-
Hello World!
Welcome to WordPress! This is your first post. Edit or delete it to take the first step in your blogging journey.
-
Break Out The Board Games
Tech-A-Break and Break Out The Board Games Instead!
It’s important to note that Tech-Break isn’t about taking away screen-time but rather reducing it, allowing for better time-management and promoting family time… Which often takes a backseat when all individuals in the home are focussed on their devices.
Which is why it’s important that all household participants including any adults and parents alike, to collectively participate also, rather than the sole focus being only on the children. And if the routine is to stick in terms of longevity, it’s crucial the adults lead by example.
“Parents are their children’s version of normal so whatever they do, the children think is normal and even desirable behaviour, so they are likely to copy it.” – Dr. Amanda Gummer.
We understand every household is different and so whenever your schedules allow, i.e. one evening a week, or over the weekends, etc. It is fundamental to understand the advantages that family time provides to children.
And what better way to spend screen-free time with your family than to bring out the board games!
The advancement of time and technology aside, there’s just those instances where old school will always prevail. Simply because there’s those handy skills being sat scrolling or clicking away on a screen won’t teach you.
Board Games further advance a child’s education, teaching them basic life skills about teamwork, patience, and how to win and lose gracefully and has been proven to accelerate brain stimulation in children and adults alike and aid in language development.
Different types of board games present different benefits – there’s strategic board games such as Chess, Checkers, Reversie etc. all which help you learn and improve your strategic skills.
Then there’s intuitive board games, such as – Cluedo, The Game of Life, Mastermind, etc. Which get the brain ticking, as you try and navigate your way through the trials of the game in order to come out victorious.
Informative board games – Monopoly, Articulate, Scrabble. All of which are also educational; Monopoly has an arithmetic feel to it, whereas scrabble and articulate have spelling and vocabulary factors attached to them, then fun games like Jenga being based on logic and physics and last but not least, Who Knows Where and the World Game both having a Geographical feel to them.
Board games are also a good source of promoting early learning in young children. Even simple games help young players identify colours, count spaces, and develop and improve their hand-eye coordination and dexterity through moving cards and pieces around the board.
Whilst simultaneously also providing useful life lessons such as learning to wait your turn, needing to work as part of a team (which in itself helps to curb social anxiety) and abiding by the rules. All of which are transferrable skills they’d need in the real world.
And whilst online learning gives children access to the resources they need to continue their schooling, the inclusion of board games on days where the family is together would do no harm when giving them a break from the screens as their education can still be continuous. Thus board games being key evidence that children don’t constantly need to be glued to their screens in order to learn.
It’s no secret that families are struggling to find the balance between digital and real-life connections, but board games provide a tool for that emotional connection to each other. And another win is that they’re also affordable.
And where does Tech-Break come into this, you ask?
Because step 1 is getting off those phones, tablets and handheld consoles and storing them away safely until family time’s over, of course.
Step 2, however, is up to YOU.
Get your family life back with Tech-Break.
-
Break Screen Addictions With Tech-Break
Break Screen Addictions One Day At A Time
With Tech-BreakTech addiction affects us in ways we don’t even realise… until it becomes a problem.
We’re all guilty of spending too much time online – albeit on our phones, computers or whatever device we can get our hands on. And it’s not hard to see why given that due to consumerism, we’re eager to get our hands on the next best thing in the technology market.
Whilst technology itself is convenient and offers many benefits to us individually and collectively – such as keeping us in loop with each other via social media and keeping us informed through various news outlets and media sources for entertainment, it’s very easy to lose ourselves when immersing into our screens. Which could lead to long-term effects related to screen addiction.
“Adults in the UK spend an average of six hours and 25 minutes on their phones, TVs and laptops each day during lockdown. Whereas 41% of parents of 12 to 15-year-olds find it hard to control their child’s screen time” – OFCOM
However thanks to Tech-Break, our latest device enables parents to regain control of their family time through the management of screen usage within their homes.
The handy device features a cushioned interior and ventilated exterior, designed to store gadgets including mobile devices, gaming controllers, tablets and handheld consoles, keeping them safe from overheating and scratches whilst locked away.
The locking mechanism itself is customisable – as you can set the timer for as little as 30 minutes or for multiple days depending on your preference. With a useful countdown feature, the clock displays remaining time and once the countdown is complete, the door springs open making the compact storage device all the more appealing.
Humans as social beings, have been proven to be reliant on human contact for both our emotional and physiological well-being. However as highlighted throughout the pandemic; what with the restrictions around physical proximity, many have been heavily reliant on the use of social media for online communication – with figures still on a significant rise.
NHS Digital reported that 95% of 11-19 year olds use social media and 89% use it every day.
“62% of polled UK adults saying they ‘hate’ how much time they spend on their phone” – Time To Log Off.
Tech-addiction poses both short-term and long-term risks. Key examples being –
Physical Strain on the Eyes – Spending long hours staring at a screen definitely takes its toll on your body, especially your eyes. Excessive screen time not only strains your eyes and leaves them feeling dry, but can also lead to retina damage and blurred vision.
OFCOM found that during lockdown people in the UK were spending around 40% of their time watching TV and online video.
“Out of 2,000 people surveyed, half used screens more since Covid struck and a third (38%) of those believed their eyesight had worsened, a survey suggested” – Fight for Sight
SLEEP DEPRIVATION
The amount of screen time you clock has a direct impact on how much sleep you are getting, given that the blue light emitted from digital screens interferes with the production of the sleep hormone melatonin in your body. This is why using digital devices right before bedtime makes it much harder for you to fall asleep.
Children may be more susceptible to artificial light suppressing the sleep hormone melatonin – RCP
“7 out of 10 children said they had missed out on sleep because of their online habits” – BESA
IMPAIRED SOCIAL SKILLS
We don’t have many real-life interactions when we are preoccupied with what’s happening on our screen. This could lead to increasing anti-social tendencies and feelings of withdrawal.
“Recent research has shown that screen time is negatively associated with social skills development in toddlers.
Specifically, the more time they spend with devices the more their social development suffers in the areas of relating and interacting with others and compliance with directions and ability to help others” – BMC Public Health
LOWER SELF-ESTEEM AND EFFECTS TO MENTAL HEALTH
Spending too much time in the virtual world of screens can also have a negative impact on how you perceive yourself.
The time you lose that could have been spent on forming relationships with other people, discovering and honing your passions, and creating new experiences leads to a weakened sense of self-identity and confidence. When the bulk of your time is spent on social media sites, this problem is exacerbated because you may end up worrying more about your virtual self-image instead of your real one.
For children and youth, the dangers of cyberbullying and self-image issues are particularly worrying.
“27.3% of children (aged 11-19) felt they compare themselves to others on social media” – NHS Digital
“Teens who report the least in-person interaction and the most screen time have the highest rates of loneliness and depression” – SAGE Journal
“One in five girls between 11 and 19 have been bullied online in the past year” – NHS Digital
“16.7% of boys between 11 and 19 have been bullied online in the past year” – NHS Digital
DELAYED LEARNING IN CHILDREN
When it comes to young children, the alteration of the brain’s structure due to excessive screen time can impact their learning abilities.
Letting children watch educational programs may not be the best way to educate them either – young children learn better by physically exploring, and letting them watch shows passively hinders their brains from being active and engaged.
“66% of 5-7 year olds watch TV, play games and go online for 30 hours a week (over 4 hours a day)
81% 8-11 year olds watch TV, play games and go online for 37.5 hours a week” – RCP
The figures mentioned above are fundamental in highlighting the issues that come with tech-addiction and courtesy of Tech-Break, our device can aide with screen time reduction within households before it’s too late.
Cut down on the mindless scrolling and take control of your family life with Tech-Break.
-
Screen Time Alternatives
Get Your Family Life Back On Track With Tech-Break
“For many of us, we don’t have much of an option to switch off when so many life domains are managed via our digital devices. Therefore, this increasing digital saturation has meant we are becoming more reliant on our devices than ever before, making it increasingly difficult to switch off, disengage and detox.
This makes us compulsive towards these digital tools’ integration in our everyday, which can then lead to tech fatigue, digitally induced stress and anxiety via social media lifestyle comparisons, excessive scrolling, and an ‘always on’ work culture, to name just a few impacts.” – Dr. Rachael Kent, Lecturer in Digital Economy & Society Education, King’s College London.
Time and time again, it has proven to be near impossible to get children and young adults off their devices. And Covid-19 lockdowns only further highlight this struggle.
“Agreeing limits on screen time is great but sometimes parent’s need a bit of extra help to avoid battles and help children learn to self-regulate. It removes the parent from the enforcer role – especially if the rules have been agreed to by the children.
When children do something physical, like putting a device away in a particular place, it can help process and reinforce the routine. Children thrive on routines as it gives them confidence and helps embed healthy habits.” – Dr. Amanda Gummer, Child Development Expert and Psychologist.
There are numerous activities you can engage in as a family, away from the screens.
A good example would be establishing a family game night in your home. Depending on your schedules, it can be one night a week or over the course of a weekend. Where all gadgets and devices are stored away safely in the Tech-Break device as the family time commences. An added bonus, as this will also prevent cheating!
Each family member can then be tasked to come up with a game idea they wish to play collectively each week, so that the games are done in rotation and everyone has a say – in order to make the game nights easy to set up and to keep at bay any potential conflicts.
Game options are extensive and can even range from Who Wants to Be a Millionaire style games to quizzes or even select from a collection of board games. Please refer to the ‘Break Out The Board Games’ article for some ideas.
Other alternatives to screen time could be simple, such as going for an outing as a family and catching up on quality time or going for a stroll in the park for some fresh air to clear your head, which is bound to boost your mental health. As would going to the gym or spending some family time doing workout routines together over the weekend, depending on your preferred choice.
Participating in activities that promote physical and mental-wellbeing such as yoga or mediation would be another beneficial alternative away from the screens. Giving those fingers a much-needed break from the strenuous scrolling and instead working all the other parts of your body that may have previously been neglected. Further improving your physique and releasing any of your day-to-day stresses either individually or as a family.
And if you’re looking for some competitive fun, there’s also partaking in a family cook or bake off to see who can come up with the tastiest meal whilst also giving individuals an opportunity to try out new recipes or brush up on their cooking/baking skills.
Otherwise you may be inclined to take up a new hobby such as knitting, reading, writing, painting, enrolling in a pottery class, role play re-enactments with family or friends via script-reading, charades or even a fun game of Twister – all of which are guaranteed fun.
Whatever the activity, there’s plenty of fun to be had away from the screens through being social and making new connections in real life.
Disconnect to Connect. What’s YOUR screen-time alternative?
-
Meet Tiffany Shlain
Meet Tiffany Shlain
Tiffany Shlain is an Emmy-nominated American filmmaker and best-selling author, internet pioneer, and founder of Webby Awards.
Tiffany is also the author of 24/6: The Power of Unplugging One Day a Week.
“My book 24/6 explores how turning off screens for one day a week can work wonders on your brain, body & soul.
I give in-depth advice on how to prepare for your tech free day and make the most of your time off screen with meaningful and fun outdoor and indoor activities. It will become your family’s favourite day of the week.”
Tech-Break’s 24 Hour Mode has also been of particular interest to Tiffany, saying:
“I love how Tech Break keeps the devices out of sight, out of mind for an hour, bedtime, or what I suggest in my book, a full day each week.”
To find out more about Tiffany’s book, 24/6; The Power of Unplugging One Day a week:
www.24sixlife.com / @tiffanyshlain
You can also find her book on Amazon, click here.
-
Ask the Experts: Dr Amanda Gummer
Ask the Experts: Dr Amanda Gummer
Recently the team at Tech-Break HQ spoke with a child psychologist, Dr Amanda Gummer (Child Development Expert & Psychologist), about the worsening problem of tech addictions, the effects it is having on the family and the power of Tech-Break.
How has the pandemic affected tech addiction in society or our overusing of devices?
Dr Amanda Gummer: “It has definitely increased the use of tech but whether it has fuelled addiction is a different question. The pandemic has reduced the opportunities for other forms of activity so it will be key to see how the balance ends up once all of those other activities reopen.”
What impact does excessive tech use have on children in your experience, and what are the benefits of screen-free time for young children?
Dr Amanda Gummer: “The younger the child the more negative impact excessive screen use can have. It is mainly because it prevents other important skill development – e.g. social skills, and attachment. Children’s social development at the point of starting school correlates with their GCSE and A level grades years later so it’s important to make sure social and emotional development is prioritised in the early years. A balanced play diet is as important to children’s social and emotional well-being as a good nutritional diet is to their physical health. Children need plenty of social, active, imaginative, free play and this is not often facilitated through screen-based activities.”
Why is it important for children to see their parents having screen free time and to take tech breaks collectively, rather than just enforcing it for the kids?
Dr Amanda Gummer: “Parents are their children’s version of normal so whatever they do, the children think is normal and even desirable behaviour, so they are likely to copy it.”
What are your long-term concerns for children and teens when they grow into adulthood?
Dr Amanda Gummer: “I am concerned that the real, genuine relationships – the ones that survive life’s ups and downs, will be fewer and less substantial. This can be damaging for people’s mental health. Also, our children’s habits need to be monitored, so children don’t develop compulsive and addictive tendencies towards self-soothing via a device – like many adults already do today.”
WHY TECH-BREAK
From a child’s point of view, why would a product like Tech-Break be more understandable when it comes to screen free time?
Dr Amanda Gummer: “When children do something physical, like putting a device away in a particular place, it can help process and reinforce the routine. Children thrive on routines as it gives them confidence and helps embed healthy habits.”
How does a physical product like Tech-Break help parents enforce screen free time at home?
Dr Amanda Gummer: “Agreeing limits on screen time is great but sometimes parents need a bit of extra help to avoid battles and help children learn to self-regulate. It removes the parent from the enforcer role – especially if the rules have been agreed to by the children.”
Psychologically speaking, why do you think society needs help with controlling tech usage and tech discipline at home?
Dr Amanda Gummer: “Certain activities on screens can be addictive -from games to gambling and social media – they all have addictive elements and developers design the games to be ’sticky’ so it is not surprising that we sometimes struggle to manage them.”
Dr Amanda Gummer
Child Development Expert and PsychologistOften the media’s go-to expert on child development, play and parenting, Amanda has featured on the BBC, Sky News, LBC and a wide range of print and online press. She created an initiative in 2019 called the ‘balanced play diet’ that looks at the ways children play and how they need to have more active free and imaginative play to aid with their development.
-
Ask the Experts: Rachael Kent
Ask the Experts: Rachael Kent
Recently the team at Tech-Break HQ spoke with a child psychologist, Rachael Kent (Lecturer in Digital Economy & Society Education, King’s College London), about the worsening problem of tech addictions, the effects it is having on the family and the power of Tech-Break.
How has the pandemic affected tech addiction in society or our overusing of devices?
Dr Rachael Kent: “The pandemic has accelerated the adoption and saturation of digital tech use to manage everyone’s everyday lives. It has normalised the increasing integration of apps and platforms for the everyday person to manage everyday tasks; working from home, home-schooling, retail, food delivery, sociality, health, fitness, and more.”
Why is it important for children to see their parents having screen free time and to take tech breaks collectively, rather than just enforcing it for the kids?
Dr Rachael Kent: “To lead by example and recognise and promote that life off the screen is just as (arguably even more) valuable, nourishing and healthy for our mental and physical health. Sociality face to face provides more social skills, engagement and fun, rather than mediated via a screen.”
What are your long-term concerns for children and teens when they grow into adulthood?
Dr Rachael Kent: “My long-term concerns are that children will lose out developmentally on social skills enabled by face-to-face contact. It is important children develop coping strategies that aren’t mediated via digital devices, and for their mental and physical health, find joy and pleasure in analogue methods of entertainment. Examples of these being in nature, reading books, physical play, playing instruments, social time with friends, communication with family face to face etc.”
WHY TECH-BREAK?
From a child’s point of view, why would a product like Tech-Break be more understandable when it comes to screen free time?
Dr Rachael Kent: “Because it creates a tangible division and restrictive physical separation between children and devices, which is arguably easier for a child to understand why they cannot use said device. This is also a tool conceivably external to a parent’s ‘rule’, which may be perceived by children as autonomous and separate. They will therefore have to accept ‘Tech Break’ makes and enforces the rules of the digital detox, rather than the parent, potentially minimising disputes.”
Psychologically speaking, why do you think society needs help with controlling tech usage and tech discipline at home?
Dr Rachael Kent: “It is important to remember that we are living in a digital economy which wants our attention across converging platforms as much as possible. It is also very important to remember that regulation has, as yet, not been able to keep up with these expanding personal data economies, whilst we have to simultaneously navigate a tsunami of misinformation, fake news, and conspiracy theories.
Furthermore, at the moment, for many of us, we don’t have much of an option to switch off when so many life domains are managed via our digital devices. Therefore, this increasing digital saturation has meant we are becoming more reliant on our devices than ever before, making it increasingly difficult to switch off, disengage and detox. This makes us compulsive towards these digital tools’ integration in our everyday, which can then lead to tech fatigue, digitally induced stress and anxiety via social media lifestyle comparisons, excessive scrolling, and an ‘always on’ work culture, to name just a few impacts.”
Dr Rachael Kent
Lecturer in Digital Economy & Society Education, King’s College London.Digital Habits Researcher & Academic – Dr Rachael Kent has done extensive research in family’s usage of Tech and the impact that digital reliance, including that throughout Covid-19, is having on society. Her research is particularly carried out around younger generations.
-
Tech-A-Break
Give Your Tech A Break… With Tech Break
The arrival of COVID-19 and lockdown shortly after, further put into perspective just how much of our lives revolve around technology. And whilst this isn’t necessarily a drawback given it’s the 21st century and things around us are constantly evolving, the effects of excessive screen time are becoming increasingly hard to ignore.
“Adults in the UK spent an average of six hours and 25 minutes on their phones, TVs and laptops each day during lockdown” – OFCOM
“UK children spend 6.5 hours a day on screens” – BBC News
Understandably, it is easier to get lost within technology with apps for entertainment and media on pretty much every device owned by man – phones, tablets, TVS, computers and consoles alike.
Although today’s technology has helped children gain access to their own educational resources online and enabled adults to adapt their every-day lives working from home – time spent on technology gadgets has simultaneously gone through the roof posing detrimental effects to children and young adults alike.
Which is where Tech-Break comes in.
Kick excessive screen-time to the curb and make way for family time with the handy lock-box.So… ‘Why Tech-Break?’
The answer is simple…
“The younger the child the more negative impact excessive screen use can have. It is mainly because it prevents other important skill development – e.g. social skills, and attachment. Children’s social development at the point of starting school correlates with their GCSE and A level grades years later so it’s important to make sure social and emotional development is prioritised in the early years.
A balanced play diet is as important to children’s social and emotional well-being as a good nutritional diet is to their physical health. Children need plenty of social, active, imaginative, free play and this is not often facilitated through screen-based activities.” – Dr. Amanda Gummer, Child Development Expert and Psychologist.
Long gone are the days of being viewed as the wicked tyrant of your household for constantly telling your children to get off their gadgets… We know how it goes… We’ve all been there…
Just like most things in life, screen-time should also come with moderation. It is important to manage the time spent on gadgets, as staring at a screen for too long won’t benefit any individual in the long-run.
The compact storage device takes up little space, making it convenient to store inside your home.
And yet the premise remains simple – regain control of your family time the right way, by safely storing away any handheld devices within the Tech-Break lock-box. Paving way for face-to-face communication and interaction.
Say Goodbye to Screen Addictions. Get your family life back with Tech-Break.
-
Our Story
Our Story
Family life as we used to know it was already broken in a very high percentage of UK homes caused mainly by the extreme overuse of mobile phones, tablets, PC and video game consoles. However, after the COVID 19 outbreak, things just got steadily worse. School closures and Lock Downs meant that inevitably, everyone and kids in particular spent even more time on their tech products.
This has led to serious addiction amongst the whole UK population but particularly teenagers and indeed pre-teenagers, leading to mental health issues, lack of sleep and concentration, constant online harassment and bullying, drop off in educational performance, anxiety, self-harm and suicidal thoughts. There is also a general lack of exercise and involvement in sporting activities and complete disinterest in normal life in general, leading to kids becoming a physical and mental shadow of their former selves.
Latest findings in the UK Feb 2020 show that over 50% of 10 year olds now own a mobile phone.
Although most devices have apps or other means of limiting use, it can be very time consuming for parents to implement this on a regular basis. Also it can be very difficult to convince each individual child in the family that they are having equal tech break time with their siblings!!
According to the experts involved in Children’s health and wellbeing, bedtime is by far the most crucial time of the day where the whole family should give up their devices in exchange for a good night’s sleep. This is where tech-break really does stand out on its own as a powerful family support tool, helping to reduce family time spent on their favourite tech devices.
However, it is important to note, that tech-break is only part of the solution. It is a vital tool for parents to use in their constant battle against addiction of all things tech, but family communication and interaction is also key.
As a parent/carer, we strongly recommend that you sit down with the family and explain just why everyone needs to spend less time on their devices. Highlight examples of how normal family life has all but disappeared because of extreme overuse of tech and that family members have changed for the worst, with family communication down to virtually zero. Explain the need to bring a healthy balance back to family life without devices being present and let normality return to the family once again.
In your discussions start off by coming to an agreement that all devices must be placed in the tech-break at an agreed time every night. Press the BEDTIME MODE and you have a 10 hour total family tech break. This might be tough at first, but at least everyone has lost the use of their devices together in exchange for a good night’s sleep! After around 25-35 days, you will see with your own eyes, that giving up devices at bedtime will start to happen with much less resistance as everyone gets into a new tech free bedtime routine.
Normality will start to feel like it is coming back into your family life and all your initial hard work and efforts will feel worthwhile. Parents/carers can really add strength to the programme by also giving up their devices overnight and they too will start to feel the benefit of extended time without their mobiles and tablets on a nightly basis.
We also advise taking things a bit further by agreeing at least one family day a week completely device free. One press of the 24 hour button gives you this extended tech break scenario instantly.
For shorter tech break sessions perhaps to allow for a family occasion, meal times or regular breaks for younger family members, just use the hour button, pressing it to your required tech break duration. Using this mode with younger children on a regular basis will get them used to tech breaks before it even becomes an issue and you can even turn it into a fun game by letting them preset the lock out system and then later just before it is due to open, they can be on standby to count down the digital timer to zero when the tech-break door swings open to release their device.
After a period of time, everyone involved will start to get used to and accept breaks from their tech devices as a normal way of life and gone will be the days of having to grapple with the kids to pull a device from their tightly held clutches. Everyone will start to feel the benefit. Family life will start to return to normal with the potential reintroduction of fun days out and fun nights in together watching television, or playing games and just generally interacting and enjoying a healthy life balance once again as a family without devices readily at hand 24/7.
BRING YOUR FAMILY LIFE BACK WITH TECH-BREAK