No electronics allowed this Saturday

August 11, 2009

Take back some quality time with friends or family and encourage everyone to spend a Saturday together with no phones, video games or laptops. There are plenty of fun activities that will be sure to put a smile on every face!

First, warn family and friends in advance, especially those who have a busy job, they can inform coworkers they will not be in touch for a whole day.

To start off your electronic-free day, boil water on the stove for morning coffee and make pancakes from scratch - no electric mixers allowed. After breakfast, ask kids to hand wash the dishes, if they're old enough and make sure all stains are gone.

If it’s a nice afternoon, consider a nearby nature walk without mp3 players or long car trips. In busier neighborhoods, organize a bike ride, bringing plenty of water and snacks, maybe exploring a new area of town, a park or nature reserve.

To relax before dinner either read the daily papers together, or take turns reading an unfamiliar book or some poems aloud.

For the evening meal, pick a favorite recipe and cook from scratch. Even pizza is an easy dish when store-bought dough is used.

Finally, round off the evening with homemade hot chocolate and board or card games by candlelight.