33 Screen-Free Ideas for Toddlers, Kids and Tweens

These screen-free ideas for kids are just a starting point of inspiration.

The amazing thing about kids is that once they get over themselves and get over being bored, they will find things to do. It helps to have some activities on hand like board games, and craft boxes and sometimes it helps to be involved, but it’s good to know that bored is great for their development. We thought it would also be helpful to link to some of the science to reassure yourself and give yourself confidence as they whine and to show them the science!

What my family does: For my family, I try my best to limit screens to homework only during the week, sometimes with Brisbane Kids deadlines I might relent for a few hours but generally I find this approach to work best for us. My kids are are loving a maths game called Prodigy and also play chess on chess.com so sometimes I allow that during the week too. I would love to hear your ideas if you have any that work or activity ideas your family uses.

Screen free ideas for toddlers

Make playdough and set up a cafe
build an indoor fort
Make some homemade slime
Make a craft box filled with paper, craft bits and pieces, sticky tape and glue
Press flowers
Do a nature collage with the leftover materials from gathering the flowers they press
Make paint stampers from potatoes
Make sculptures out of marshmallows and raw spaghetti
Visit one of the toddler-friendly beaches near Brisbane

Screen-free ideas for kids

Make a house out of raw spaghetti and craft glue
Visit scooter and skateboarding parks after school
Teach your child to play a card game
Play dress ups (visit your local op shop for inspiration)
Have fun with shadow puppets
Make pom pom animals
Build boats out of paper
Gather all your old blankets and take them to an animal shelter
Make Christmas/Easter/Halloween decorations
Make marshmallow shooters

Screen-free ideas for tweens

Make a bird feeder
Create a time capsule for their future self
Plan your next birthday party
Pull apart old unworn jewellery to make new jewellery
Set up a baking opportunity
Board games
Go geocaching
Help them plan and make a three-course meal

Longer Term Projects

Teach your kids to play chess
Plan a vegetable garden, plant, and harvest
start a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle together
Create a family artwork
Plan a family holiday and research locations

Here are the screen-free studies

There is this 2011 Study about television and the impact on storytelling in a group of preschoolers which helps to understand the early impacts of screentime. There is a whole book written about why boredom is good for you- buy it here.

NOW my caveat is- don’t read this and feel guilty for how much, or little screen time your kids do or don’t get- our kids live in a digital world- it is what it is and frankly, our parents probably watched too much TV. The point is to use science as moral support and to show your kids these screen-free ideas for inspiration.