Family Day Unplugged: Advocates aim for tech-free holiday

While reading this story, you probably won't be interacting with your family.

Over time, surfing the web and constantlystaying connected could make you more distant with your loved ones.

At least that's the concern behind "Family Day Unplugged,"a program startedby theFamily and Community SupportServices Association of Alberta(FCSSAA).

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Canadiansconsume a huge amountof media each dayup to 8.2hours, according to one recent report.Another studysuggests Americanteens spend even more time with media, atnine hours a day.

But "Family Day Unplugged" islooking to helpbuck those trends this holiday Monday.

Theprogramisencouragingcommunities throughout Alberta to unplug from their devicesand instead spend time focused on their family.Manyrecreational events are beinghosted throughout the province under the program's banner, including sledding, swimming, skating, board games and campfires.

Kim Williston, director of the FCSSAA branch in Beaumont, Alta., said the programwas launched in responseto a disconcerting trend.

"We're seeing that, in our communities, people are more disconnected," she said."We're seeing people are busy, they're disconnected, they're not interacting with their neighbours."

The program began in 2011 with 16 communities. It has since expanded to include more than 30 communities engaging in the event, including a friendly competition to be the most unplugged community in the province.

"People are finallystarting to see that there's something to this,"Willistonsaid.

Negative effects of media consumption

A number of studies have suggested our growing consumption of mediacan have a negative effecton our health and relationships.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, for example,has long warned of theneed to reinin the amount of time children use technology, basedon studies that showtoo much screen time can lead attention problems and school difficulties.

The organizationrecommends that children under the age of two not be exposed to any screen time andolder children be limited to two hours a day.

And astudy out of the University of California, Los Angelesshowed children who spent time unpluggedwere better at reading human emotions whencompared to children who spent more time with technology.

'Neurologically, when you are texting, your empathy goes down.'- Catherine Steiner-Adair, clinicalpsychologist

But the negative effects of too much time online applyto how parents use technologyas well.

Catherine Steiner-Adair, aclinicalpsychologist and author of The Big Disconnect: Protecting Childhood and Family Relationships in theDigital Age, said children can be hurt trying to seekattention when theirparents are texting or otherwiseplugged in.

"Children are feeling a lot of stress trying to get their parents to be with them, pay attention to them, answer their question," she said."Because, neurologically, when you are texting, your empathy goes down."

What's more, unplugging can help people feel revitalized, said TanyaSchevitz, spokesperson forReboot's National Day of Unplugging.

Held in the U.S. in early March, the event encourages people to spend time away from their devices for theday.

"It helps people renew themselves, recharge themselves," Schevitzsaid. "Because in today's world we're constantly connected, we're sort of in a hyper state of alert."

Schevitzalsosuggested this constantstate of alertness has been pullingchildren away from their parents."Kidsaren't getting the same connection with their parents as they got before this technology existed."

Finding a practical balance

Despite encouragingpeople to spend more time offline, advocates know that it can be a difficult task.

The American Academy of Pediatricsrevised some of theirguidelines last year in response to the growth of technology aimed at children, making broad recommendations as opposed to hard caps on screen time.

People will always remain somewhatentrenched in their media,Willistonacknowledged.

"We live in a world that's very connected through social media and we'd be fooling ourselves to say that this [Family Day Unplugged]is going to be reducing that," she said.

Unplugging advocatesalso note social media has positive benefits the ability to connect families acrosslong distances being chief among them.

We are not anti-technology. We recognize the value andimportanceof technology in today's world.- Tanya Schevitz, spokesperson for Reboot's National Day of Unplugging

"Ifyou have a standing call with your mom who is across the country and that's the way you connect with her, my gosh, you shoulddo that," said Schevitz."That's not the kind of technology that's disconnecting people."

Schevitz also statedthe concept behind unplugging is not about rejecting connectivitycompletely.

"We are not anti-technology. We recognize the value andimportanceof technology in today's world," she said."The idea really is to take a pause from the technology that consumes our lives and reconnect with the people and community who are all around us but are lost in the noise of today's relentless deluge of information."

For Schevitz, the key is for families to find balance between being connected and spending time face-to-face. She notes people should set achievable goals for themselves something as simple as ensuring family dinners are always unplugged.

Though media will remain a crucial part of people's lives,Williston said she hopes "Family Day Unplugged"can help remind people of their mostimportant connections.

"I just want to continue the message that, for at least one day a year [it]really doesn't matter if you're in Alberta or where you are across the countryyou make the effort to really, seriously look at how you spend time as a family unit."

CBC Forum: Should your family unplug from smartphones?

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