Student learning · Grades K–2 · 25 minutes
The Dinner Table Deal
Young children notice how it feels when a screen interrupts time together, act it out, and make a simple "table deal" with their family about one screen-free time, so everyone, grown-ups too, gets a turn to be listened to.
Little kids feel it when a grown-up's eyes slide to a phone in the middle of their story, and grown-ups feel it when a child won't look up from a tablet at dinner. This lesson gives young children gentle words for that feeling and a tiny, fair plan to fix it. Children act out two short scenes, one where a screen interrupts time together and one where it doesn't, and notice the difference in their bodies and feelings. They learn that this is not about screens being bad; screens help us a lot, and there is a right time for them. Then they take home a "table deal": one screen-free time the whole family picks together, where everyone, kids and grown-ups, puts devices away so they can really listen to each other. The deal is on purpose a two-way promise, because children learn balance best when the adults they love practice it too.
In this packet
- Handout A: Two Scenes (cut-apart cards)
- Handout B: How Did It Feel? (organizer)
- Handout C: Our Family Table Deal (worksheet)
- Facilitator key (last page)
TCEA ELE indicators
- S3.2 I can communicate my ideas clearly to others.
- S3.1 I know how to work effectively in a team.
- S4.1 I know how to take responsibility for my own learning.
- S3.3 I am aware of the value of diverse perspectives in group work.
Full facilitator guide: mglearn.github.io/eles/activities/the-dinner-table-deal.html
Handout A for The Dinner Table Deal
Two Scenes
Act these out with a pretend phone (a block or card). After each scene, talk about how it felt.
scene 1
Dinner time. One person keeps looking at a phone. The others try to tell about their day, but the phone keeps pulling the eyes away.
scene 2
Same dinner. The phone is resting in a basket. Everyone looks at each other and listens. One person shares good news and everyone hears it.
try it
A child wants to show a grown-up a picture they drew, but the grown-up is scrolling. Act out a kind way to ask for listening.
try it
A grown-up wants to hear about a child's day, but the child is deep in a tablet game. Act out a kind way to ask for listening.
both ways
Show a moment where a screen HELPED the family (a video call with a far-away grandparent, a recipe, a song to dance to).
both ways
Show the family choosing their listening time together and everyone putting phones in the basket, grown-ups too.
Handout B for The Dinner Table Deal
How Did It Feel?
After each scene, draw a face or write a word. There are no wrong answers. Just notice how it felt.
| Scene | My body felt | My feelings felt | Was I listened to? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scene 1: the phone kept interrupting | |||
| Scene 2: phones away, everyone listening |
Handout C for The Dinner Table Deal
Our Family Table Deal
Start at school. Finish at home with your family. Family note: this is not about screens being bad, they help us a lot. It is a two-way promise to protect one listening time where EVERYONE, grown-ups too, puts devices away. Please make this deal together with your child.
Draw the one time our family will make screen-free so we can listen to each other (dinner, bedtime, the car, breakfast).
Draw where the phones will wait during our listening time (a basket, a shelf, another room).
The kind words we will use: "I want to hear you, so I'm putting my phone away."
Everyone who promises to join the deal (kids AND grown-ups):
Facilitator only for The Dinner Table Deal
Answer key and notes
Handout A: Two Scenes
- scene 1
- Ask: How did it feel for the people trying to share? For the person on the phone? (Let a grown-up be the one on the phone sometimes.)
- scene 2
- Ask: How did this feel different? What did your body do? What did your feelings do?
- try it
- Practice: "Can we have phones away so I can show you something?" The grown-up says, "Yes, I'm listening," and puts the phone down.
- try it
- Practice: "I want to hear about your day. Let's put screens away for a little." Everyone gets a turn to ask and to listen.
- both ways
- Remember: screens are good and help us a lot. The deal is only about one listening time, not about screens being bad.
- both ways
- The deal is for EVERYBODY. That is what makes it fair and easy to keep.