Screens are an inevitable part of most children’s lives. While technology certainly has its benefits, excessive screen time can negatively impact children’s development, health and wellbeing. As a parent, grandparent, or foster carer, it’s understandable to want to limit your child’s screen time and encourage them towards more active pursuits. Here are some screen-free activities you can try with your kids.
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Get Active Outdoors
Being physically active is so important for children’s growth and health. Getting them outside and away from screens is a great way to burn off energy and engage their senses.
- Go to the park and kick a ball around, play tag, Frisbee or other running games. Bring a picnic blanket and sandwiches to make an outdoor adventure of it.
- Explore nature trails, collect rocks, sticks, leaves and other treasures. See who can find the most interesting natural items.
- Plant a vegetable or flower garden Let them get their hands dirty digging, planting seeds and watering. They’ll love watching their garden grow!
- Go cycling, rollerblading or scootering around your local park. Make it a fun family bonding activity.
Get Creative with Arts and Crafts
Doing arts, crafts and other creative projects engages kids’ imaginations and helps develop their fine motor skills. If you are fostering children with an agency like Fosterplus, stock up on supplies and try activities like:
- Painting and drawing – set up an art station at home with paper, paints, crayons and more. Let them freely express themselves.
- DIY crafts – make puppets, masks, picture frames, potpourri sachets, friendship bracelets, handprint art and more. Crafting teaches problem solving too.
- Cookery and baking – knead dough, measure ingredients, follow recipes. Dishes can often be crafted into fun shapes.
- Building and construction – break out Lego, blocks, cardboard boxes. See what they can design and construct.
Play Games Together
Unplug and play traditional games as a family. Board games, card games, musical chairs, charades, I Spy and more get kids thinking strategically and creatively. Playing together builds social skills and creates priceless bonding time.
Read and Tell Stories
Curl up together with books, tell stories, and do funny voices. Reading expands children’s vocabulary and imagination. Let them tell or make up their own stories too. This screen-free quiet time together encourages learning and creativity.
The key is finding activities your child genuinely engages with and enjoys. With a little creativity, you can find plenty of fun ways to occupy your kids without relying on screens. Be patient — it may take time for new habits to form. But putting down devices sometimes can open up new worlds of adventure and quality time for your family.
Not Ready to Give Up Screens?
If your child is reluctant to give up screen time, find compromises like allowing tablets or TV only at certain times of day or as a reward for completing chores or other screen-free activities first. Lead by example and limit your own screen use around them. Enlist your partner’s help so you present a united front. Start small with brief screen-free sessions and build up from there. Reward progress with praise, encouragement and fun outings. Make it a gradual, positive process. With persistence, your family can find a healthier balance.
