10/15/2026
Could your family go an entire day without cell phones, tablets, computers or video games? The Jones County Safe and Healthy Youth Coalition is challenging local families to find out by participating in a 24-Hour Family Device-Free Day on Sunday, Nov. 8, from midnight to 11:59 p.m.
The challenge is open to Jones County families with children ranging from toddlers through high school seniors, including families whose children attend school in Jones County.
The goal is simple: put away the devices for one day and spend intentional, quality time together as a family. The Coalition hopes the experience will encourage families to find new ways to connect—not only for one day, but in the future as well.
What Does “Device-Free” Mean? For the challenge, the entire household is asked to participate by going without recreational use of cell phones, tablets/iPads, computers and video games for the full 24 hours.
Instead of reaching for a device, families are encouraged to rediscover other ways to have fun and connect. Play cards or board games, cook and eat a meal together, head outside for a walk or family activity, read books, exercise, work on a project, or participate in a church or community activity. The activity itself isn’t important. Spending time together is!
Families who successfully complete the 24-hour challenge will be eligible for a prize drawing for a free overnight stay at Grand Harbor Resort in Dubuque, including one standard hotel room and four tickets to the resort’s indoor water park.
Families must register by 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, using the QR code on the Device-Free Day flyer attached for the online registration form (or the link is below). The flyer will be in the paper as an ad, posters are up in the community, and the registration is on the Jones County Youth Coalition page and website. After Device-Free Day, registered families will receive an email on Monday, Nov. 9, with a short follow-up survey. To qualify for the prize drawing, an adult from the household must complete the survey by Tuesday, Nov. 10, confirming that the family successfully completed the 24-hour challenge. The winning family will be drawn Wednesday, Nov. 11 at the Jones County Safe and Healthy Youth Coalition lunch meeting at the Lawrence Community Center at 11:30. No need to be present to win.
The Jones County Safe and Healthy Youth Coalition encourages families to take the challenge, disconnect from their devices and spend one day reconnecting with each other. Are you and your family up for the challenge? Use the QR Code below to register today!
