Holiday booked? Check. Are family passports up to date? Check. Kids camp? Sorted. New bikini? Arrived yesterday. Pedicure? They squeezed you in next week. You are summer ready… Or are you?

It’s easy to forget about our digital technology and gadgets when planning our summers. You get the dress right but where will you carry the phone? Have you packed the plug adapter with the charger? How will you listen to music in the airport waiting lounge? And how much more time will the kids spend on screens as the six weeks play out?

Being summer-ready includes being tech-ready. So, here are some things to help you get your digital essentials in place for you and your kids. Then you can relax.

Preparation 

Start by asking yourself; what do you need to take? Is your laptop essential, after all, you’re supposed to be on holiday. Can you manage with just your phone? The more tech you take, the more valuables and baggage weight you have to carry.

If you’re flying, it’s better to take tech on board with you. If your luggage gets lost, it’s easier and cheaper to replace conditioner, than a recently bought tablet. It also means your lithium batteries will be in the cabin with you, where they are supposed to be. Don’t forget you need some battery power on those devices as you may be asked to fire up a device at airport security.

Pack your tech into padded pouches or pockets, and keep food, drink and other liquids separate, including lip balm that can melt into an oily goo. Also, make sure your bag is comfortable to carry.

Smartphone; costs

Most people take their smartphones with them as a minimum.

If you’re leaving the UK – or your home country – it’s worth getting ready for extra mobile costs. How much extra? There is so much variation that the smart thing to do is contact your provider by phone, message or live chat. Tell them exactly where you’re going and ask questions such as;

1. Do I need to set up international roaming on my account – and how can I check it’s set up on my phone?

2. I’m going to an EU country, if I use my phone for calls or data is it the same cost as in the UK, or do you add a charge? (This has changed since July 2022, because Britain left the EU.)

3. I’m going outside the EU/on a cruise, can you explain the roaming costs? On a cruise, your phone may seek the ship’s satellite link which would likely mean your costs go up.

4. How can I track or cap my mobile phone spending while out of the UK/my home country?

Smartphone; safety

Tourists get distracted by the sites, looking at the map and seeking out the best ice cream, and this makes them an easy target for pickpockets. What can you do?

1. Keep your phone out of sight in your bag or a pocket (the front pocket is better than the back pocket!). You might think about using a lanyard or purpose-made bag to wear across your body.

2. Don’t get your phone out and use it in busy spaces and places. If you need to use it, step inside a shop or café.

3. Make sure you know how to contact your provider and do it straight away if your phone is taken.

4. You can take out insurance on your mobile… but your provider may already offer some limited cover – ask them.

5. Get a screen protector and/or case to prevent damage.

6. Get a water-resistant phone pouch for the beach or pool. It may feel clumsy, but better than a stolen phone while you’re taking a dip.

7. Put important telephone numbers, like the hotel, the airline, or your service provider, in an email to yourself or even on a piece of paper. It’s also a good idea to have your phone’s International Mobile Station Equipment Identity (IMSEI) number – found in phone settings, or press *#06# on the keypad and it will come up.

8. If you decide not to take your phone out, use the hotel locker. If they don’t have one, it may be best to take it with you.

Mobile phones; the tech bit

1. Public wifi can be very tempting when you want to find out something quickly. But public wifi is often insecure and hackers can intercept data, so be careful.

2. Install a VPN, a virtual private network which disguises your location and encrypts information. An internet search can help you.

3. Use fingerprint or face recognition as your unlock and set your phone to lock as soon as not in use, even though this can be annoying!

4. Install a phone finder app. The internet offers you plenty of choices.

5. Make sure your photos are backed up to an online storage system – if your phone is stolen, lost or damaged, at least you’ll have the pictures.

6. Make sure you have the right chargers and plug adapters and don’t leave them behind in the hotel.

Tech and the kids

With six weeks off school, screen time inevitably increases. And who doesn’t hand their child a device in the hope of getting a little more peace and quiet for just a little longer? It becomes a battle between ‘boredom is good for kids,’ said by onlookers, and ‘I’m bored,’ repeatedly said by your kids.

Things to think about when it comes to tech are the same for everyone; sleep, health and wellbeing, the content kids are watching, how easy or hard it is to access alternative activities and time, transport issues and cost. But how you weigh those up, that’s for you to decide. You have to do what’s right for your kids - and for you – when it comes to tech.

If you are keen to reduce – or at least not increase – screen time, rest assured the internet is awash with lists of ‘things to do to get kids off screens’. But before you start searching, it might be useful to take a quick look at why screens and social media are so compelling.

Brain candy

Activities on screens offer endless stimulation and rewards. Each reward is like brain candy. It causes the brain to release a small amount of dopamine, which makes us feel good. Then we want the next release of dopamine, so we seek out the next stimulation. This loop effect is powerful, especially in children and teens. Social media and games have plenty of frequent rewards that never end; there’s always more content to scroll, you are rewarded for coming back the next day (streaks), there’s another level of the game to play, you get another life or another follower or like … and so it goes on.

What we tend to do for kids is replace the screen with activities that have few – or even none - of these kinds of features. But what if screen-free activities had some of these features too?

Ideas

Here are a few ideas that try to play up rewards while offering other kinds of enjoyment. Don’t be too ambitious – manage expectations and set up the whole family for success;

1. Where are the board games? Get them out - these are also designed for enjoyment! And they also demonstrate the value of an endpoint.

2. Get the kids to make their own games. Can they adapt ideas from video games?

3. How many days in a row all the family can stay off the screen?

4. Start a family streak chart and track everyone’s progress. Maybe a daily reward?

5. What if they have to their screen time each day? Read ten pages, write a story, make a game, play lego, tidy their room, help walk the dog …

6. Full detox may be too much to ask; what about a set time each day? Or one full day a week off screens?

7. Play with them, even bigger kids love playing with their parents and carers, this will surely give their brains a pleasure hit!

8. Start an activity jar; everyone puts into the jar and everyone has to do an activity from the jar every day. Keep those streaks going.

9. You know what - let them have screens! Make them negotiate a deal, and increase the screen time… maybe for your family, it’s give and take.

10. Don’t forget… activities outdoors are good for everyone, increasing serotonin to help regulate mood, and providing good Vitamin D does from the sunshine.

What you can do 

1. Do you tend to think ‘I’ll just finish what I’m doing and then spend time with the kids later.’ The result is they get frustrated waiting and you end up feeling harassed.

2. Turn it around. Play or spend time with them first. Agree on a cut-off time, and set an alarm if you need to. Starting with them sets you up for the day.

3. Do stuff together. Cook. Clean up. Dance. Laugh. Together.

4. Can’t get them off the screen? – spend screen time with them. Watch funny videos, play a game, and show them your Insta account.

5. Create a family social media account. Decide the parameters and privacy and work on it together.

Tech makes summer activities and holidays easy and fun; you can get all the information you need about where to go and what to do. It’s useful for long journeys, booking trips, meeting up and keeping in contact with friends and family simply by having your phone with you. It’s amazing.

But the tech also comes with things to think about. Just as your hair needs some thought to prepare it for the sun, sand and sea – like the right shampoo and conditioner for you – so your tech needs some preparation.

Happy Summer Holidays!