Family Habits That Were Once the Cornerstone are in Danger of Being Extinct.

An alarming reality: The average teenager now spends more time on social media in ONE DAY than they spend talking to their parents in an ENTIRE week. Think about that. These apps have more influence over our children’s hearts and minds than we do.

Did you know that the average family spends only 37 minutes of quality time together per day?

Families silently suffer the same pain: “I’ve lost connection with my teenager…We’re all home, but everyone’s in their own world…”

This isn’t about guilt.

It’s about awakening to a crisis that’s reshaping families before our eyes. And as a mom who’s walked this journey for nearly three decades, I can tell you…

…It doesn’t have to be this way...!!

We live in a time where family traditions—once the heartbeat of the home— are disappearing.

 Research is proving what we already feel in our hearts; when these habits disappear, so does the strength of the family.

The Decline has caused..

  • Mental Health: 70% increase in anxiety and depression among teens. A decline in family connection and increased screen time have been linked to rising rates of anxiety and depression among teens. For instance, a study found that family dysfunction is a driving force in the progression of child internalizing symptoms. (Association for Child and Adolescent Metal Health from the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.)
  • Academic Performance: 23% decrease in reading comprehension. Reduced engagement in enriching family activities, such as reading and shared meals, can negatively impact children’s academic outcomes.
  • Social Skills: 32% decline in empathy among young adults. Decreased face-to-face interactions within the family may contribute to a decline in empathy and social skills among young adults.
  • Family Bonding: 43% of teens report feeling disconnected from family. The erosion of shared family activities can lead to feelings of disconnection among family members, particularly adolescents.

Sadly, most of us know a family whose child had committed suicide.

CDC Statistics (2023):

~Suicide is the second leading cause of death for ages 10-14 and 15-24

~Teen suicide rates increased 60% between 2007 and 2022

~Nearly 1 in 5 high school students reported seriously considering suicide

How does working impact kids?

Correlation with Parental Work Patterns (Journal of Child and Family Studies):

~Teens who report feeling “rarely” or “never” able to talk to parents: 3x higher risk

~Children with limited parental supervision between 3-6pm show increased risk factors.

  • You need BOTH Quality and Quantity Time: BUT even 15 minutes of focused daily interaction shows positive impact.

Have we come to the point that 15 minutes is all we can spend on our children?

              It breaks my heart.

We must take a stand and act before it goes any farther. There will never be a perfect time to implement change. As the mom, you set the tone of the home. If something isn’t working, then take action. This isn’t a gloom and doom message..

There is HOPE: Here are four action steps to re-engage the family.

1. Set Screen-Free Times

You need to be bold and stand strong. Peel away the addiction.

-Average family spends only 37 minutes of quality time together on weekdays

-33% of teenagers spend 8+ hours on screens daily

-Parents spend an average of only 5.2 hours per week in meaningful conversation with their children

-72% of teenagers report checking their phones immediately upon waking

  • Screen Time: A 2023 report by Common Sense Media found that teens spend an average of nearly seven and a half hours per day on screens for entertainment, with 38% of teens reporting they use social media “almost constantly.”

 

2. Reclaim Dinner Hour

Bring back family dinners. Plan ahead, drastic times calls for drastic measures.

-Only 38% of American families eat dinner together every night

-Research shows children who have regular family dinners are:

-35% less likely to engage in disordered eating

-24% more likely to eat healthier foods

-12% less likely to be overweight

    • Use this time to talk about the day, ask faith-based questions, and connect.

 

3. Create Family Time and Traditions

Game Nights

-Only 21% of families report having regular game night…

-Declined 30% since 2000

-Families who play together show 44% better problem-solving skills

  • Benefits: Engaging in family games promotes problem-solving skills, teamwork, and strengthens family bonds. These activities provide opportunities for face-to-face interaction and collaborative learning.

Impact: Decreased empathy, weaker family connections, social skill decline

Read Together

-Only 17% of parents read aloud to their children daily

-40% decrease in parents reading to children aged 6-11 since 2000

-Children who are read to regularly have a 76% higher vocabulary by age 3

  • Benefits: Regular reading is linked to higher vocabulary and improved academic performance in children. Encouraging reading from an early age fosters cognitive development and language skills. Plu created stronger parent-child bonds.
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Family Service Projects/Mission Trips

-Plan time to serve together as a family. Locally or globally.

“Sabbath Rest” Days

-Take one day a week where family slows down, connects, and recharges.

Spend Time with Grandparents/ extended family

-27% of children see grandparents less than once per month

-Only 5% of American households are multi-generational

-67% decrease in extended family gatherings since 1980

  • Benefits: Regular interaction with extended family members, such as grandparents, can enrich children’s social experiences, allows wisdom-sharing, enriches cultural traditions, and provide additional emotional support.

4. Prioritize Faith as a Family

  1. Beyond just attending church, you must develop spiritual practices at home. Sadly, our children are growing up in homes where faith is becoming optional, not foundational.

  2. -47% decline in regular family prayer over the past 20 years

  3. -Only 23% of families attend religious services together weekly

  4. -31% decrease in family Bible reading since 2000

  • Benefits: Families that engage in religious activities together often report stronger family cohesion and shared values. These practices can provide a sense of community and moral guidance for children.

Biblical Perspective: Why It Matters

Moms, the enemy wants to keep us distracted, divided, and too busy for the things that strengthen our families. But God’s design is different:

  • Deuteronomy 6:6-7 tells us to teach our children diligently—when we sit, walk, lie down, and rise. That means in the everyday, not just Sundays.
  • Proverbs 22:6 reminds us to train up our children in the way they should go—not let the world do it for us.

Satan won’t steal our families overnight. He does it one habit at a time—one missed meal, one extra hour on screens, one more “I’m too busy” at a time.

We must be more than present- we must be engaged.

Moms, the culture won’t fight for your family—you have to. The small, everyday choices we make today will shape the families we have tomorrow. So, let’s be intentional.

Reclaim what matters.