Taking a Tech Timeout this School Year

This is a sponsored post. Though I was compensated for the post, all opinions are my own.

As many of you know, these past few months  my kid’s had a Tech Free Summer. It was great to see them flourish and be social in person – not over Facebook or Twitter. Though I did allow a few precious hours of iPod time on our 16 plus hour drive to Florida for family vacation, we stayed tech free.  It reminded me of my childhood – riding bikes, hiking , walking the neighborhood with friends, all the great stuff I grew up with. It was a great time ,but short lived.
“Mom, I need to do some research online.” That was the first thing my oldest said to me when she walked in the door after her first official day back to school. “Homework already?” I asked her, and of course she babbled on about a project that was going to be due the next week and yada, yada, yada.. I kinda was lost in my own thoughts by then. The moment I had been dreading all summer was back, the actual need to be on the computer. Which would turn into the want to start obsessing over all the things that we managed to live without this summer. Sigh.

Then I heard about Techtimeout.com

WHAT IS TECH TIMEOUT?

The Tech TimeoutTM challenge started by ForestersTM encourages families to take a daily break from technology. Participating families are encouraged to disconnect from all things electronic with the goal of helping spouses, parents and children build stronger bonds, communicate more personally and get more involved in each other’s lives.

I realized that just maybe, I didn’t have to be extreme with the technology. Maybe it would work to set a ‘tech time out’ each day, as a rule, and there would be no exceptions. We would compromise, and take an hour each evening  where all tech items were turned off : the T.V., the computers, the iPods, the iPad, the Kindle, all of it would be BANNED for that one hour each evening.

The kids weren’t thrilled, but they got used to it. In fact, they started to (GASP) have fun!

We were quite ambitious the first evening, and we decided to go fishing. It was beautiful weather and it felt great to be out in the sun, instead of stuck inside on the computer!

Playing outside as a family is also a great idea during a tech time out – and also a great way to get some exercise!

And of course -when the rain won’t stop and you can’t go outside – a good old fashioned board game is always a lot of fun! (this game is Fibber – the kids LOVE it!)

Not sure what to do with your Tech free hour? Try some of these great ideas! Or ask your kids – you’d be surprised how creative their imagination can be once they are away from the T.V. or computer!

What is your favorite “tech time out” activity??