Revisiting an Unplugged Lifestyle at Home

Now that your daughter has been home for a few weeks, we’re sure you have noticed the positive effect that unplugging from technology has had on her. During her time at camp, she got to live in the moment, reconnect with nature and, most importantly, engage in uninterrupted face-to-face interactions. Why should we leave those habits down the winding road when they can be maintained at home?

With the help of Psychology Today author and ACA Treasurer, Steve Baskin and co-creator of The Digital Detox Retreat, Levi Felix, we can offer you several strategies to help your daughter unplug at home. There is no need to go cold turkey on technology, as you will surely find positive results from slowing down similar to those you saw after she returned from camp.

LET HER TAKE CONTROL
As you know, children want independence. They don’t like being told what to do by their parents, and they look forward to making decisions on their own in adulthood. Tap into this inherent need for control and independence rather than giving her orders. Use statements such as “I want you to have the control that your friends don’t have” or “I want you to own your phone or computer, I don’t want your phone or computer to own you.” Children don’t want to be bossed around by their technology the same way they don’t want to be bossed around by their parents or older siblings. Maintain the independence that they developed at camp this summer. Remember, campers know how great it feels to unplug from technology. If you ask them about it, you may even hear the word “liberating.”

REMOVE NOTIFICATIONS
Encourage your daughter to check social media on her time, not just when prompted by a notification. Have her regain control! The best way to achieve this goal is by disabling notifications altogether. Perhaps she could start with apps she doesn’t use as much and work her way up to Instagram and Snapchat. Deep down, she knows that selfie can wait!

SET PERSONAL BOUNDARIES
Your daughter can utilize her new sense of control by setting boundaries for herself. Some ideas that may be particularly advantageous are leaving her cell phone in another room during dinner (family time!) or putting her phone on silent an hour before bedtime, which may help her achieve a better night’s sleep. Preventing herself from using the computer until homework is done can be a great motivator to excel in school. She can allow an hour a day to put her phone in her closet and read a book without any interruptions. Start small. You could see big results.

Living unplugged is the best kind of living!