Families try to go whole day without being plugged in
Concerned mums praise digital detox project
Could you go a whole day without any technology? That was what thousands of people tried to do this weekend, as part of National Unplugging Day.
Families were asked to undergo a digital detox, giving up smartphones, tablets and computers to instead spend Sunday enjoying uninterrupted time together.
Now in its third year, it is thought more than 500,000 UK families participate in the scheme, which aims to combat mental, physical and emotional issues stemming from technology overuse.
Kent Life was among a number of UK attractions backing the scheme, asking visitors to go gadget-free.
Natalie Cox, general manager of the heritage farm park, in Sandling, said: “National Unplugging Day is a day of celebration and fun where everyone should break free from technology to re-connect with themselves and those they love.”
According to research conducted in 2015, more than half of us hardly ever spend time with family or partners without a phone, tablet or computer on standby.
The project has been praised by two Wateringbury mums, who felt so strongly they launched their own parenting resource, a token system called KidzCoins, to tackle the amount of time children spend in front of a screen. Co-founder Gail Isted, of Phoenix Drive, told the Kent Messenger: “National Unplugging Day shines the spotlight on screen time issues and the effect they can have on families.
“With growing concern about the impact of too much passive screen time on children’s mental and physical health, social skills and chances of academic success, it’s important for us all to teach children healthy digital habits from an early age.”
And it’s not just parents who have expressed concerns on our over-reliance on technology. In May, Benenden School instigated a three day ban on mobile phones and social media.
Samantha Price, headteacher of the boarding school, described the overuse of gadgets as an “affliction” affecting young people’s mental health and wellbeing and said the initiative received a tremendous response from parents.
For digital detox ideas visit nationalunpluggingday.co.uk.