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Win Hamper worth £50 from Dolmio®

August 24, 2016 by Katie Bryson 219 Comments

Win Hamper worth £50 from Dolmio on feedingboys.co.uk

To celebrate Dolmio’s #TechFreeTables campaign and to encourage your family to sit around the dinner table enjoying a delicious meal distraction free, I’m giving away a £50 hamper packed with Dolmio® goodies!

The Prize

The value of the hamper is £50 and it includes:

  • picnic hamper
  • table cloth
  • 5 of Dolmio’s most popular sauces,
  • spaghetti
  • parmesan cheese

How To Enter

Fill in the Rafflecopter widget to verify your entries
Entries are via a mandatory blog comment, with bonus entries via Facebook, Twitter etc
Please read the rules below
Closing date midnight Friday 30th September, 2016.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

How Rafflecopter Works

  • If there is no form hit refresh (f5) and it should appear
  • If it still not working check that your computer is running Javascript
  • You need to complete the mandatory entry first – usually making a blog comment
  • Rafflecopter will tweet, like and follow on your behalf making it really easy to enter!
  • Really want to win the prize? Come back every day for bonus entries via Twitter

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

This giveaway is open to all readers over 18 with a postal address in the UK.
Images are representative of the product and actual content may vary in accordance with availability. Substitute products will be included where items are unavailable.
The winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter using an online randomiser and announced in a subsequent post.
I am running this competition on behalf of Dolmio who will be organising the prize. Their decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
They reserve the right to substitute the prize for one of a similar type/value if the prize above is not available.
The winner will be contacted by e-mail, if they do not reply within 48 hours another winner may be chosen.
This competition is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with any third parties.
Instructions form part of the terms and conditions
Entries using any software or automated process to make bulk entries will be disqualified.
No cheating please! I will check the winning entry to see that you have commented/tweeted/subscribed etc.
There is one main way to enter and several ways to get bonus entries, including bonus daily entries. Follow the instructions in the form above, but please you MUST leave a comment on the competition blog page for any of your entries to count.
If you already like/follow comment in the rafflecopter widget then let me know to get your entries.

Top tips for a tech free table with Dolmio on feedingboys.co.uk

Get my top tips for tech-free family meal times here

Disclosure: With thanks to Dolmio® for providing me with the prize for this giveaway. I’ve been commissioned to create this blog post by Dolmio® to raise awareness of the importance of tech-free mealtimes.

Filed Under: 1 Featured Competition, Sponsored Post, Win

« Sweet Potato and Meatball Mini Pot Pies
Top tips for tech-free family meal times »

Comments

  1. Tracy Nixon says

    August 24, 2016 at 2:55 pm

    Cook up something tasty and ban phones, ipads etc. I already ban them it it works for me as it is nice to chat with family members about their day.

    Reply
  2. Louise A says

    August 24, 2016 at 3:25 pm

    Bribery! lol

    Reply
  3. Tracey Peach says

    August 24, 2016 at 5:25 pm

    Tell everyone to turn everything off & leave them in another room 🙂

    Reply
  4. kim neville says

    August 24, 2016 at 6:34 pm

    Our rule is no phones or gadgets at the dinner table. Time to be sociable with everyone 🙂

    Reply
  5. Mark Jones says

    August 24, 2016 at 7:02 pm

    Pavlovian response or classical conditioning

    Reply
  6. Kate Knight says

    August 24, 2016 at 8:24 pm

    grown ups set the example

    Reply
  7. Victoria Mylittlel says

    August 24, 2016 at 9:25 pm

    prepare the box and collect all of the devices

    Reply
  8. Linda Ford says

    August 24, 2016 at 9:32 pm

    We sit and chat asbout our day or make plans. The boys have never really wanted to bring technology to the table, they tend to eat, chat and go!

    Reply
  9. emma walters says

    August 25, 2016 at 8:25 am

    take tea outside whilst the weather is nice and far enough away for wifi not to work!

    Reply
  10. EMMA FURNISS says

    August 25, 2016 at 8:52 am

    Make meals ‘charging’ time – get all the gadgets charging whilst family is sociable around the table 🙂

    Reply
  11. Newcastle Family Life says

    August 25, 2016 at 9:45 am

    We have a house rule that mobiles / ipads are not aloud at dinner table. Everyone has to leave them in the lounge, now it is just something we do without thinking. x

    Reply
  12. Janice Mackin says

    August 25, 2016 at 5:34 pm

    Leave all tech in another room.

    Reply
  13. melanie stirling says

    August 25, 2016 at 7:10 pm

    Everything has to be switched off until dinner is finished.

    Reply
  14. Kate Davies says

    August 26, 2016 at 8:15 pm

    No gadgets at the table, that’s our family time to talk about our day.

    Reply
  15. Jenna Parrington says

    August 26, 2016 at 9:48 pm

    We leave them all in the living room, nice to have that family time electronics free.

    Reply
  16. Tammy Stevenson says

    August 27, 2016 at 4:13 pm

    I make sure all our tech is either off or on silent and what hand held tech we have goes in a box which is set aside until everyone has finished. Waiting until everyone is finished means we all sit together and talk after we have finished eating and no one tries to eat faster to get the tech back.

    Reply
  17. Angela Webster says

    August 27, 2016 at 8:01 pm

    My tip for a tech free table is to use fun conversation card, once you get them all talking over the meal they will forget all about technology.

    Reply
  18. Margaret Beardmore says

    August 28, 2016 at 5:27 am

    Turn all technology off a peaceful meal you will have

    Reply
  19. Leah says

    August 28, 2016 at 7:13 am

    Have a complete ban at the table and make sure you chat to each other over dinner

    Reply
  20. Kelly Miotti says

    August 28, 2016 at 7:15 am

    I agree with so many of the comments. Technology has taken over our lives. So agree it is important to go back to basics of actually talking to one another.

    Reply
  21. Bob Clark says

    August 28, 2016 at 7:26 am

    lay down the law at the outset

    Reply
  22. Mary Heald says

    August 28, 2016 at 7:29 am

    Make it a rule and keep the conversation light and interesting to children , asking them questions so they get used to conversing at the table.

    Reply
  23. Samantha Wheeler says

    August 28, 2016 at 7:30 am

    Just ban it – and grown ups set the example!

    I have been known to ‘tell off’ my brother-in-law for answering his phone at the dining table. His parents were horrified that he’d answered it so I said something!

    Reply
  24. amy bondoc says

    August 28, 2016 at 7:50 am

    we never have an issue with not bring phones to the table, kids and hubby know i cant stand mobiles during as meal so leave them put away !

    Reply
  25. bex allum says

    August 28, 2016 at 7:56 am

    Leave all tech in the living room and turn the television off. Some of the best conversations are had at the dinner table.

    Reply
  26. Emily Hallett says

    August 28, 2016 at 8:03 am

    Definitely no TV on in the background. Make them leave their phones and tablets in their rooms.

    Reply
  27. Heather Haigh says

    August 28, 2016 at 8:19 am

    We’ve never had tech at the table during meals so it never became an issue. The kids were simply gentlyl reminded to leave their tech in the other room.

    Reply
  28. Jim Milligan says

    August 28, 2016 at 8:21 am

    Its never been a problem, so maybe the answer is to alwaysserve tasty food

    Reply
  29. Jackie ONeill says

    August 28, 2016 at 8:32 am

    They are just banned and have to be left in another room, no exceptions. Same applies if eating out, not to be taken out of bags or pockets.

    Reply
  30. Cherry Edwards says

    August 28, 2016 at 8:38 am

    We just don’t do it, none of us do, so children aren’t encouraged to either. It’s a time for being social able and chatting

    Reply
  31. Sarah Lambert says

    August 28, 2016 at 8:43 am

    We have a no iPads or phones allowed rule in our dinning room and the kids stick to it as long as us adults do lol 🙂

    Reply
  32. Becky Scott says

    August 28, 2016 at 8:50 am

    We have a total ban at the table.

    Reply
  33. Nora says

    August 28, 2016 at 8:56 am

    No TV, No phones and no gadgets at family mealtimes. It is an unwritten rule that we have always followed. I have two teens.

    Reply
  34. Becky John says

    August 28, 2016 at 9:01 am

    We have never allowed phones or gadgets at the table

    Reply
  35. Peter Saville says

    August 28, 2016 at 9:05 am

    Flick food on to their phones

    Reply
  36. Fiona K says

    August 28, 2016 at 9:16 am

    To not bring gadgets to the table

    Reply
  37. jacqui graham says

    August 28, 2016 at 9:24 am

    my children know meal time is family time and there are no phones at the dinner table, they accept this, and so far it is not a problem. Parents in my mine have to show the lead by mimimising their use of ‘tweeting and liking’

    Reply
  38. Tracey Ryder says

    August 28, 2016 at 9:35 am

    they are the house rules and so they are quite good about it

    Reply
  39. Emma Nixon says

    August 28, 2016 at 9:54 am

    No gadgets at the table
    If that fails turn off the wifi

    Reply
  40. Mary H says

    August 28, 2016 at 10:05 am

    Lead by example and a simple ban.

    Reply
  41. claire blaney says

    August 28, 2016 at 10:12 am

    Make sure that you have at least one meal a week & say no tech for anyone at the table then after, dinner they can get back on there tech, but you want there full attention for talking over there fantastic day’s they have had

    Reply
  42. barbara daniels says

    August 28, 2016 at 10:22 am

    a nice dining room what a basket outside to put mobile phones in when entering for dinner.

    Reply
  43. Kerry Locke says

    August 28, 2016 at 10:23 am

    Turn of the WiFi

    Reply
  44. Karen R says

    August 28, 2016 at 11:13 am

    We have never allowed tech at the dinner table, so it is very easy to enforce 🙂

    Reply
  45. JODIE BEAUMONT says

    August 28, 2016 at 11:35 am

    never allow tech at the table, so children know what to do!

    Reply
  46. Holly Gibson says

    August 28, 2016 at 11:54 am

    I think it’s a very important rule to always have in place!

    Reply
  47. Susan Crosswaite says

    August 28, 2016 at 12:01 pm

    Have a rule that all tech is left in another room at family mealtimes to remove temptation and avoid distractions

    Reply
  48. Simon tutthill says

    August 28, 2016 at 12:06 pm

    Always insist no mobiles or tablets at the dinner table,it shouldn’t be that difficult

    Reply
  49. Julie Henderson says

    August 28, 2016 at 12:09 pm

    we have the wifi turned off at meal times

    Reply
  50. christine shelley says

    August 28, 2016 at 12:18 pm

    Lay down the groundrules well before lunch ask them to be put on silent

    Reply
  51. Jamie Piper says

    August 28, 2016 at 12:24 pm

    no devices at the table, interactions and eye contact

    Reply
  52. Hazel scourfield says

    August 28, 2016 at 12:30 pm

    Get into the habit of leaving phones on the side, and if there’s a tv by the table don’t turn it on while cooking you’ll never turn it off!

    Reply
  53. Zoe C says

    August 28, 2016 at 12:48 pm

    The kids aren’t allowed but if someone moans, I turn the wifi off

    Reply
  54. Jen Rogers says

    August 28, 2016 at 1:05 pm

    We have a ‘Joke’ telling session – its hillarious

    Reply
  55. Carole E says

    August 28, 2016 at 1:17 pm

    When going out for a meal with friends. We have a rule – 1st one to answer or look at their phone has to pay the bill.

    Reply
  56. Rachael G says

    August 28, 2016 at 1:24 pm

    We lead by example in that we don’t use our technology at the table either.

    Reply
  57. cheryl hadfield says

    August 28, 2016 at 1:48 pm

    Involve everyone in cooking the meal, there is morechance to get their attention away from the tech for longer

    Reply
  58. Jade Stokes says

    August 28, 2016 at 1:53 pm

    I tend to make the dinner table a totally tech free zone by engaging everyone in a conversation that will appeal to us all- a fun debate, silly stories or something that we will all listen to. That way, everyone soon forgets about their technology long enough to enjoy dinner.

    Reply
  59. Linda Greenwood says

    August 28, 2016 at 2:08 pm

    turn the router off

    Reply
  60. Jo Jones says

    August 28, 2016 at 2:09 pm

    Insist if they wish to eat, no tech at the table , all switched off for the duration of the meal, called family time!

    Reply
  61. Angela G says

    August 28, 2016 at 2:22 pm

    Electronics are not allowed at the table.Meal times are meant for eating and talking to each other about our day and what we are doing later.

    Reply
  62. Maggie Coates says

    August 28, 2016 at 2:47 pm

    Set a good example yourself.

    Reply
  63. Caroline H says

    August 28, 2016 at 2:50 pm

    Lead by example! It’s no good having a tech ban if dad’s monitoring Facebook on the smartphone and mum’s browsing emails on the tablet!

    Reply
  64. Catherine Whetton says

    August 28, 2016 at 3:02 pm

    We leave phones in another room 🙂

    Reply
  65. Chrissie Curtis says

    August 28, 2016 at 3:14 pm

    Get everyone involved in helping to cook and lay the table. Ban all phones from the table!

    otherwise first to look at their phone does the washing up!

    Reply
  66. Jean tutthill says

    August 28, 2016 at 3:41 pm

    I always make sure there are no mobiles at the table

    Reply
  67. Grace Tyler says

    August 28, 2016 at 3:44 pm

    Everyone has to leave their tech in another room, less chance of being tempted!

    Reply
  68. Vicky Limerick says

    August 28, 2016 at 3:56 pm

    It has always been an unwritten rule in my house, we go to the table to eat and phones don’t come with us

    Reply
  69. Jen Schofield says

    August 28, 2016 at 4:16 pm

    Make everyone leave their mobiles and tablets somewhere else!

    Reply
  70. Rebecca williams says

    August 28, 2016 at 4:25 pm

    My kids just don’t have gadgets at the dinner table, they are able to leave them for 10 minutes 🙂

    Reply
  71. Lisa Parker says

    August 28, 2016 at 4:32 pm

    Our family ground rules are that no phones are allowed in the dinning room at meal times. The same goes for IPods and all other tech gear.

    Reply
  72. Barbara Knight says

    August 28, 2016 at 4:46 pm

    Just ban mobiles etc from the table, with extra washing-up duties for transgressors!

    Reply
  73. Jemma Beynon says

    August 28, 2016 at 4:58 pm

    Theres no gadgets or tech at the dinner table until everyone has eaten and then they can have the tech once they’ve left the table

    Reply
  74. mariel pereira says

    August 28, 2016 at 6:25 pm

    screen-free times through day

    Reply
  75. Jaelin Farrow says

    August 28, 2016 at 6:44 pm

    I make sure all electronics are in a different room

    Reply
  76. Tania Atfield says

    August 28, 2016 at 8:03 pm

    Just say no, works for me and my hubby

    Reply
  77. C Parkin says

    August 28, 2016 at 8:49 pm

    Engage your children in conversation-ask them about their day

    Reply
  78. Tammy westrup says

    August 28, 2016 at 9:07 pm

    Leave them all in another room

    Reply
  79. Anne Bethell says

    August 28, 2016 at 9:09 pm

    No tech in the room. Simple

    Reply
  80. jules Eley says

    August 28, 2016 at 9:26 pm

    I think it is easier with a dining room table but in the summer i like eating outside with family away from technology

    Reply
  81. lyn burgess says

    August 28, 2016 at 9:34 pm

    A simple ban, and that includes adults too, and stick to it

    Reply
  82. Angela Boucher says

    August 28, 2016 at 9:37 pm

    We always have a family dinner at the dining room table with no phones or tablets allowed.

    Reply
  83. Cath Joyce says

    August 28, 2016 at 9:53 pm

    Leave all gadgets in another room so they aren’t tempted to look at them

    Reply
  84. Sarah Morris says

    August 28, 2016 at 10:11 pm

    We use a different room, where the focus is on the dining table rather than the television or phones … luckily my son isn’t really yet at the ‘glued to a phone’ age so that helps!

    Reply
  85. Tammy Tudor says

    August 28, 2016 at 10:22 pm

    Have a countdown, 5 minute warning to meal time to wrap up conversations, send that snapchat or send that last text then make a real effort to get the family talking at meal times 🙂

    Reply
  86. Lorraine Tinsley says

    August 28, 2016 at 10:30 pm

    I ban all electronics, that includes kids and adults and I try to make interesting meals

    Reply
  87. Paul Halling says

    August 28, 2016 at 10:41 pm

    Get the kids involved in preparing and serving the food

    Reply
  88. Karl Borowy says

    August 28, 2016 at 11:03 pm

    TECH FREEZONE

    Reply
  89. Heather Morrison says

    August 28, 2016 at 11:14 pm

    I’d never allow tech at the table! My little boy has never had it so wouldn’t know to ask for it. If you don’t allow things at the dinner table from a young age they get used to it. When on a night out though, we put phones on the middle of the table. Whoever looks at their phone pays the bill! Simple xx

    Reply
  90. Natalie Crossan says

    August 28, 2016 at 11:21 pm

    Simply enforce a no tech rule at the dinner table xxx

    Reply
  91. allison sullivan says

    August 28, 2016 at 11:46 pm

    our eldest 2 children in their late teens are very tech,however when it comes to a hoe cooked meal made by their mam or dad then yep their phones are left in the other room and its fab family time with good crack and how everyones day has been xx

    Reply
  92. Rich Tyler says

    August 29, 2016 at 12:44 am

    Food time is “family time” which means nothing other then dinner & cuddles!

    Reply
  93. Matt McAndrew says

    August 29, 2016 at 1:59 am

    Ugh. Get with the times. We live in the 21st century! Embrace it! The days of boring chit chat at the dinner table are over!

    Reply
  94. Michelle Chapman says

    August 29, 2016 at 8:51 am

    put them all in a basket and put in another room and make it a family rule before mealtimes.

    Reply
  95. S Bufton says

    August 29, 2016 at 9:18 am

    Turn off the internet and confiscate any tech found being used at the table

    Reply
  96. sharon stanley says

    August 29, 2016 at 10:15 am

    I just turn the WiFi off. We have the children on a different wifi name to us so it means don’t have to turn everything off if I am downloading or my partner is working. The majority of things these days need internet which is great for me as it saves me shouting them for dinner because as soon as it goes off they know lol.

    Reply
  97. Marc Chivers says

    August 29, 2016 at 10:25 am

    Talk

    Reply
  98. Rob Griffiths says

    August 29, 2016 at 11:31 am

    Mobile phones and tablets are banned from 6 – 7 every evening

    Reply
  99. sam macaree says

    August 29, 2016 at 12:26 pm

    first person to touch tech has to do the washing up

    Reply
  100. C Kennedy says

    August 29, 2016 at 1:05 pm

    First person to get their phone out gets the chore of washing up!

    Reply
  101. Victoria Morrison says

    August 29, 2016 at 2:56 pm

    I find routine helps – everyone knows what time dinner is and to be unplugged before that time!

    Reply
  102. Tracy Newton says

    August 29, 2016 at 5:15 pm

    I lead by example. My husband and I do not use tech at the table and do not allow the children or our visitors to do so. It is nice to chat about our day

    Reply
  103. tracy james says

    August 29, 2016 at 5:22 pm

    ban all mobile phones ,ipads ect from the dinner table.x

    Reply
  104. Emily Knight says

    August 29, 2016 at 6:37 pm

    Use the time to plan things – like days out, meals for the rest of the week, holidays etc – get the whole family talking!

    Reply
  105. fozia Akhtar says

    August 29, 2016 at 7:01 pm

    Turn off all technology

    Reply
  106. abigail edkins says

    August 29, 2016 at 7:49 pm

    some kind of finger food with each meal….the kids never want to get their phones dirty 🙂

    Reply
  107. Laura Nice says

    August 29, 2016 at 7:52 pm

    No phones or tablets at the table!

    Reply
  108. Mary Chez says

    August 29, 2016 at 8:42 pm

    Just say not allowed…my dinner table , my rules

    Reply
  109. justine meyer says

    August 29, 2016 at 10:23 pm

    It works when you switch the wifi off xxx

    Reply
  110. Sylvia Paul says

    August 29, 2016 at 10:27 pm

    Teach them from a young age to never bring anything like that to the table.

    Reply
  111. Jayne Townson says

    August 30, 2016 at 10:05 am

    Set by example, so even the adults don’t bring phones or tech to the table.

    Reply
  112. Emma says

    August 30, 2016 at 12:39 pm

    None of my kids have any tech yet, and I’ve never brought any of mine to the table so we don’t really have that problem! Although that will probably change during the teenage years haha

    Reply
  113. ann weir says

    August 30, 2016 at 3:51 pm

    tech is banned from the dinner table as my eldest takes long enough to eat his dinner without distractions 🙂 We use dinner time to catch up with what each other has done that day

    Reply
  114. Jo Carroll says

    August 30, 2016 at 4:47 pm

    When they are young you just have to be firm and say all food must be eaten at the table and tech has to be turned off. When they get older…well…good luck 😉

    Reply
  115. gemma brown says

    August 30, 2016 at 10:18 pm

    We haven’t ever allowed it, so they don’t ask. I wouldn’t put it past my eldest, 10, though.

    Reply
  116. Sue barton says

    August 30, 2016 at 11:51 pm

    I make sure they eat with a knife and fork then there’s no hands left for tech. I have never allowed it meal times are always spent at a table eating and chatting

    Reply
  117. Jess Powell (Babi a Fi) says

    August 31, 2016 at 10:16 am

    We always talk over dinner so there’s not enough time for tech!

    Reply
  118. Janice says

    August 31, 2016 at 2:00 pm

    just tell everyone that they are to leave them whilst eating

    Reply
  119. Solange says

    August 31, 2016 at 9:10 pm

    No gadgets at the table, that’s the rule. It’s not a problem in our house. They’re all too busy eating!

    Reply
  120. Susan says

    August 31, 2016 at 11:12 pm

    No phones or tablets at the table!

    Reply
  121. Gemma Massey says

    September 1, 2016 at 1:33 am

    Dinner time should be family time and should be as a rule that’s one tradition that should be kept xx

    Reply
  122. Sharon H says

    September 1, 2016 at 1:40 am

    Start early and never break the rule yourself.

    Reply
  123. clair downham says

    September 1, 2016 at 2:36 pm

    have a rule not to bring to table and have it as charging time

    Reply
  124. Hazel Rea says

    September 1, 2016 at 3:52 pm

    Set a good example even when they are very tiny and it becomes the accepted family tradition. We have never had tech at the table when eating any meal.

    Reply
  125. Ali Thorpe says

    September 1, 2016 at 11:04 pm

    Ensure everyone sticks to the rule and include TVs.

    Reply
  126. Karen Barrett says

    September 2, 2016 at 9:24 pm

    Set the ground rules early on, my children are 35, 31 and 29 and they wouldn’t dream of using their phones at table, they are setting a good example for my Grandchildren.

    Reply
  127. helen tovell says

    September 2, 2016 at 9:44 pm

    We have never had any tech up the table it is an unwritten rule

    Reply
  128. sarah birkett says

    September 2, 2016 at 10:00 pm

    lead by example, and give at least 10 mins notice for dinner so that everyone can say brb to their friends. iF the minions are rebelling try doing a few days a week to start and build up but be consistent

    Reply
  129. leanne weir says

    September 2, 2016 at 11:55 pm

    Everything has to be switched off

    Reply
  130. Jessica Howliston says

    September 4, 2016 at 1:26 pm

    I usually set a time, so say 5pm and everyone has to have all tech and gadgets switched off by this time so we can eat. This way its not a sudden surprise and everyone can finished what they are doing knowing what time it has to be switched off.

    Reply
  131. ADEINNE TONNER says

    September 4, 2016 at 1:58 pm

    In our home at meal times we put all our electronic gadgets into a basket and talk about what we did during the day then when everybody is finished the meal we can get our gadgets back.

    Reply
  132. laura banks says

    September 4, 2016 at 3:25 pm

    turning the router off

    Reply
  133. Melissa Lee says

    September 5, 2016 at 12:58 pm

    We try candles and relaxing music – it helps with the temptation to look at the phone

    Reply
  134. Kelly Ellen Hirst says

    September 5, 2016 at 9:21 pm

    Make a rule that all tech must be left in another room whilst eating

    Reply
  135. Ben Audsley says

    September 6, 2016 at 6:06 am

    ban all technology – its family time!

    Reply
  136. jennifer thorpe says

    September 6, 2016 at 2:09 pm

    I don’t have any tips, tech is simply not allowed at the dinner table by anyone

    Reply
  137. Sarah An says

    September 6, 2016 at 5:32 pm

    All technology is banned and phones, ipads etc placed in a box which is closed until after dinner.

    Reply
  138. Beky Austerberry says

    September 6, 2016 at 11:10 pm

    I started with the no phone at the table rule as soon as they got their phones

    Reply
  139. Ellie Wood says

    September 7, 2016 at 7:59 am

    A tech box, for phone during dinner where they are kept until its over

    Reply
  140. Donata Scoging says

    September 7, 2016 at 9:15 pm

    ban all devices from the table

    Reply
  141. Kerry Kilmister says

    September 7, 2016 at 10:52 pm

    At meal time we turn off the wifi and ban phones from the table

    Reply
  142. Ferhana bata says

    September 8, 2016 at 6:06 am

    Dinner time is family time NO tech allowed!

    Reply
  143. kerrie m says

    September 9, 2016 at 4:25 am

    put the devices up somewhere out of reach!!

    Reply
  144. Julie Camm says

    September 9, 2016 at 10:54 pm

    Ban the mobile…..

    Reply
  145. Rebecca Smith says

    September 10, 2016 at 12:59 pm

    Lead by example

    Reply
  146. tamalyn roberts says

    September 10, 2016 at 3:32 pm

    i turn the wifi hub off till after dinner lol

    Reply
  147. helen w says

    September 10, 2016 at 4:16 pm

    We each have a dinner time that we decide what subject to talk about and you forfeit your choice if you bring tech to the table it works a treat as we all want to be heard don’t we

    Reply
  148. Carly Belsey says

    September 10, 2016 at 8:55 pm

    The TV is always turned off and isn’t allowed back on until after pudding

    Reply
  149. Kim Styles says

    September 11, 2016 at 10:29 am

    ban technology at meals- as simple as that – I don’t need techniques-

    Reply
  150. Iris W says

    September 11, 2016 at 11:15 am

    I have already banned them at the dinner table. They have to be left on the side while we eat. Its such a short time and quite precious when we all sit together having a meal so no interruption by calls & text are needed

    Reply
  151. Katie Skeoch says

    September 11, 2016 at 12:42 pm

    Tech is not allowed at the table, plenty of time for that before & after. Just got to be consistent

    Reply
  152. Gillian McClelland says

    September 11, 2016 at 6:44 pm

    No tech allowed at table and ensure good table conversations. Start with everyone discussing the highs and lows of their day or week

    Reply
  153. Danielle Graves says

    September 11, 2016 at 9:34 pm

    We eat in a room that doesn’t have a tv, I put dishes in the centre so we can serve ourselves and have to ask for each other to pass things over and communicate

    Reply
  154. Donna Caldwell says

    September 11, 2016 at 11:02 pm

    Nobodies allowed gadgets at the table all was has and always we’ll be the rule in our house

    Reply
  155. sarah fielding says

    September 12, 2016 at 4:52 pm

    Not allow tech at the dinner table and get the family talking!

    Reply
  156. Tracey Gwynne says

    September 12, 2016 at 8:34 pm

    Give the youngsters a chance to pick a topic that they would love to talk about…it could be anything – pokeman dinosaurs, Dr Who… Whilst they’re chatting and engaged they also eat better too

    Reply
  157. Claire Tucker says

    September 13, 2016 at 12:14 pm

    We say time at the table is talking time not tablet time

    Reply
  158. Kathleen Bywaters says

    September 13, 2016 at 5:15 pm

    Tablets / Phones / Games anything like that is not allowed at the time – table time is family and food time!

    Reply
  159. Jamie Millard says

    September 13, 2016 at 8:45 pm

    Keep a squirt gun at the table. Anyone touches tech, you squirt it. They won’t want to risk a waterlogged phone.

    Reply
  160. Katie b says

    September 16, 2016 at 8:17 pm

    We’re too busy eating tasty food to worry about technology

    Reply
  161. Louise Fairweather says

    September 17, 2016 at 8:37 am

    turn them off 10 mins before you eat

    Reply
  162. Jane says

    September 19, 2016 at 12:55 am

    Get everyone to help out – the last one to the table is the one who has to do the washing up rather than the mixing and mashing.

    Reply
  163. Ella L says

    September 19, 2016 at 9:51 pm

    telly off, phones and tablets on the sideboard otherwise NO DINNER!!!!

    Reply
  164. Laura-Jane Baker says

    September 20, 2016 at 11:41 am

    The rule in our house is no phones at the dinner table

    Reply
  165. Holly Schelkens says

    September 20, 2016 at 2:01 pm

    The dinner table is a place for food, not phones!

    Reply
  166. Charlotte Moore says

    September 20, 2016 at 9:22 pm

    Having dinner in a room where there are no tvs or electronic devices

    Reply
  167. Lani Nash says

    September 20, 2016 at 10:45 pm

    All tech is banned from the dining table. We try and encourage steady conversation as we eat to erase boredom!

    Reply
  168. Barbara Rayner says

    September 20, 2016 at 10:56 pm

    Involve everyone in the preparation of the meal and setting the table and engage all in conversation at the table.

    Reply
  169. Jean cass says

    September 21, 2016 at 6:50 pm

    My suggestion is ban them / but say the first one touch them does the washing up!

    Reply
  170. Sarah prescott says

    September 22, 2016 at 8:26 am

    We always talk about what we would like to do at the weekends and talk about things we would like to do on our next holiday. Wd have a no.phone/ipad rule at the table

    Reply
  171. Maureen Quinnell says

    September 22, 2016 at 10:01 am

    Turn off the WiFi!

    Reply
  172. Andrea A says

    September 24, 2016 at 12:07 pm

    Eat together as a family at the dinner table and have a conversation about your day.

    Reply
  173. Lynsey Buchanan says

    September 24, 2016 at 11:19 pm

    Lead by example, if the adults don’t use Tech round the dinner table then its easier to make it a rule for the whole family.

    Reply
  174. linda toth says

    September 25, 2016 at 3:44 pm

    Have lots of chat about your day

    Reply
  175. D.Harrison says

    September 25, 2016 at 4:52 pm

    For A Tech Free Dinner, I get all the devices. Take the batteries out of them and hide them!

    Reply
  176. emily omara says

    September 25, 2016 at 5:59 pm

    pre warn people so they can plan for it

    Reply
  177. Oliver says

    September 27, 2016 at 12:15 am

    Make conversation

    Reply
  178. Gillian Holmes says

    September 27, 2016 at 3:54 pm

    A blanket ban or no grub. you have to take charge.

    Reply
  179. michelle thompson says

    September 28, 2016 at 6:59 am

    turn off the wifi

    Reply
  180. Allison says

    September 28, 2016 at 4:39 pm

    Colourful place settings – make the kids not want to tear their eyes away from what’s in front of them! Allison. @Amtree201

    Reply
  181. Hannah Robertson says

    September 28, 2016 at 6:33 pm

    Make not using them at dinner a condition of being able to use them earlier in the day.

    Reply
  182. Hannah Robertson says

    September 28, 2016 at 6:33 pm

    Make not using them at dinner a condition of being able to use them earlier in the day.

    Reply
  183. Jayne Kelsall says

    September 29, 2016 at 11:28 am

    Generally no phones or no pudding works in our house !

    Reply
  184. Joanna Coleshill says

    September 29, 2016 at 2:16 pm

    Bribery!

    Reply
  185. sarah luck says

    September 29, 2016 at 3:07 pm

    not making it into an issue…!

    Reply
  186. Lucy Robinson says

    September 29, 2016 at 4:07 pm

    I just a rule. No television or gadgets at the table or after 6pm for the kiddies. x

    Reply
  187. Krzysia says

    September 29, 2016 at 4:24 pm

    It’s no sweets/desserts thoughout the week if the gadgets are on. The desserts always seem to win out!

    Reply
  188. jodie a harvey says

    September 29, 2016 at 9:54 pm

    start as you mean to go on – ban it from the off! we use dinner time to talk as a family, about our day, school, work, weeks plans, weve never really had a problem with tech at meal times

    Reply
  189. Jane Middleton says

    September 29, 2016 at 11:13 pm

    Never introduce it in the first place. Dinner is time for everyone to sit together.

    Reply
  190. Mary Duncan says

    September 30, 2016 at 12:09 am

    Lead by example by leaving your own devices in another room, and listen carefully and respectfully to what everyone has to say, including the littlest ones.

    Reply
  191. Laura Harrison says

    September 30, 2016 at 4:09 am

    Leave them in the lounge until everyone has finished eating xx

    Reply
  192. Ellen Stafford says

    September 30, 2016 at 4:53 am

    Everyone sit to table. No phones/tablets allowed.

    Reply
  193. Claire fawkner says

    September 30, 2016 at 6:26 am

    It is part of the golden rules in our house

    Reply
  194. joanne casey says

    September 30, 2016 at 6:50 am

    Turn the wifi off!

    Reply
  195. Kristy Brown says

    September 30, 2016 at 8:54 am

    We don’t allow tech at the table and the kids know if they bring their phones and are caught with them we will turn their net access off

    Reply
  196. grainne marnell-fox says

    September 30, 2016 at 9:07 am

    no phones allowed until everyone has finished, so they all encourage each other to eat up

    Reply
  197. Libby Noack says

    September 30, 2016 at 11:01 am

    We have always had the rule of no toys/tech at the table – so everyone has always been used to it x

    Reply
  198. Emily Hutchinson says

    September 30, 2016 at 11:31 am

    It really helps to have a separate dining room and have no TV in there – perhaps just some music

    Reply
  199. Karen Harrison says

    September 30, 2016 at 1:44 pm

    Make sure that everyone is involved in the dinner conversation.

    Reply
  200. Melanie Burton says

    September 30, 2016 at 2:05 pm

    No dessert if they bring any tech stuff to the table!

    Reply
  201. James Harris says

    September 30, 2016 at 2:25 pm

    We just say that no toys or other distractions are allowed at meal times.

    Reply
  202. Dale Dow says

    September 30, 2016 at 2:44 pm

    Build it into a routine, remotes, tablets, phones go in a box and chat about your day

    Reply
  203. sharon martin says

    September 30, 2016 at 2:52 pm

    to leave it all in another room , turned off

    Reply
  204. Jenny Prest says

    September 30, 2016 at 5:19 pm

    lead by example!

    Reply
  205. Hayley Todd says

    September 30, 2016 at 5:24 pm

    We have always had a no-tech rule at dinner time, that also includes no tv. As the children have grown up knowing it’s not allowed at meal times it has never been an issue in our home. I give them plenty of notice, by letting them know there is 20 minutes to go, 10 minutes etc, so they know how long they have to finish their games or conversations.

    Reply
  206. claire mudie says

    September 30, 2016 at 5:34 pm

    we have to all put phones on silent on the shelf in the kitchen-all adults included – when we eat !

    Reply
  207. Dolly A says

    September 30, 2016 at 6:08 pm

    LEAVE THEM IN ANOTHER ROOM

    Reply
  208. Angela Cringle says

    September 30, 2016 at 6:44 pm

    We have banned all phones and tablets from the dinner table

    Reply
  209. Scott fallon says

    September 30, 2016 at 7:32 pm

    Lock the tech in a cupboard

    Reply
  210. ESME MCCRUBB says

    September 30, 2016 at 8:10 pm

    conversation

    Reply
  211. Deborah Mackenzie says

    September 30, 2016 at 8:49 pm

    Eat at a table, with no telly, radio or other digital gadgets on or around the table. This must be for everyone at the table, parents included. No phone calls to be answered either, just let it ring or take it off the hook.

    Make no exceptions, if you know there is an emergency pending or you are waiting on a call that must be taken, tell the family, why it must be taken, as you sit down, but have the phone away from the table so you need to leave to answer it.

    Reply
  212. Lynne OConnor says

    September 30, 2016 at 9:11 pm

    Make it clear at the outset that there are no phones at the table, and don’t make exceptions. Give the kids a few minutes notice so they can finish a conversation, game or whatever

    Reply
  213. Robyn Clarke says

    September 30, 2016 at 9:37 pm

    We put the 2 year old in charge of the no tech rule, no one messes with her! If you so much as glance at a screen she pipes up “well, thats a bit rude”

    Reply
  214. Jessica Hutton says

    September 30, 2016 at 9:47 pm

    Quite simply it is just a rule. Adults have to follow the rule too to make it fair xx

    Reply
  215. paula cheadle says

    September 30, 2016 at 9:48 pm

    we are a family and we have one meal a day we have together, no gadgets

    Reply
  216. Kat Lucas says

    September 30, 2016 at 10:03 pm

    Have the kids help with making the meal so they are more excited to eat it and talk then use tech

    Reply
  217. Joanna Kasznicki says

    September 30, 2016 at 10:08 pm

    We live by example and leave all tech in the living room

    Reply
  218. Diana says

    September 30, 2016 at 10:10 pm

    Rule that everyone knows.

    Reply
  219. Alisa Moore says

    September 30, 2016 at 11:03 pm

    Have an hour tech free, including dinner

    Reply

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I’m Katie Bryson – Freelance Food Writer, wife of a strapping vegetarian and mum of two boisterous boys – keeping them all fuelled and trying to stay sane is a daily challenge so I thought I’d share my experiences. Read More...

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