Best Classic Screen-Free Activities for Kids

We have all been there. Maybe you need to get some work done or you just need a 10-minute break from the kids hanging on your legs all day. The kids need to be busy but you also don’t want them staring at a TV screen, phone, or tablet for hours. I created my list of “Classic Screen-Free Activities for Kids” for just this scenario. I chose classic activities because they have been proven to work for decades if not more.

Why screen-free activities? I have noticed in my children, that the more they watch, the more they act out in various ways. I do my best to limit the screen time that my children have for this reason. When I do allow my children to be on tablets, they only have educational games to play (and learn). This is true for all my children ages 2 to 10. And if they are watching a cartoon or video on YouTube, it is in a foreign language so that (hopefully) they are at least learning something.

Honestly, one of the best things we did as a family was getting rid of the television 4 years ago. It has forced us to do more things as a family. Thus, we read more, do more arts and crafts, go outside to get fresh air and sunlight, do lots of swimming, ride bicycles, and playgrounds to make the kids tired. I truly believe that limiting screen time has greatly helped my children grow both their mental and physical abilities more quickly.

Please go through my list of suggestions, find something you like, and try it out with your kids!

Indoor Activities

Let’s start with indoor activities. They depend on the age of your kids and their mood.

7 Great Rainy-Day Activities for Small Children

Playdough

Puzzles

Lego

Tea Party or Picnic

Make a Fort

Dress-up or Fashion Show

Singing

 

5 Learning Activities for Small Children

Coloring

Drawing

Painting

Alphabet Games

Counting Games

 

Kitchen Fun for Small Children

Baking Cupcakes or Cake

Cooking with Mom (or Dad)

Making Health Snacks. Check out my post “25 Great & Healthy Snacks for Everyone“.

Indoor Exercises that Small Children Think are Fun!

Musical Chairs

Hide and Seek

Dancing

Bowling

Yoga

Great Learning Games for Older Children

Chess

Dominoes

Marbles

Dice Games. Check out this list of dice games on Wikipedia!

Card Games

Rubik’s Cube

Crossword Puzzles

Great Craft Ideas for Older Children

Scrapbooking

Crochet

Knitting

Cross Stitching

Making Jewelry

Macrame

Everyday Learning Activities for Children

Keep a Journal

Reading Books

Play a Musical Instrument

Science Experiment

Photo Session

Outdoor Activities

Outdoor activities. They depend on the time of the year, weather, and your location of course.

Fun Exercises for Small Children

Jump Rope

Hopscotch

Duck-Duck-Goose

Hide and Seek

Kickball

Swimming

Chasing Bubbles

Team Sports for Older Children

Soccer

Basketball

Volleyball

Badminton

Ice or Field Hockey

9 Great Outdoor Family Activities

Swimming

Hiking

Biking

Roller or Ice Skating

Gardening

Picnic

Tag

Hula Hoop

Sidewalk Chalk

This concludes my list of “Classic Screen-Free Activities for Kids”. One last thing and it is probably the most important. Please take some time to do these activities with your children. When doing so, put your phone down and out of sight. This tells your children that they have your full attention and are important. Even if your children can play by themselves, take the time to play with them for at least 10-15 minutes every day. It will mean the world to your children, and they will remember it for years and years.