The video above, featuring our CYO Camps Director, Shaune Randles, describes some of the great things that happen when we help our children disconnect from technology use in order to reconnect with God, family, friends and community. If we parents set the following boundaries in our homes (and observe them ourselves) we will see the fruit in stronger relationships within our families.
No screens at the dinner table - that space is reserved for family conversation
No screens 1 hour before dinnertime - kids need time to unwind and process the day without electronics
No screens in the bedroom overnight - don't let technology compete with the rest our children need
Be strong! Sometimes children get upset when we set limits on their technology use. Sometimes they get really upset. That's OK. As parents we have to be strong so our children can grow strong, even if they don't appreciate it at the time, they will appreciate it later. In the meantime, remind them that they do not own a phone or a tablet, we do. Their use of that piece of equipment happens only when we see that using it helps them grow into a better person.