ORLANDO, Fla. – As the holidays close in and screens light up with sales, social posts, and endless alerts, families are looking for more than just a digital detox. A new Pew survey shows one-third of U.S. parents say technology is their top source of family conflict, and experts say November is the perfect time to reset not only tech habits, but how everyone in the family uses their time and energy.
From scrolling to swiping to tapping, our days are flooded with pings and dings! The average American adult now spends more than seven hours a day on screens. For teens, time spent on phones averages more than eight hours!
So, could now be the time to take back control of how you and your family spend your time? Licensed Mental Health Counselor Kelly Lafferman says a “family reset” doesn’t have to be a battle.
“You want to be able to replace that with other activities that feel like we’re creating connection,” said Lafferman.
Instead of strict screen time caps, she recommends flexibility.
“Kids now have never lived without it,” explained Lafferman.
Lafferman suggests starting small, like one tech-free family hour each evening.
“Like the phone basket or the phone drawer where we all, including parents, put our phones away for some particular amount of time,” said Lafferman.
One way to connect, try morning bundling — stacking movement, planning, and breakfast into a single hour. Plan a short walk or family stretching, then review the days schedule together and then make time for a quick family breakfast. All it takes is an hour. Then, plan nighttime resets with short family check-ins, and every week, try to “unschedule”: leaving intentional blank blocks on the calendar to recharge.
“You have to have the intent to do it. You have to put it on the calendar,” explained Lafferman.
Experts say November is ideal for a reset before the season’s stress sets in. Start with one shared tech-free hour, then build from there. And remember, kids notice what parents model, so put your own phone down first.
Contributors to this news report include: Marsha Lewis, Producer; Bob Walko, Editor.