A group of 15 restaurants in Sardinia has launched a new trial initiative aimed at encouraging families to engage in conversation rather than focusing on their electronic devices while dining. The campaign, titled "A tavola senza schermi"—or "At the table without screens"—seeks to limit excessive screen time among children and promote real-world interaction during meals.
Spearheaded by Anna Cau, the children’s ombudsman for the island and a former juvenile magistrate, the project will run as a one-month pilot starting next week. Participating families are required to put their smartphones away upon arrival. To facilitate engagement, staff will provide a "reunion kit" developed by the Italian federation of paediatricians. This kit includes drawings and games designed to help children under 18 open up to their parents by sharing stories about their daily experiences. Furthermore, the materials include a brochure that outlines the potential risks of digital overexposure and offers practical advice for managing social media usage at home.
Cau emphasized that the initiative is not about relying on prohibitions or placing the burden solely on parents. Instead, she described it as a modest step within a broader philosophy intended to ensure the environment supports parents and helps minors integrate with others. She noted the necessity of real-world settings that accommodate the lives of both adults and children.
The scheme was developed in collaboration with the Sardinian branch of Fipe-Confcommercio, an association representing the catering, tourism, and entertainment sectors. According to Emanuele Frongia, the federation’s president on the island, the 15 establishments involved agreed to participate willingly, with plans to expand the project on a voluntary basis in the future. Frongia highlighted that while restaurants play a vital role in fostering family intimacy, they increasingly observe lively chatter being replaced by silence as patrons focus on their devices, with children often handed a phone simply to keep them quiet.
