Reclaim the Holidays: Creative Ways to Cut Down Screen Time

Updated – Originally published December 18, 2020

Whether your family celebrates Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year’s, or other traditions, the holiday season is a time for family, celebration, and making memories together. However, it can also be a period where screens become more prominent — especially with time off from school and festive downtime. 

Striking a balance between relaxation and screen time can be tricky, but it doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Here are some practical ways to limit screen time while keeping the holiday spirit alive (without stressing yourself out).

Make the dinner table a no-phone zone

One of the easiest and most effective ways to ensure quality family time is to make the dinner table a screen-free zone. Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, or  dinners, gathering around the table without the distraction of devices will encourage meaningful conversations. Many families use shared holiday meals—Christmas Eve dinners, Hanukkah gatherings, Kwanzaa feasts—as their built-in screen-free moment. Putting phones in a simple basket before sitting down helps everyone show up fully. It’s a time to share stories, bond, and be fully present with each other. This simple habit can quickly become a cherished holiday tradition.

Not only do tech-free dinners mean more quality time, but regular family dinners are linked to lower rates of depression, anxiety, substance abuse, eating disorders, and early pregnancy, as well as higher resilience and improved self-esteem.

Play with your kids

During the holidays, kids are looking for connection and fun with their parents. Instead of letting them default to their devices, take the opportunity to engage in play.

Whether it’s board games, building snowmen, or crafting holiday decorations, getting involved in their activities shows them that spending time together can be more enjoyable than being glued to a screen. It also reinforces the idea that reduced screen time is not a punishment.

These playful moments can create memories that last long after the season is over.

Have go-to activities ready

It helps to have a few go-to activities planned for those moments when kids might naturally reach for their devices.

Set up simple crafts, puzzles, or even a lego station that can keep them engaged without screens. The key is to have options available, so they don’t automatically reach for a tablet or TV. Let them have some say in choosing these activities to keep them excited and invested.

Traditions around the Gabb office

Looking for even more inspiration? Here are a few holiday traditions shared by team members around the office:

• Making wassail together (a warm, spiced holiday cider), filling the house with warm spices and good conversation.
  
• Collecting ornaments throughout the year to build an “experience tree” filled with memories.
  
• Watching the classic Christmas claymation movies (like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Santa Clause is Comin’ to Town) as a family each season.
  
• Baking fudge as a yearly ritual, always using the same family recipe.
  
• Eating 12 grapes at midnight on New Year’s Eve, making a wish for each one.
  
• Taking a symbolic “suitcase walk” around the block to invite new adventures in the coming year.
  

These small traditions—some heartfelt, some quirky—all share one thing in common: they pull people together.

And remember—you don’t need a perfect plan to start something new. Sometimes a simple “Let’s try a different tradition this year” is all it takes to reset the tone for the season.

A gingerbread bond

Some of the most meaningful holiday moments aren’t planned—they just happen when everyone puts their phones down and gets absorbed in something together.

Brandon, our own Director of Product Marketing & Research at Gabb, told us about a Thanksgiving where he and his two brothers (plus a cousin) decided to make a simple gingerbread house out of graham crackers. No Pinterest board and no big plan—just adults goofing around in the kitchen.

But once they started, the project took on a life of its own.

Before long, their “house” evolved into a full Gingerbread Castle, complete with Cinnamon Toast Crunch shingles, a cathedral filled with gummy-bear attendees, a gummy shark in the moat, and a battle scene on the drawbridge. The more they built, the more ideas flowed.

There were disagreements, of course. But working through them became part of the connection: creativity, conflict, compromise, and joy all wrapped into one screen-free project.

“When you’re building something side by side, you talk, you disagree, you laugh—and that’s the point. It’s connection. I didn’t expect a gingerbread house to bring that out, but it did.” —Brandon Jeppson

And they didn’t stop there. After showcasing their architectural venture at their family Christmas party, they filmed a Gingerbread Demolition time-lapse to close out the tradition—turning clean-up from a chore to another shared moment.

It’s a good reminder that holiday traditions don’t have to be fancy or even kid-centered. Sometimes the best ones are the messy, creative projects that pull siblings, cousins, friends, or chosen family together.

Take advantage of your surroundings

The holidays often provide opportunities to explore the world outside the home. Whether it’s a walk through the neighborhood to see holiday lights, a hike through the winter landscape, or a visit to local holiday markets, taking advantage of your surroundings keeps everyone engaged and naturally leads to conversations and shared wonder—a simple way to connect without screens.

Encourage the family to bundle up and enjoy the festive atmosphere, soaking in the sights and sounds that come with the season.

Serve together as a holiday tradition

One of the most meaningful ways to shift the focus away from screens—and toward each other—is to serve side by side. Acts of service don’t need to be big or complex. In fact, simple, consistent traditions often stick the most.

Here are a few screen-light service ideas families shared—plus a few more to spark inspiration:

• Bake cookies or treats for neighbors, teachers, or friends who could use a little cheer.
  
• Shovel snow or rake leaves for someone who might need a hand.
  
• Drop off a meal to a family that’s had a busy or difficult season.
  
• Visit a retirement home to read stories, sing carols, or simply sit and talk with residents.
  
• Create small care kits (snacks, warm socks, hand warmers, encouraging notes) and keep them in your car for people in need.
  
• Write holiday letters or cards to deployed service members, hospital patients, or homebound friends.
  
• Donate gently used coats or toys as a family—letting kids help choose what to give.
  
• Volunteer at a local shelter or food pantry, even if it’s just for an hour.
  
• Do a “kindness walk.” As you stroll your neighborhood, pick up litter and leave encouraging chalk messages along the sidewalk.

Serving together helps families slow down, look outward, and find connection rooted in kindness and shared purpose

Make screen time a family activity

Not all screen time has to be off-limits. In fact, you can make screen time a bonding activity by watching a favorite holiday movie together or playing a family-friendly video game. 

By turning screen time into a shared experience, you’re not just limiting it — you’re giving it purpose and connection. Just be mindful of how much time you spend and make sure it doesn’t take away from other activities.

Create a holiday schedule

With the days off from school and regular routines thrown out of balance, having a loose holiday schedule can help manage screen time without feeling like you’re constantly monitoring. 

Plan out certain times for family activities, meals, outdoor adventures, and screen-free zones. This gives everyone a sense of structure, but without the rigidity of a normal school week. Let kids know when they can expect screen time and what other exciting things are on the schedule to keep them focused on holiday fun.

Set a good example

Children naturally model the behaviors they see. If you’re always glued to your phone or laptop, they’ll pick up on that. Try to be mindful of your own screen habits during the holidays, especially during family gatherings or special moments. 

Put your phone down during conversations, while eating, or when playing with your kids. When they see you valuing real-life interactions, they’ll be more likely to follow suit. You might even rotate a “designated photographer” during holiday moments so everyone else can stay present instead of watching everything through a lens. 

Some families add a bit of nostalgia by using Polaroids, disposable cameras, or old camcorders during the holidays—fun, low-distraction ways to capture moments without pulling everyone back into their phones.

Create lasting memories beyond the screen

Limiting screen time during the holidays doesn’t have to feel like a battle or a burden. By creating fun, meaningful experiences, setting clear boundaries, and leading by example, you can strike a balance that feels manageable and enjoyable for the whole family. 

During busy travel days or split-family gatherings, Gabb phones and watches can help children stay safely connected without the overwhelm that often comes with traditional devices. After all, the true magic of the season is found in the time spent together, not in front of a screen.

We’d love to hear how your family balances screen time during the holidays. What are your favorite screen-free activities or tips for staying connected? Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments below.