Technology can be incredibly useful and entertaining, but it’s easy to become over-reliant on it. When was the last time your family sat down for a good old-fashioned family dinner and evening of entertainment that didn’t involve a screen?
Taking time to let your family reconnect is important, and that means stepping away from technology and having a good old-fashioned family night! Here are some tips for making the most out of your family evening together and for getting your whole family on board:
Plan it out
Whether you’re new to old-fashioned family time or you’re making it a weekly occurrence, it’s important to have a plan. Because you are taking a break from technology, you’ll want to be sure that everything is in order before you start. Find a game or an activity for the whole family, or plan out your meal ahead of time to ensure that you don’t have to rush around and suddenly Google something last-minute. This will also be a good time to get input from the family to find something everyone will enjoy.
Unplug
If you’re really looking to reconnect and get back to basics, I highly recommend removing all technological distractions during your family evening. Turn off the TV, shut down the laptop and put the phones on silent and in another room or on the counter top. If you are worried about the awkwardness of silence, put on some music and let the fun begin!
If you have trouble getting your family to disconnect, then get them to try it for just a few hours. By the end of it, they’ll be having so much fun they won’t even remember that it was only supposed to be temporary! If your family is seriously connected, then you might even recommend that family members notify friends that they will unable to respond for a few hours.
Don’t Go Overboard
Everyone has their own idea of what the perfect ‘old-fashioned family night’ should be, but don’t try and overdo it at first. You don’t have to unplug everything electronic and play cards by candlelight to enjoy your time together–sometimes just turning off the TV or putting phones on vibrate while you try something new is enough. Whatever the case, find a happy medium that works for your whole family and be aware that depending on how technologically savvy your family is, you might have to take things slow at first.
Have Fun
No matter what you do, spending time together and having fun is the most important part. Playing a board, card or dice game; cooking a meal together; setting the table or learning a new skill or craft are all excellent activities that can be both fun and lead to more old-fashioned family bonding.
What are some of your favorite old-fashioned family activities? Share with me in the comments!
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