Discover various screen-free activities for kids and teens that are fun and engaging. These amazing ideas can encourage creativity and limit screen time.
It is common for kids, teens, and even adults to take out their devices and stare at their screens whenever they’re-they’re bored. Engaging in screen-free activities is becoming rarer by the day. Thus, we have compiled this list of screen-free activities to help kids and teens unplug and explore the world beyond their screens.
Screen Free Activities for Kids
Being in the prime of their youth, kids mustn’t be glued to a screen when they could be doing something productive and fun. Here is a small list of screen-free activities ideal for small children.
Scavenger Hunt
There are many ways to play scavenger hunt with your child, no matter their age. For very small kids, you can describe an object around the house and have them find it as quickly as possible. As they get older, add more obstacles to this fun screen-free activity, such as clues, riddles, and hiding objects in and out of the house.
Bird-Watching
This is one of the most calming screen-free activities for kids. All you have to do is grab some binoculars and head to the local park, where you can have a lighthearted contest to see who can spot the most birds or identify different species. This activity is a break from the overstimulation from screens and a good way to reconnect with nature.
Who’s Sausage?
This is a very silly game that only needs three people to play. For this fun screen-free activity, you must choose a person to be “Sausage.” You then ask Sausage silly questions, to which they can only answer with the word “Sausage.” The first person to make Sausage laugh wins.
Drawing
A must-have on a list of screen-free activities, drawing is a great way to keep your kids occupied without them trashing the house. With just some paper and any medium of coloring, they can draw their favorite things, create a story, or even attempt still-life drawing.
Build a Tree of Thanks
This screen-free activity is a great way to promote gratitude and mindfulness in your child. To do this, cut out some construction paper leaves and have your child write things they’re thankful for on them. Then, glue the leaves onto a piece of paper or a brown cardboard “trunk” to create a colorful “thank you” tree.
Read
Another essential addition to a list of screen-free activities, reading is arguably one of the best pastimes for a child. Introducing popular authors and books like Roald Dahl, Enid Blyton, and J.K Rowling at a young age can spark a lifelong interest in reading. You can read together with your child to create some precious memories.
Snail Mail
Introduce the joy and excitement of sending handwritten letters with this screen-free activity. Encourage your child to write a letter to a friend or family member. You can even decorate the envelope, and adding stickers adds another layer of fun.
Tag
This classic game is a surefire way to get kids moving and burning off energy. If you want to add more spice to this screen-free activity, you can add variations to the game, like freeze tag and capture the flag.
Puzzle
Crossword and jigsaw puzzles are great ways for kids to spend their time without staring at a screen. Crossword puzzles are a brain-teasing activity that helps develop vocabulary and spelling skills, while jigsaws are scientifically proven to improve focus and concentration.
Build A Fort
Fort building is one of the most screen-free activities for kids, regardless of age. While it may make a small mess, it is a great bonding experience for your child and their friends or family. Encourage them to decorate it with lights and toys, have smacks within, play imaginative games, or even read – the options are endless.
Legos
Lego building is a classic way of making kids go screen-free. You can get a Lego set that is based on your child’s favorite movies and video games and help them build something magnificent. If you can’t afford a Lego set, you can even make do with regular building blocks, encouraging your child to use their imagination to build something on their own.
Go on a walk
If you feel your child has been staying indoors for too long, grab their hand and stroll through the neighborhood. You can chat, play I Spy, and even stop somewhere for a nice snack or drink to keep things interesting.
Screen Free Activities for Teens
While teens can do some of the screen-free activities that kids do, you cannot deny that teens require a little bit more engagement or challenge. Here are some perfect screen-free activities that teens are bound to like.
Start a Garden.
Gardening is a rewarding, screen-free activity for teens that requires responsibility and patience. Whether you are planting herbs on a windowsill or cultivating a full-fledged vegetable patch, this activity is a great way to get outside and divert attention from a screen. You can also reap the rewards of this pastime and incorporate your veggies into dishes to serve to your family.
Sports
Sports are classic screen-free activities for a reason! Team up with friends for a game of basketball, soccer, or volleyball. If traditional sports aren’t aren’t your thing, you can explore alternatives like frisbee, rollerblading, or rock climbing.
Card Game
An obvious essential to this list of screen-free activities, card games are a great way of spending quality time with your friends and family without having to depend on a device. With a simple deck of cards, you can play classics like poker and rummy or new favorites like Exploding Kittens.
Sudoku
This screen-free activity is centered around logic and problem-solving skills rather than entertainment. For teens who have a knack for math, sudoku can be a challenging distraction from doom scrolling on a phone. Sudoku puzzles come in various difficulty levels, so you can find one that’s perfectly suited to your skill set.
Bake
This is a fun, screen-free activity that is rewarding to teens (and adults) with a sweet tooth. Get in the kitchen and whip up a batch of cookies, brownies, or a fancy cake. Baking is a fun and creative activity that can be enjoyed alone or with friends. Plus, you get to enjoy the yummy rewards or even sell it to earn money!
Color, draw, or paint
This is one screen-free activity that is as perfect for teens as it is for kids. If you have a knack for art, don’t be afraid to take out your supplies and create a piece, whether it’s a doodle or a masterpiece. If you’re not good at drawing, you can get free printable coloring patterns to color in.
Ride a bike, skateboard, or scooter.
This is a very liberating option in the list of screen-free summer activities. With some friends or on your own, you can cruise down the street on a bike, skateboard, or scooter. It’s a great way to get some exercise, explore their surroundings, and enjoy the fresh air.
Make slime
This is another fun, screen-free activity that you can do with a few basic school ingredients. For some extra fun, have a slime party with your friends, where you make your own slime and add fun colors, textures, and decor to keep things interesting. Not only is this activity fun, but it is also stress relieving, especially for teens who are amidst exams.
Do Origami
The art of origami is a challenging option for this list of screen-free activities. It’s a meditative but creative way of spending your time, and at the end of the day, you will be able to make beautiful paper creations. If you’re a beginner, start with simple folds and progress to more complex designs.
Read
Reading isn’t just for kids! There’s a whole world of literature waiting to be explored. With this essential screen-free activity, you can explore classic novels, young adult fiction, fan fiction, and even manga; there’s a genre for every teen’s interest.
Dance
Dancing is one of the most fun screen-free activities that we, whether you are a child, a teen, or a tween. Just blast your favorite songs and dance to the content of your heart’s heart in your home. For a bit of a challenge, you can invite some friends over and have a dance-off.
Declutter your bedroom
If you feel like you have some free time on your hands, take the opportunity to declutter your room. Purge your closet of things you might not need anymore and donate them. Clear out your study table and dust all the surfaces. It is a rewarding alternative to looking mindlessly at a screen.
Final Words
The digital world offers endless entertainment, but there’s a whole universe waiting to be explored beyond the screen. So next time your kid or your teen reaches for a device, consider these screen-free activities instead.
