Screen-free activities for children
20 fun ways for the whole family to play!
Looking for family activities free from digital distractions? Here are some easy screen-free ideas to try out with your children – whether you have toddlers or teens!
Jump to play ideas for:
Screen-free activities for 1-4-year-olds
1. Guess the animal
Write down the names, or draw a picture, of animals your child knows on small pieces of paper. Fold each one and put them into a container. Then, take turns to take a paper and act out the animal while the rest of the family guesses!
Another fun way to play: Make different animal noises and have your child guess which animal you’re pretending to be. Take turns and let them make some noises too while you guess. This is a great opportunity to teach your child more about animals.
2. Cloud shapes
Lie down outside on a blanket or towel and look up at the clouds. Talk about the shapes you see. Do any of them look like familiar objects or animals?
3. Sock puppets
Make a puppet out of socks or discarded clothes – get creative with wool, buttons and string. Then, use the puppet to talk to your child! Use different voices to tell stories and express different feelings.
4. Family band
Grab pots, pans and other “musical” objects you find around the house and make some music together! Little ones enjoy learning rhythm and exploring all of the different sounds they can make.
5. Dress up
Use fabric, clothes and other items around the house to create costumes for you and your child. Then, have your child lead the way for a game of make-believe!
Activities for 5–8-year-olds that don’t involve screens
1. Nature walk
Go outside with your child and talk about what you see. Teach them about the plants and wildlife they can find in their own backyard. How many different trees can you find? How many types of birds can you see?
2. Home scavenger hunt
Hide some familiar, child-safe objects around your home and give your child clues to find each one. Get creative with your descriptions and see how quickly they can track each one down!
3. I spy
Practice some language and maths skills by playing ‘I spy.’ Keep it simple: Start, for example, by saying “I spy with my little eye something that is blue,” or “I spy with my little eye three things that are round,” and let your child ask you for more clues until they guess it.
4. Storytellers
Sit in a circle with your family members. One person will start the story, and then everyone will take turns adding to it. For example: “One day, Jon went for a walk. The first thing he saw was a dog. . .” Then turn to the next person to add the next sentence. After you've finished your story, you could also draw a picture of it together.
5. Hide and seek
This game is a beloved classic for a reason! Take turns hiding and counting with your child, and make sure to set the boundaries of the game before you start playing. Whether you’re playing indoors or outside, adjust the play space based on your child’s age and abilities.
Tech-free play ideas for adolescents
1. Statues
Pick some music you and your child like and choose someone to be in charge of pressing “play” and “pause.” While the music is playing, dance your hearts out! When the music stops, freeze and stay as still as a statue. Then, start up the music again.
2. Obstacle course
Using objects you find outside or around the home, create an obstacle course for you and your child to run through. Try adding some of these obstacles:
- Add ropes or string for lines to hop over.
- Put a blanket over two chairs to create a tunnel.
- Make stepping stones.
- Add stops along the way to do things like star jumps/jumping jacks, hops or toe touches.
See who can get through it the fastest!
3. Childhood favourites
Introduce your child to your favourite childhood game. Talk about what made it special to you and who you used to play with. This is a great opportunity for you to bond with your child and have fun doing it!
> Watch kids playing their parents’ favourite childhood games
4. Guess the drawing
Have everyone in your family write down five things – animals, plants, buildings, etc. – on small pieces of paper and put the papers in a container. Each person will take a turn to take a paper and draw what is written on it. See who can guess the drawing first! The first person to guess correctly goes next.
5. Get growing
Create a small flower or vegetable patch together. This can also be done indoors, such as growing a plant or herbs. See what beautiful flowers, delicious fruits or healthy vegetables you can bring to life together!
Screen-free ideas for teens
1. Reading club
Choose a book, poem or article to read and pick a time to talk about it together. What did you find interesting about it? What did you learn?
2. Create a vision board
Gather magazines, newspapers or print out pictures and create a vision board about the future. Try a theme such as "what will cities be like" or "how will people live" and take turns presenting and talking about your ideas!
3. Family olympics
Host the games right in your own home! You don’t need to create elaborate tracks, pitches or courses. Who can jump the highest or farthest? Who is the most flexible? See who can win the most “gold medals”!
4. Chef for the day
Create a dish together with your teen around a food of their choice. Shop for ingredients together and then get cooking! Work as a team to make the meal. See how many colours you can add to your menu using their favourite fruits and vegetables.
5. Game night!
Have a family game night and encourage your teen to pick the game. Try a new board game or puzzle together or dust off an old family favourite.
