48 hours tech-free: How one Kansas City family survived

From grandparents to children, the modern family is always plugged-in. But what would happen if you totally unplugged for 48 hours? A metro family agreed to try it.

Jane and Joe Cory, along with their 10-year-old son Joey, 15-year-old daughter Emily, and 17-year-old daughter Katherine were not certain how they would be able to cope. Jane Cory was optimistic.

"I was absolutely ... we are in on this, because we get tired of our kids being on their phones, as well as my husband," she said.

KCTV5 News arrived on a Tuesday morning at 7 a.m. to meet the family and collect every single cellphone, laptop, iPad, iPod and Xbox controller in the house. We also took their remote controls to all the television sets. The family agreed to not use anything with a screen for 48 hours.

When asked if she was looking forward to spending quality time with her family. Katherine Cory replied, "Ehhhhhhhh."

"I think the kids will be fighting like cats and dogs," Joe Cory said.

"I think something is going to get missed. I don't know what, but I feel like we're going to drop the ball somewhere," Jane Cory said.

KCTV5 checked back in with the family at the 12-hour point and found them all enjoying dinner together and discussing books they were reading.

Jane Cory was the only one missing, because she got stuck at a meeting and could not call home to tell the family.

Katherine was surprised how much school work she got done between classes without a cellphone.

"I was forced to be productive and do my work," she said.

KCTV5 checked back in with the family at the 24-hour point as they embarked on Day 2 without technology.

Jane Cory said the family hadn't forgotten any appointments or missed anything important due to the lack of technology.

At 36 hours, it was still smooth sailing, and the family was enjoying another evening together in the same room, talking to each other. They also had fun playing some old board games they found in the closet.

At 48 hours, it was time for KCTV5 to return all their gadgets. Jane Cory said she already noticed a shift in her family.

"We were a little more involved with each other. It was nice", Joe Cory said.

Joey said he was thrilled to get extra attention from his big sisters.

"I was excited! I was like, 'Yes!'" he said.

As the family left for work and school, Katherine made a conscious choice to leave her cellphone at home, saying she realized she doesn't need it.

As for Joey, his teacher told his mother the two days the family went tech-free were the best two days he had had in school all year long.

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