Moms, if you’re looking for a quick read that will benefit your whole family, I highly recommend reading Digital Detox by Megan DeFrank. This book is all about unplugging from our screens and digital devices and reconnecting with the people and things that matter most in our lives. I knew as soon as I read it that I had to write a Digital Detox book review!
Hot Take: I Was 100% Skeptical
I’ll be honest, I was a bit skeptical when I first picked up the book. I’m pretty attached to my phone. I didn’t think I could go more than a few hours without being distracted by a screen. But after reading Digital Detox, I realized that I was spending way too much time on my phone and not nearly enough time interacting with my kids. And when I asked them, they agreed. Ouch. They also agreed they were spending a lot of time watching tv, and playing video games.
We all agreed it was time for a change.
DeFrank Lays Out A Radical Challenge in Digital Detox
Megan DeFrank lays out a challenge in her book, Digital Detox, for kids to take a break from screens for two weeks. That may not sound like much, but it can be really tough! The first few days were rough, but by the end of the first week, we were all noticeably more present with each other. Fighting amongst the kids got less and less, hobbies started to crop up, and things were a lot more chill with my four wildlings.
One of the things I loved about this book is that it’s packed with tips and tricks for ways to fill that extra time without defaulting to using our phones or laptops. We started doing family game nights and cooking dinner together. My kids re-discovered the great outdoors as a means of entertaining themselves. It sounds cheesy, but it made such a difference in our family dynamic.
The challenge was so simple: cut screens to zero for two weeks.
Digital Detox and The Science Behind It
The other thing DeFrank does that got into my heart and hit me like a ton of bricks was her research. She cited study after study (but in an easy-to-understand way) illustrating how our kids are being shaped by their exposure to screens. There’s a whole lot of brain development trying to happen that’s being shut off by screens. And shocker: it’s not in our kids’ best interest. And as moms, aren’t we all just trying to do the best we can for our kids? I was shook.
The Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a way to cut back on screen time and connect with your family as we head into the holidays in the months ahead, I highly recommend giving Digital Detox a read. It’s a quick read with lots of helpful tips on ways to make unplugging from technology a little bit easier.
Did you enjoy the Digital Detox book review? Let me know! What book would you like me to review next?
