way for everyone to unplug and focus on fun together. You can play DIY games like Charades or Would You Rather or you can pull from your collection of board games. Add snacks and a fun playlist to the mix, letting everyone have a turn at choosing their favorite game. Be sure to put phones away so that you’re not pulled away from the moment.
- Get creative. Encourage those around you to express themselves creatively, while spending quality time together. Get outside with sidewalk chalk, paint and hang your works of art on the wall, make greeting cards for loved ones, bake and decorate a cake, or design a tablescape from objects found in nature. Embarking on a creative project is a great way to pull yourselves away from technology and lower stress.
- Give back to the community. Get together as a family and discuss what causes or organizations you care most about and brainstorm ways that you can provide support. Could you organize a toy or coat drive each year, prepare a holiday meal at a community kitchen, foster an animal, or clean up a local park at the start of each season? Make a consistent pledge to show up in whatever way works best for your family and notice how giving back makes everyone feel.
- Have screen-free meals. We know this one won’t always look perfect, but do your best to designate the family table as a “no-phone zone.” By checking distractions, you’ll be more likely to hold meaningful conversations. You can each share the best and most challenging parts of your day, decorate the table with objects from around the house, or take turns planning the menu or theme. The priority here is connecting with those around you, so don’t feel pressure to make it a grand affair.
- Get outside. Try setting aside one day of the week where you get out in nature together. You could take a family walk or hike, have a picnic in the park or in your own yard, or go on a bike ride. Adding fresh air and movement into your schedule will help everyone to feel their best. Plus being out in nature provides endless opportunities for creative exploration.
- Make designated time for reading. Find a time when everyone in your household can cozy up with a good book. This can be before bedtime, on a weekend afternoon, or whenever works for you. Visiting a local library is a great way to explore different genres of books.
Establishing new screen-free traditions can take time, so be patient with yourself and everyone in your family. It may look messy at first, but spending dedicated time together will allow for more connection and less distractions. If your family could use extra support in disconnecting from screens and connecting with one another, reach out to a mental health professional. A therapist or a coach can help you to navigate technology and traditions so that everyone can feel their best.