Not Ringing In The Holidays

Six ways to keep digital device use under wraps.
 

- Christa C. Hogan

Remember the Norman Rockwell masterpiece featuring an idealized family gathered around a holiday table? e painting depicts Grandma and Grandpa presenting a plump turkey to their amazed progeny. Their faces glow with the joy of sharing a holiday meal. Today, the faces around your dinner table are more likely to glow from digital tablet and smartphone use. What would Normal Rockwell think?

How can modern families set healthy boundaries around digital devices during the holidays? Here are a few tips to consider.

Set Limits

A 2010 study by the Kaiser Family Foundation suggests that kids spend an average of 7.5 hours a day viewing media. This includes video games, television and activities like texting. Only 30 percent of kids reported that their parents set limits on device use. However, “those with any media rules consume nearly three hours less media per day than those with no rules,” the study states.

That’s enough time to eat, clear the table and take a nature walk afterwards. You may even have time to squeeze in a board game before the kids return to the world of Minecraft.

So pick a limit — any limit — and stick with it.

Host a Device-Free Dinner

If you’re hosting the holidays for extended family, it’s OK to expect a device-free dinner. The key is to communicate your expectations ahead of time. Evite and Common Sense Media have collaborated to offer a series of digital invitations for device-free dinners at evite.com/c/commonsensemedia. Include a request in your invitation for guests to leave their devices behind. Then, place an optional “Device Drop” basket at the door.