Every summer for nearly two decades, we’ve taken our kids to a family retreat nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It’s a refreshing getaway from our life in the Deep South, where the stunning views and slower pace create cherished summer memories. However, there’s one catch—no internet access.
Wi-Fi? Not a chance. Hot dogs? Absolutely. Hot spots? None. By the end of the first two days, our phone data is depleted, and what little remains is strictly rationed for true emergencies—like searching for images of poison ivy or finding out who was eliminated on the latest episode of a reality show.
Welcome to our summer of disconnection. Is it challenging? A bit. Is it invaluable? Absolutely.
The saying “you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone” rings especially true when it comes to constant access to information, endless streaming options, and immediate social media gratification. When it’s always available, it feels like an extension of ourselves. But without it? It’s akin to a fish floundering out of water.
The first days of summer without internet resemble a detox period: kids wandering around, peering at their empty hands, as their unengaged minds attempt to form new connections. They rush to the TV, only to find basic cable with no ability to pause, rewind, or watch on demand. TV with commercials? How retro! It’s as if we’ve transported them to a bygone era, leading to a chorus of complaints like “I’m bored!” and “What should we do now?” as they search for a substitute for the digital stimulation they’ve become accustomed to.
Then, something remarkable happens. They rediscover the power of their own imaginations, free from the distractions of likes, shares, and tweets. I join in, grabbing a book and lounging under a tree, mentally transporting myself back to simpler times—Tab soda optional.
When no screens are around, kids start to seek out their own entertainment. Watching them engage in this process is truly amazing. Boredom morphs into creativity, prompting them to move, play, and explore. Sure, there are board games and backyard sports, but there’s also a lot of “ordinary nothing,” and in that space, extraordinary moments emerge. This is where imaginative play thrives, aligning with what child development experts say is crucial for genuine learning and growth. They learn to appreciate their own company, realizing solitude can be a good thing, and that not every moment has to be documented or shared. It’s all about being present in their own experiences.
As summer draws to a close and we return home, the first thing the kids do is rush to their rooms to reconnect with the digital world. And yet, it quickly becomes clear that they didn’t miss much at all. A few minutes of scrolling reveals that all the key updates they needed were already known to them. The people they truly wanted to connect with were right there during our unplugged time. That screen time we used to fill? It had been replaced with something far more fulfilling.
Just as it takes days to adjust to life without the internet, it takes a while to reacclimate to having it back. You’d think they would dive back into the online world, but often they click on and off within minutes. As school approaches and the need for connection resurfaces, I know we’ll find ourselves once more in the cycle of constant engagement—tapping and swiping our way through life, often missing the 3D world around us.
However, those unplugged moments from summer? The ones that felt uniquely ours, even for the most reluctant of kids? They hold immense value—documented or not. They are ours, untouched and irreplaceable, forever etched in our memories.
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Summary
Our family’s summer getaway to the Blue Ridge Mountains, devoid of Wi-Fi, serves as a valuable lesson in creativity, imagination, and the importance of disconnecting. While the initial adjustment is challenging for the kids, they ultimately thrive without screens, learning to appreciate both their own company and the moments shared together.