The "Tech-Free Toolbox"

If you already follow me on Instagram, this is a term you've heard referenced frequently. If you're new here - allow me to introduce you to the single most important tool you need to promote play and, in doing so, reduce your family's screen time: the Tech-Free Toolbox.

In short, the Tech-Free Toolbox is: a container of special items (or ideas/activities) brought out at times when tech might typically be offered.

The Toolbox can take on many forms; a literal box in the trunk of the car, a backpack, a ziplock bag, a rubbermaid tub in the basement, and (sometimes) it's just a list of ideas in your head. Tricky, right? Only when you're new to it. Here's the great thing - you really don't need to spend a lot (or any) money to get started with a Tech-Free Toolbox. Start by collecting some forgotten items around the house, try the basement or bottom of the toy bin. You know they're there. Add a coloring/work book and some drawing tools and you're on your way to tech-free magic.

Here are the places we currently have Tech-Free Toolboxes "staged" and ready to go at a moments notice: the car (one that stays in the car, and one that's "grab-and-go" for restaurants and such), the diaper bag, a cabinet on the first floor, my daughter's room for Quiet Time, and...my brain.

What is a "brain-based" Tech-Free Toolbox? Well, it's simply an arsenal of tech-free, and often material-free play ideas that you have to pull from. Things like playing "I Spy", counting the cars out the window, and whatever silly games you know your child enjoys. One specific example for us is "Guess What I Saw Flying in the Sky?" This is a game that developed organically one day while my daughter and I were staring at the sky and we started to name ridiculous things that might come flying by. Allow me to demonstrate: "Guess what I saw flying in the sky?....pause....anticipation....giggle...."GRANDMA!" Every once and a while I pull this one out while we wait in a doctor's office or drive in the car. It has yet to disappoint.

The Tech-Free Toolbox "Refresh" - once you have a Toolbox in place (say, a box in your car) don't forget to periodically go through a "refresh." This is simply the process of swapping out used or no-longer desired items with new or re-newed items.

Be sure to keep coming back and follow along on Instagram for lots more ideas when it comes to the Tech-Free Toolbox!

Now...go fly a kite!

-Abby

...FYI, I'm fully aware of what "go fly a kite" means. I'm also very away of the irony of running an instagram account and a blog with a mission of "Tech-Less." So, I've decided to send you all off by telling you to "go fly a kite" because that IS what I want you to go do. I'm glad you were here, I hope you come back, but now turn off the screen and get outside and play :)