Somewhere between the group chats, the tablets and the telly, most of us have had the same thought: the kids need a proper break from screens, and so do we. If you are hunting for screen free activities for kids that do not need special equipment or hours of setup, this list is for you. There are 101 ideas here, from bird watching to secret codes to baking, so there is something for every age, every attention span and every kind of weather.
How to Use This List
Do not try to work through all 101. Pick three or four that suit today: the weather, the energy levels and whatever is already in the cupboard. Let each child choose one idea and take turns. The best screen free activities for kids are the ones they picked themselves.
101 Screen-Free Activities for Kids
- Go on a bug hunt
- Make a paper airplane that flies across the room
- Create a self-portrait
- Measure a tree
- Read a book
- Plant some seeds
- Draw on the sidewalk with chalk
- Make your own secret code
- Create a weather station
- Make bubbles
- Dress up
- Create a time capsule
- Make marshmallows
- Make s’mores
- Create a collage out of magazines
- Make paper people
- Have a treasure hunt
- Run around the garden 10 times and time yourself
- Make a bird feeder
- Learn a new instrument
- Write a Haiku
- Make slime
- Draw a fun factory
- Have a scavenger hunt
- Make garden perfume
- Draw a comic book
- Paint a picture
- Have an arm wrestling match
- Make finger or sock puppets
- Colour a picture
- Play hopscotch
- Make honeycomb
- Draw your town
- Go on a nature hunt
- Go birdwatching
- Plant sunflowers
- Sort out your toys
- Make sun shadows
- Play a game of Beggar My Neighbour
- Photograph a rainbow of things
- Make a fortune teller
- Create a Fairy Garden
- Make pizza dough
- Play Rock, Paper, Scissors
- Brush or walk the dog
- Bake cookies
- Make a family newspaper
- Make jelly/jello
- Learn a magic trick
- Write and put on a play
- Make a marble run
- Play solitaire (with cards)
- Wash the car
- Build a new LEGO creation
- Make a flick book
- Learn a card trick
- Go for a bike ride
- Make a smoothie
- Tidy your room
- Make mudpies
- Go on a sound hunt
- Do 25 star jumps or burpees
- Make play dough
- Paint a rock
- Sort out your LEGO
- Make some soup
- Sing a song
- Write a letter and post it
- Go on an alphabet hunt
- Make up a new dance
- Make a musical instrument
- Make ice lollies
- Practise napkin folding into new shapes
- Write your name in an ancient language
- Interview your grandma or grandpa
- Make invisible ink
- Create a fairy catalogue
- Make a miniature book
- Listen to a podcast or story
- Skip 100 times
- Play marbles
- Build an obstacle course
- Help make dinner
- Learn how to sew and try an easy sewing project
- Have a disco
- Help in the garden
- Write a short story in 100 words
- Build a card house
- Make lemonade
- Try blow art
- Draw your family tree
- Draw around your hands and add rings and a watch
- Fly a kite
- Make gingerbread men
- Make a sun catcher
- Look at old photo albums
- Make a milkshake
- Draw your dream house
- Learn how to knit and try an easy knitting project
- Jump on the trampoline 100 times
- Build a den or fort
Frequently Asked Questions
What are good screen free activities for kids?
The best screen free activities are simple ones that use what you already have at home: card games, baking, den building, scavenger hunts, drawing and outdoor play. Start with whatever your child already enjoys on a screen, then find its offline cousin: a child who loves building games will usually love LEGO or a marble run.
How do I get my child off screens without a fight?
Swap, do not just switch off. Agree the screen-free time in advance, have the alternative ready to go before the screen goes off, and join in for the first few minutes. Younger children find it much easier to leave a screen for something than for nothing.
What screen free activities work for different ages?
Toddlers and preschoolers do best with sensory ideas like play dough, bubbles and mudpies. Primary-age children love hunts, codes, crafts and card games. Tweens and teens respond better to a challenge: learning a card trick, cooking a real meal, or timing themselves on anything.
More Ideas Families Love
- 8 Easy Card Tricks for Kids to Delight and Amaze
- 20 Classic Games From Your Own Childhood to Teach Your Kids
- 50 Fun Outdoor Activities for Kids (with a free printable checklist)
- 101 Fantastic Ideas for Screen-Free Summer Activities
Get More Ideas Every Week
Want a fresh idea waiting in your inbox each week? Join the free MyKidsTime newsletter for family activities, printables and inspiration for every kind of day.
