Keep Kids Busy Without Screen Time

While technology offers parents a quick way to entertain their children, it can also be addictive if not used in moderation. A great way to reduce excessive screen time is by encouraging your kids to engage in tech-free projects that are both fun and creative, like reading a book, trying an indoor obstacle course, or playing a board game. We’re sharing our favorite screen-free activities that inspire interaction, learning, and imagination without the use of technology.

Get Creative

With simple household items, your kids can create amazing things worthy of displaying on your fridge. Introduce a new activity outside their traditional toys and watch their imaginations soar.

Painting and Coloring: Provide your kids with their favorite paint colors or coloring books and let their imaginations run free. Sensory art is a great beginner activity for babies and toddlers. Mix different colors in zip-lock bags and let them explore textures and color transformations.

Arts and Crafts: If your child enjoys creating, incorporate additional materials and encourage them to craft a masterpiece. Gather play dough, toilet paper rolls, tissue paper, sidewalk chalk, glue, and more to see what they can build. For kids aged 10-12, provide paint pens, brushes, and watercolors to uncover their inner Picasso.

Artistic activities are timeless and perfect tech-free ways to entertain kids and encourage innovation and self-expression for all ages.

Get Active

Kids have a seemingly endless energy pool. Encouraging them to get active through indoor or outdoor activities will provide the stimulation they need to release that energy.

Forts: A fun home activity is to gather spare cardboard boxes, blankets, and pillows for your kids to build forts. Challenge them to create a kid obstacle course from the cardboard boxes. Let their imaginative play take over and watch their inner architect and builder emerge.

Outside Play: In addition to traditional sports, you can send your children on a scavenger hunt in the backyard. Establish themes for the hunts and have them investigate different plants, birds, or bugs. For younger kids, provide kiddie pools or bubbles to entertain them outside. Kids love to explore and be active, but remember to keep child safety precautions in mind!

Dance Party: Play catchy music and let your kids have a dance party for indoor and outdoor fun. This is a great idea for babies and toddlers to get their bodies moving. Add tag or musical chair games for older kids to take it to the next level.

Get Thinking

Device-free activities for kids can be a great learning experience. Introduce games and opportunities for your child to develop and tap into their brain power.

Puzzles: These are educational and fun. Puzzles teach kids problem-solving skills and help develop brain muscle. From wooden ones for toddlers to complex ones for kids, they bolster logical and analytical skills. Thoughtfully crafted puzzles entertain kids without tech. Beginner puzzles keep toddlers busy, giving parents quiet time, while challenging ones entertain older kids for hours.

Board Games: Not just for rainy days, board games are ideal for cozy indoor time and great for mental stimulation. Introduce classic examples like tic-tac-toe, checkers, or chess. Revisit games like CLUE or LIFE. Whichever you choose, they can help your children learn strategy while enjoying a fun, screen-free activity.

Reading: Children’s books can be the escape your child needs. There are benefits of reading to children or having them read independently. It enhances their imagination and helps them create their own mental images. Books are ideal for all children if you’re looking for an activity to stimulate curiosity and support brain development. Babies and toddlers often enjoy books with rhyme, rhythm, or repetition. Older children can learn new vocabulary and absorb an endless amount of information. It’s a screen-free activity that enables quiet time for parents.

Science Experiments: You can use basic household materials for various experiments. This is the perfect activity for your kids to learn how different materials react. They can use this knowledge to perform safe, simple projects to show friends and family.

Electronic-Free Activities and Fun

We all understand technology plays a vital role in our lives. If used correctly, it can provide parents and children access to a wide variety of useful information and entertainment. When deciding the right age for kids to get a phone, it’s important to practice balance, ensuring they aren’t consumed by their devices. Reducing screen time will benefit their development, and encouraging screen-free activities will introduce new and exciting fun into their lives.