My teens and I survived a weekend without screens. This digital detox helped us reconnect and experience new things together.
I noticed my teens were spending too much time on their devices and so was I.
I proposed a digital detox weekend without screen time so we could unplug and reconnect.
We've completed two digital detox weekends, learning new things each time, and hope to do more.
As a parent of two kids, 13 and 11, I'm always looking for ways to balance technology use in our home. Like most families, screens have become an unavoidable part of our daily lives, whether it's for schoolwork, gaming, or just scrolling on social media. I want my kids to be digitally savvy, but I also want them to know that life exists beyond the screen. That's why I decided to institute a digital detox weekend — two full days without screens — just us, the real world, and a chance to reconnect.
Our moment of detox
The idea for a digital detox didn't come out of nowhere. Over the past few months, I noticed my kids were reaching for their tablets and phones more often, whether it was for games, educational apps or even getting some help from AI for their homework. I also often caught myself mindlessly scrolling through my phone during family dinners or playtime. It felt like we were all physically present but mentally elsewhere. The breaking point was when I called my son's name three times, and he didn't even hear me because he was so absorbed in his screen. That's when I realized we needed a reset.
I pitched the idea of a weekend-long digital detox to my family. I expected some resistance, and I wasn't wrong. My 13-year-old protested, saying, "This is the worst idea ever." My 11-year-old tried negotiating for "just a little bit" of screen time. I'll admit, even I felt a little uneasy with the idea. What if I missed something important?
Once we put our devices away, safely locked them up for the weekend, we had to get creative. To ensure we remained fully present, we informed close relatives and friends about our digital detox and kept a landline phone available for any emergencies.
The first few hours were tough. My youngest kept asking for his device to play a game and my oldest complained about being bored. I also felt the urge to check my phone out of habit. But we stuck to it, and the results were surprising.
With no distractions, we planned outdoor activities, played board games, cooked together, and even started a puzzle that had been collecting dust on a shelf. One of the highlights was a long nature walk where we simply talked. My kids shared things about school and friends that I probably wouldn't have heard if we were all staring at our screens.
By the end of the day, when the kids went to sleep, I found myself so consumed by the experience that I didn't even feel the need to check 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 device-free weekend I introduced journaling, suggesting we document our experience, what we missed, what we enjoyed, and how it felt to be unplugged. By the end of the weekend, the shift in our mindset was noticeable. Here's what we learned:
Boredom is a gateway to creativity. Without screens to fill every moment, the kids started coming up with their own games and activities. My youngest turned a cardboard box into a spaceship, and my oldest wrote a short story about a dragon. It was amazing to see their imaginations come alive.
Presence matters. Without the constant distraction of notifications, we were fully present with each other. We had deeper conversations, shared more laughs, and truly enjoyed each other's company.
We don't need screens to have fun. The detox reminded us that some of the best moments happen offline. Whether it was playing tag in the backyard or reading books together, we realized how much we'd been missing by relying on screens for entertainment.
Sleep improved. Without late-night screen exposure, everyone seemed to fall asleep faster and wake up more refreshed.
We now celebrate our offline accomplishments
To keep the momentum going, we introduced what I call a digital detox weekend board in our home. This board serves as both a celebration of our offline accomplishments and a source of inspiration for future unplugged weekends. Every time we complete a detox, we add notes on new activities we enjoyed, what we didn't like, and what we plan to do next.
So far, we have completed two digital detox weekends, each bringing new experiences and valuable lessons. More than just a fun display, the board has become a powerful reminder of how much we gain when we unplug. It encourages us to be more present with each other, strengthens our family bond, and helps us appreciate the joy of simple, screen-free activities.
The kids have embraced this experience wholeheartedly, often suggesting new activities to add, like painting, learning a new board game, or planting a small garden. Over time, I hope this board will evolve into a tradition we all look forward to, making digital detox weekends a natural and exciting part of our family life.
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