Recent research suggests that frequent cell phone use impacts our communication with others. When cell phones are in hand, we are more distracted and less in tune to the face to face conversation that is in front of us. This detachment affects our ability to understand and share the feelings of the person we are communicating with. Empathy requires paying attention to close detail and active listening. Check out this article for a more in depth look at this research:

Our mission at KindCraft is to teach children to be compassionate to others. In order to instill compassion in others, our children need to be paying attention to those around them. They need to be able to look someone in the eyes and hear in their voice that they need help or are hurting. As if this task isn’t hefty enough, it will be even that much harder if they grow up in a world that makes it acceptable to replace good conversations with the distraction of technology.

Typically our events focus on a service project for someone in need that the kids don’t actually know. This event will focus on the importance of instilling compassion and empathy for those we care most about-our immediate family and friends that we interact with on a daily basis. If we can master good communication skills in our own homes, without the distractions of technology, maybe our children will be inclined to be more engaged with their conversations outside of the home-developing deeper friendships and the ability to empathize with others.

How do we show compassion to those we love most? We look at them in the eyes. We listen to what they have to say. We ask them questions to show our interest and our love. KindCraft would love to encourage this in our children. Maybe, if we start them off as young children with this knowledge of the importance of face to face, human interaction, they will be more aware of it as teenagers.

So, if this sounds like something your family could benefit from, please join us for a Device Free Dessert! We will hear a brief presentation from Krista Boan, co-founder of START, Stand Together and Rethink Technology, a local nonprofit whose goal is to establish a new norm in Kansas City of families who stand together and rethink technology - developing healthy habits, values and training for tech use. While your family or group enjoys a dessert together, you will have the opportunity to try out some conversation starters we have developed, spanning a variety of age groups, themes, and categories. Our hope is that these conversation starters will help your group move towards deeper conversations that will engage your entire group enough that you forget your cell phone is within arms reach :) The kids will help hole punch and put together the conversation cards for START and KindCraft.

We encourage your entire family, from toddlers to teens, to take part in this activity. This event is free, but you MUST have a ticket to enter. Donations would be greatly appreciated to help cover the cost of expenses for the event. Recommended donation is $5 per person. To donate now, click here.