Our tech-free Sunday experiment

Dec 271 min read

Been reading all these studies about phone addiction so we tried a "no screens Sunday" last month. First one was brutal - kids complained, I was twitchy without my phone. But we've kept it going and honestly? Yesterday we went to the park, had dinner without anyone looking at a screen, and my kids actually played board games without me asking. It's still only one day a week but it feels good. Not saying we're doing it perfectly but the shift in energy is real.

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Comments(13)

SSam F.New DadDec 29

This is actually backed up by research - even just ONE day a week creates measurable improvements in sleep and mood. The fact you've kept it going for multiple weeks is huge. Most families quit after one attempt.

CCole B.RegularDec 29

Our family did this and honestly the best part was dinner actually being a conversation instead of everyone silently eating while checking stuff. Kid complaints dropped way off after week 2 too.

BByron S.RegularDec 29

One day a week is actually sustainable unlike those 'digital detox' challenges people try for a month and fail. Once it becomes routine kids stop fighting it. Did you notice other changes besides less complaining?

MMiles B.New DadDec 29

This is actually interesting because most people try tech-free days and give up after one. The fact that you stuck with it means something shifted. What made you keep going after that first brutal week?

EEd P.RegularDec 29

How old are your kids? Because I feel like this would go very different with teenagers vs elementary age. My 12yo actually engaged but my 16yo had a legitimately hard time being offline for even one day.

NNate H.RegularDec 27

Tech-free Sundays are legit. We do this and the difference is noticeable - kids actually engage with each other instead of existing in the same room. Also lowers the whining about screen time the rest of the week somehow

TTyler K.RegularDec 28

The fact that you framed this as an 'experiment' instead of a punishment probably helped too. Kids were less defensive about it. How are they with screens the other 6 days - did the Sunday thing change their relationship with phones at all?

CChris N.RegularDec 27

The 'I was twitchy without my phone' part is real and honestly important to acknowledge. Shows your kids that you get it too, not just telling them to put screens down while you're doom-scrolling. Respect for being honest about that

MMack G.New DadDec 28

This is awesome. We tried something similar and also the first week was rough but then something clicked. My kids actually played board games and read books instead of just scrolling. Mind you they were bored as hell on day 2 but that boredom seemed good?

HHank W.RegularDec 29

Did you notice any actual behavioral changes after a few weeks or is it just the Sunday thing? Asking because if it doesn't carry over to the rest of the week I'm wondering if it's worth the battle.

MMitch R.RegularDec 27

The twitchy parent thing is real and kind of embarrassing to admit. I realized I was checking my phone out of habit not necessity. Kinda broke that cycle a bit which is probably good for modeling for the kids too.

CChris T.RegularDec 29

This hits different than those studies because you're doing ONE day not trying to change everything. Kids can handle boundaries if they're consistent and time-limited. Bet by week 4 or 5 they didn't even complain anymore

JJosh E.RegularDec 30

Curious what you did on Sundays instead? Like was it planned activities or just... existing? Because I feel like that's where most people fail - they take screens away but don't fill the void so everyone's bored and miserable