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September 23, 2016


Title: The Cell Phone Coop
Topic: Family Time
Discussed by Dr. Daniel Huerta
with Focus on the Family www.Family.org


Part 1 of 2

Chick-Fil-A is in the news again – this time for a strange new challenge for their patrons. CFA is asking their customers to put their cell phones away while they are dining in their restaurant. In fact, they have designed a “Cell Phone Coop” for people to keep their cell phones in while they’re eating!

We have become a “disconnected society” in regards to personal interaction. Here to discuss this phenomenon is Danny Huerta, with Focus on the Family. “We have to put a limit on ourselves,” Danny says. It’s very tempting to check our phones every time it dings and that is exactly the point behind CFA’s “Cell Phone Coop”.

People complain about not having a depth of relationship with others. Many times we are relying on them to create that depth, rather than ourselves,” Danny believes. Tune in to the next segment as Danny Huerta discusses practical steps to help families disconnect from their phones and reconnect with each other.



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Title: Part 2 of 2 - The Cell Phone Coop
Topic: Family Time
Discussed by Dr. Daniel Huerta
with Focus on the Family www.Family.org

In today’s society, everyone – from the toddler to the grandpa – has become distracted with electronics. Parents whip out their cell phone or a tablet for their 4 year old to play with at the restaurant. Daddy reads his email while eating dinner. Mama checks Facebook and Pinterest as her children talk eagerly about what happened at school that day. Kids are playing Minecraft or texting their friends about weekend plans instead of helping prepare dinner. Sometimes I long for simpler days…

Danny Huerta has some great practical tips to help families reconnect with each other, especially at mealtime. However, first he explains that some people are introverts and do not enjoy conversation as much as others. We have to be sensitive to that fact. Parents should discuss this issue with their children, no matter their age, before shoving the new “no-cell-phone” rule down their throats.

Chick-Fil-A is rewarding patrons with a free ice cream cone if they leave their cell phones in the “Cell Phone Coop” for the duration of their meal. Danny suggests trying this same technique for a week, and as an incentive, your family will be rewarded with a special dinner or other activity. During the week at home, have a list of questions for your kids and have your kids ask you questions, as well!

If you would like more information or if you need to talk to someone about family-related issues, please call 1.800.A.FAMILY

EDITOR’S NOTE: One thing I have done with my children is print a variety of “table games” and cut the activities into strips (i.e.: one activity per strip of paper) and place them all in a bowl. Every night, someone gets to choose a strip from the bowl; go around the table, taking turns, discussing the game or activity. Usually, we are still laughing and talking after we’ve eaten all our food! Examples of games: Name things that have your favorite color in it – and not just one thing; keep it going the whole meal! What is your dream vacation and describe it in detail – even little ones can participate! Another great one: Everyone names a food, starting with the letter A. The next night, you name foods starting with the letter B. There are 26 letters in the alphabet, so that’s 26 nights of fun! But here’s the kicker – every time someone names a new food, they have to list all the foods previously mentioned! You really have to listen closely to each other!



More from this Guest      More on this Topic      More from this Organization

August 24, 2016


Title: Twenty-four hours is Not a Long Time
Topic: Family Time
Discussed by Bob Waliszewski
with Plugged In (www.PluggedIn.com)

We all have equal time every day: just twenty-four hours. Eight hours sleeping and eight hours working, leaving eight hours to commute, eat, bathe, do household chores, and quality time with other family members.

Bob Waliszewski, is the director of Media and Culture at Focus on the Family’s Plugged In. He wants to know: How are you using your hours, minutes, and seconds?

Questions/Issues Discussed:

What are the dangers associated with the steadily increasing trend of media usage every year? Bob reveals that the average American spends over ten hours consuming media every day – four hours and thirty-one minutes of that time just watching television. Even if you cut that time in half, it’s still a lot of wasted hours on media.

Bob Waliszewski also offers healthy habits which families can form with technology in our media-crazed culture. There are definitely some areas we, as Christians, must be more aware.

Should families encourage media fasts? Bob gives some great suggestions here to encourage your kids to turn off their electronics and read or play outside.



More from this Guest      More on this Topic      More from this Organization

July 12, 2016


Title: Twenty-four hours is Not a Long Time
Topic: Family Time
Discussed by Bob Waliszewski
with Plugged In (www.PluggedIn.com)

We all have equal time every day: just twenty-four hours. Eight hours sleeping and eight hours working, leaving eight hours to commute, eat, bathe, do household chores, and quality time with other family members.

Bob Waliszewski, is the director of Media and Culture at Focus on the Family’s Plugged In. He wants to know: How are you using your hours, minutes, and seconds?

Questions/Issues Discussed:

What are the dangers associated with the steadily increasing trend of media usage every year? Bob reveals that the average American spends over ten hours consuming media every day – four hours and thirty-one minutes of that time just watching television. Even if you cut that time in half, it’s still a lot of wasted hours on media.

Bob Waliszewski also offers healthy habits which families can form with technology in our media-crazed culture. There are definitely some areas we, as Christians, must be more aware.

Should families encourage media fasts? Bob gives some great suggestions here to encourage your kids to turn off their electronics and read or play outside.



More from this Guest      More on this Topic      More from this Organization

March 10, 2016


Title: The Cell Phone Coop
Topic: Family Time
Discussed by Dr. Daniel Huerta
with Focus on the Family www.Family.org


Part 1 of 2

Chick-Fil-A is in the news again – this time for a strange new challenge for their patrons. CFA is asking their customers to put their cell phones away while they are dining in their restaurant. In fact, they have designed a “Cell Phone Coop” for people to keep their cell phones in while they’re eating!

We have become a “disconnected society” in regards to personal interaction. Here to discuss this phenomenon is Danny Huerta, with Focus on the Family. “We have to put a limit on ourselves,” Danny says. It’s very tempting to check our phones every time it dings and that is exactly the point behind CFA’s “Cell Phone Coop”.

People complain about not having a depth of relationship with others. Many times we are relying on them to create that depth, rather than ourselves,” Danny believes. Tune in to the next segment as Danny Huerta discusses practical steps to help families disconnect from their phones and reconnect with each other.



More from this Guest      More on this Topic      More from this Organization

Title: Part 2 of 2 - The Cell Phone Coop
Topic: Family Time
Discussed by Dr. Daniel Huerta
with Focus on the Family www.Family.org

In today’s society, everyone – from the toddler to the grandpa – has become distracted with electronics. Parents whip out their cell phone or a tablet for their 4 year old to play with at the restaurant. Daddy reads his email while eating dinner. Mama checks Facebook and Pinterest as her children talk eagerly about what happened at school that day. Kids are playing Minecraft or texting their friends about weekend plans instead of helping prepare dinner. Sometimes I long for simpler days…

Danny Huerta has some great practical tips to help families reconnect with each other, especially at mealtime. However, first he explains that some people are introverts and do not enjoy conversation as much as others. We have to be sensitive to that fact. Parents should discuss this issue with their children, no matter their age, before shoving the new “no-cell-phone” rule down their throats.

Chick-Fil-A is rewarding patrons with a free ice cream cone if they leave their cell phones in the “Cell Phone Coop” for the duration of their meal. Danny suggests trying this same technique for a week, and as an incentive, your family will be rewarded with a special dinner or other activity. During the week at home, have a list of questions for your kids and have your kids ask you questions, as well!

If you would like more information or if you need to talk to someone about family-related issues, please call 1.800.A.FAMILY

EDITOR’S NOTE: One thing I have done with my children is print a variety of “table games” and cut the activities into strips (i.e.: one activity per strip of paper) and place them all in a bowl. Every night, someone gets to choose a strip from the bowl; go around the table, taking turns, discussing the game or activity. Usually, we are still laughing and talking after we’ve eaten all our food! Examples of games: Name things that have your favorite color in it – and not just one thing; keep it going the whole meal! What is your dream vacation and describe it in detail – even little ones can participate! Another great one: Everyone names a food, starting with the letter A. The next night, you name foods starting with the letter B. There are 26 letters in the alphabet, so that’s 26 nights of fun! But here’s the kicker – every time someone names a new food, they have to list all the foods previously mentioned! You really have to listen closely to each other!



More from this Guest      More on this Topic      More from this Organization