In times when families share the same physical space but remain isolated on their screens, a challenging proposal emerges for these holidays: a “Christmas offline“that gives priority to real presence over virtual ones.
The phenomenon of “phubbing” – berating someone for using the phone – has become so normalized that it becomes invisible at family gatherings. This trend leads to attention problems, fears and an emotional emptiness, which particularly affects children and young people.
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“When was the last time we were truly with those we love??”, says psychoeducator Mariana Savid Saravia, expert in digital citizenship and neuropedagogy (MP P: 13-5610). The specialist warns that the excessive use of technology has created “a profound human disconnect that is particularly worrying in the development of boys, girls and adolescents.”
A “digital reset” as a 21st century competition
The proposal does not imply a complete rejection of the technology, but rather what Savid calls a “conscious exercise in reclaiming human territory.” “The digital reset is the essential competency of the 21st century: the ability to switch ourselves off in order to reconnect with the tangible, the immediate, the profoundly real,” he claims.
To achieve this, the specialist recommends replacing technical gifts with options that promote personal interaction, especially board games that develop cognitive and emotional skills that screens cannot reproduce.
Board games for all ages
Among the recommendations for children aged 4 to 8, Savid highlights Fonoloco, a set of six games in one designed to train phonological and semantic skills in a fun way.
For children aged 7 to 12, 1001 stories are proposed with two differentiated levels that promote language development and creative writing.
For children aged 7 and over, the school psychologist recommends options such as the Tetris tower, ideal for training coordination and logical thinking; Flash, which offers flexibility and processing speed; Change de Face, for spatial memory and visual perception; Cornered, perfect for grabbing attention while the family enjoys friendly competition; and Triplets, a dynamic observation and speed game.
For teenagers and adults aged 12 and over, it offers SoulTalk, which aims to promote empathy and deep conversations; Carcassonne, which works on decision-making and planning at different deadlines; and Cities, a family-friendly city development game with accessible mechanics and immersive touch components.
Literature to share
In addition to games, Savid recommends books that deal with age-relevant topics. For children, she suggests titles by Magela Demarco such as “Seed Words,” “Alone in the Forest,” “An Intermittent Dad” and “Here I Am,” which deal with abuse prevention, grief and empathy, as well as “Inti and the Cell Phone,” specifically about the conscious use of technology.
For adults, “The Club of the Super Valid” by Mariana Santini, “Before You Are Forgotten” by Rosario Alfaro and “The Silence of the Child” by Alejandro Calderón are suggested, which deal with resilience, forgiveness and overcoming trauma.
A family pact of separation
The expert cites “a family pact” as a concrete challenge: two hours a day of voluntary digital shutdown“. As he explains, the result is not immediate, but profound: “Relearning creative boredom, rediscovering spontaneous conversations, rediscovering shared silence.”
“In a world where digital is celebrated as synonymous with progress, choosing analog becomes an act of decision-making,” reflects Savid. For the psychopedagogue, it’s not about nostalgia, but about “evolutionary consciousness: We are bodies that need contact, brains that develop through dialogue, souls that recognize each other in shared stories.”
The pro concludes with an invitation: “Let’s turn off the screens to turn on the gaze. Pause the notifications to give space to the story. Change the scrolling to the embrace.” His final message is powerful: “This holiday season, may we not be more connected to the internet, but rather more connected to each other.”
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