What Can We Offer Instead of Screens? – Family Digital Dilemmas Take the Stage in Balatonfüred

A family dinner. A parent reaching for a phone, a kidd craving attention, and a situation that almost everyone in the audience is familiar with.

The scene came to life during the theatrical premiere of the play Among Screens on June 13 at the 6th From Alphas to Omega—Family Picnic. Held at Gapa Terrace and Parkerdő in Balatonfüred, the event used practical examples to demonstrate how we can strike a balancea balance between screen time and real-life connections.

The use of digital devices is appearing at an increasingly early age in kids' lives, while parents are often unsure of how to establish age-appropriate rules. The From Alpha to Omega event series seeks practical answers to this everyday question.

The audience could decide whether the story of a family raising young kids or teenagers would be presented on stage. Actors Lilla Pánics and Balázs Jerger based the scenes on these well-known family situations, and their interpretation was assisted by Gergő Fegyverneki, a media educator and digital pedagogy expert.

The audience began laughing within a few seconds. Not because the scene itself was particularly funny, but because it turned out to be all too familiar.

Making phone calls during family dinner, using the screen as a quick means of distraction, the invisible competition for attention, and debates over digital rules are all part of everyday life for many families.

The presentation did not seek to point out flaws, nor did it offer ready-made solutions for every situation. Rather, it showed that parents often face similar uncertainties and dilemmas.

The humor did not mask the problems, but brought them closer to home.

Gadgets have become a natural part of kids' everyday environment. The question, therefore, is no longer primarily whether they are present in families’ lives, but rather how we can strike a healthy balancebetween the use of digital devices, personal relationships, and offline experiences.

According to Gergő Fegyverneki, simply turning off or taking away the devices is not enough to achieve this.

„The question is what we offer in their place. The most important rules are created together, and they only work if adults set a good example. Eye contact, attention, and time spent together remain the strongest forms of connection even today,”—he said.

By the end of the presentation, the possible guiding principles for a family digital agreement had emerged from the real-life situations discussed. For example, everyone might put their phones away during family dinner, and the rules would be established together, and these rules apply not only to children but to adults as well.

After all, kids pay attention not only to what adults tell them but also to what they see them do day after day. Family digital culture, therefore, does not begin with apps or devices, but with everyday examples.

In addition to the theater performance, Gapa Terrace and Parkerdő welcomed families with nearly thirty interactive stations.

Visitors explored everything from the world of robotics and coding to sports, healthy eating, sustainability and forest education, all the way to astronomy, creative arts, reading, and drama—they were able to try their hand at a wide variety of activities.

The common thread running through the diverse program offerings was that kids and adults did not participate in the activities side by side, but together. Together, they explored, created, moved, and learned.

The event was not about excluding digital devices, but rather about how we can help children develop to develop mindful device use. It also showed how families’ everyday lives can be enriched with new experiences, and how curiosity, nature, physical activity, creativity, or playing together can foster genuine attention and engagement.

Several generations were present at the event. Parents, grandparents, and kids tried out the stations together, laughed together at the theatrical scenes, and shared the same experiences.

“When we see a grandparent and their grandchild trying something new together, a family laughing together at a theater, or that kids are able to explore the world with curiosity during their lessons, then we know it was worth organizing this day. Sports, nature, creativity, and group play all serve the same purpose: to foster genuine connections and to give kids many experiences where they can truly enjoy their childhood,” – said Diána Detre, mentor of the From Alphas to Omega event series and Olympic athlete.

According to Eszter Antal, deputy CEO of EduTech Hungary Zrt., families are primarily looking not for restrictions, but for solutions they can use in their everyday lives.

“From Alpha to Omega isn’t about what we should take away from children, but about what kind ofvaluable alternatives we can show them together,” – she said.

At the end of the day, the participants didn’t justtake home memories of a family event, but also practical insights and experiences that can help them navigate the everyday issues of a digital childhood. Conscious, age-appropriate rules, adults setting a good example, and shared offline experiences can together create a healthier balance in families’ daily lives.

Organized by EduTech Hungary Zrt. and EdTech Coalition, From Alphas to Omega aims to address issues related to childhood in the digital age in an accessible, practical, and engaging manner, while providing concrete examples of how to strike a balance between the online and offline worlds.