Earlier this year we were in conversation with an ICHK parent who works as a mental health professional. Their family had used the Chinese New Year holiday as a chance to enjoy a deliberate break from digital technology. Such a "digital fast" can offer us not only a refreshing change of pace, but also an opportunity to return to some of our very healthy pre-digital habits. In reflecting on the many positive aspects of this experience, the parent reminded us of something that Aristotle said:

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”

Most of us, our children included, have become experts at all things digital: but what of our non-digital skills? Our intrepid parent found that a digital fast quickly saw his children returning to beloved activities, such as reading books, drawing, tinkering and playing sports, many of which had been replaced by digital entertainment.

And so, this summer, we invite our ICHK families to consider using part of their break as a digital fast. This can be approached through family discussion to consider the following:

• How long should the break last?

• What kinds of activities should be undertaken during the break? Unplanned time is good, but it is also important to have a range of books, games and excursions ready, as well as playing sports, cooking meals, etc.

• Are all screens equal, or should there be a focus on particular screens? For example, what about watching films as a family? Is this OK? How absolute do you want to be?

• Where will devices be stored during the break, in order to reduce temptation?

Ideally, a fast could include the whole family from planning through execution and then reflection, although of course we do understand that working life may may this impractical for parents. If this is the case, or if a complete digital fast seems too daunting for your family, perhaps consider an 'intermittent' digital fast, where devices can only be used in a small time window of the day. While not as restorative as a complete fast, this can still help create large periods of time where children can enjoy device-free play.