5 Tips to Unplug From Technology From Kinsights’ Parenting Expert Jennifer Chung

Will you be a part of the National Day of Unplugging!?? Check out my 5 Tips to Unplug.

Out of sight, out of mind. Having the TV in the family room can make the television feel like the center of your family activities. If possible, put the TV in a hutch and close the doors when not in use. If your space is limited, move it into your bedroom (or better yet, a spare bedroom) to help make TV time more structured. On weekends, the family can snuggle on the bed and watch a movie together.

Set a predetermined time for use of tablets or video games.  Rather than battling over it all day, set a time and duration for when your kids will know they can play – many tablets even allow parents to pre-program access time.  Consider setting play time before dinner for 30 minutes.  If gives the kids a chance to unwind while you cook dinner.

Create off-limit times for all devices.  For example, have everyone turn in their cell phones before mealtime.  Use a dedicated drawer or box so that it becomes a habit for everyone to just drop their phone in before sitting down at the table.

Monthly unplugged day.  Why unplug just once a year?  Every month, ask the family to take one day to “unplug”.  Have family members take turns planning activities for the day (go on a bike ride, a nature walk or visit a museum).  Be sure to actually schedule the day every month and assign someone to be in charge of setting the agenda.

Make learning fun.  Since you can control what games/apps are on a tablet, pick options that are interactive and educational – there are lots of fun options that also encourage math, reading, and/or spelling skills.

Curb the snacks.  It’s easy to munch on snacks while watching a video without realizing how much (and how badly) you’ve eaten.  Try to avoid handing out empty calorie snacks while your kids are watching – a plate of fruit and low-fat cheese make a nice sweet and savory combo for kids.  And make sure you offset screen time with plenty of outdoor activities.

Family game night.  Replace watching TV with a family game night.  Game night is also a great opportunity to invite neighbors and friends over with their kids for some healthy competition.  And its a great way to encourage good sportsmanship, team building, and cooperation.

About Kinsights:
Meet Kinsights: part parenting community, part online health record, co-founded by Jennifer Chung. Kinsights provides parents with a safe place to seek answers to their questions while also helping them track their child’s health information. Organize your child’s growth and developmental milestones, immunizations, medications, allergies, and more. 

Refreshing My Old Blog Posts: The Good, The Bad, and The 404s

Updating an old blog post is a lot like an archaeological dig. You head in expecting to “dust” the archives and end up unearthing a series of questionable life choices from a decade ago. From over-filtered photos to advice that aged like room-temperature milk, the past can be… loud.

But it’s not just my old writing style that’s haunting me. It turns out, I have a resident spirit: The Ghost of Peanut Butter and Whine.

Meet the Ghost in the Machine

Apparently, while I was busy living my life, this digital poltergeist has been redecorating the archives. I recently opened a “quick update” only to find:

• The Vanishing Act: The Ghost has been deleting images, leaving behind empty boxes where helpful tutorial steps used to be. Apparently, my 2016 photography wasn’t “aesthetic” enough for the afterlife.
• The Dead Link Graveyard: Half my former brand partners have been exorcised. I’m finding links that lead to nowhere or, worse, to “AI Crypto Collectives” that definitely weren’t there before.
• Font Sabotage: The Ghost clearly has a vendetta against modern typography. I’m finding sections of text that have reverted to antique fonts that haven’t been cool since dial-up, making my blog look like a Geocities fan page.

I Am Giving My Content a Facelift

I’m sitting on a mountain of old posts, so here is the official Peanut Butter and Whine guide to a quick blog refresh (and ghost-busting):

1. Exorcising the 404s: I’m using a plugin to hunt down those dead links the Ghost left behind and pointing them somewhere that actually exists.
2. Updating the “Now”: If I mentioned a “must-have” product from five years ago, I’m swapping it for the 2026 version.
3. Spruce up the Metadata: I’m ensuring my focus keyword (blog) is in the headers and the first paragraph so the algorithms know exactly what’s up.

While You’re Here…

Don’t let your visit be a “one and done!” Since I’m already tidying up the place, why not stay a while?

• Win Big: Check out the sidebar for my current giveaway—I promise this one is actually alive and kicking!
• Earn Cash: Some things never go out of style. Rakuten still pays you to shop, and in this economy, why wouldn’t you take the free money?