Would You Coop Up Your Phone?

Earlier in the week when I saw that the the first Friday of March is known as National Day of Unplugging, I thought about making that the topic of my blog.  Most of us spend too much time on our devices these days, right?

Then, a day later, I learned that Chick Fil A is tackling the electronic distractions in a very clever way:  Some of their restaurants down South are offering free ice cream for families who coop up their phones for the whole meal.  And by coop up I mean put the devices in a box on the table which is called a cell phone coop.  I like the way that ties into the chicken theme.  The restaurant in Brick doesn't have the boxes yet but they'll post on Facebook when they arrive.

Anyway, I credit the fast food company for starting this campaign and hope it catches on at all restaurants.  I'm not saying that everyone should offer prizes when a family has a phone-free meal, but a perk or two would be a nice incentive to help us break our device addiction and have some meaningful conversations.

So back to the folks who launched National Day of Unplugging.   Their website below offers some really good suggestions for reconnecting with your family members.  I especially like their tips on using cell phone "sleeping bags" and having scavenger hunts inside the house.  Read on for more: http://nationaldayofunplugging.com/for-families/

Are devices part of your family's meal time?  Or do you have a "no-phones" rule?  Do you like the idea of Chick Fil A's coops and ice cream rewards?