5 Screen-Free Activities for Children

It’s difficult to avoid screens in today’s digital environment; we use them all day at work and then come home and scroll through our phones or watch TV until it’s time to go to bed. Children are also spending significant amounts of their time playing on digital devices, so much so that parents are worried about it having a detrimental effect on their overall development and health.

If you are one of the parents concerned about your child’s screen use, it might be worth setting some rules that limit their time on their smartphones and video games. Encourage them to spend their free time more wisely, like playing outside or crafting. I have teamed up with a private school in Essex to suggest some screen-free activities that you could do with your child to give them a break and help them with their learning.

Reading

Some children love to read, but others aren’t a fan. Perhaps this is because they haven’t found the right genre to inspire them. There are so many different things to read out there, like online blogs, magazines, non-fiction books and various different genres of novels. Perhaps you could take a trip to the library or look online for something appropriate. It’s a great way to expand their general knowledge and enhance their spelling and grammar.

Board Games

Scrabble, Monopoly, Snakes & Ladders and various other board games are fantastic for helping children develop academic skills without them even realising it. Jigsaws are also good for helping promote concentration and problem-solving skills.

Outdoor Fun

Playing outside is important for a child’s physical and mental health. It encourages them to engage all of their senses and develop a sense of respect for the environment. Perhaps you could go camping together or plant a vegetable patch. Even just a walk through the park will allow your child to get some exercise and learn a bit about nature.

Science Experiments

Children are very curious beings and love to experiment and explore. You can help to stimulate their inquisitive nature by setting up some safe, simple science experiments using basic household items around your home. Water based experiments are good for little ones because it will help them learn about different items and whether they float or sink etc.

Cooking/Baking

Teaching your child how to cook basic meals will help them with their independence, as they’ll be able to feed themselves when you’re not at home and when they head off to university. It’s also a fun way for you to spend some time together.

So, if you’re battling with your youngster to reduce their screen time, it will only work if you can replace it with something equally as entertaining. Be sure to set a good example; it would be unfair for you to tell your child to put their phones down only for you to spend the next three hours scrolling. Perhaps you could introduce more “unplugged” family time.

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