The Ultimate List of Screen Free Activities for Low-Tech Fun and Learning
How do you say no to screen time when you're frazzled and trying to make it through the day? As tempting as it is to hand over your phone or turn on the TV, too much screen time can result in anxiety, irritability, and poor attention span in children.
What can you do instead? If your child's go-to when they're bored is to turn to screens, there's hope. You can inspire your child with engaging, quality activities that don't involve watching the same mindless videos or playing questionable app games for hours on end.
Read on to discover 99 screen-free activities for kids at every age and stage, enough to get you through a low-tech summer, long vacation weekends, or a screen-free afternoon routine.
Looking to reduce your children's screen time? Try a Montessori approach to screen time or discover digital detox strategies from a therapist.
99 Screen Free Activities for Kids to Try At Home
As a teacher and mom of three, I've learned that busy children are happy children. That's why chores are a regular part of our family routine.
I'm not opposed to letting my kids work out what to do when they complain, "I'm bored!" But sometimes we get stuck in a play rut and need some inspiration. That's where a long list of fun, screen free play ideas comes in handy.
Here are some of my favorite activities to enjoy at every age.
Screen Free Activities for 2-year-olds
Two is such a fun age. Once your child finds a fun activity, they'll want to do it over and over again. Here are some fun screen free activities for toddlers.
1. "Painting" with Water
On a warm, sunny day, grab a paintbrush and a small bucket of water. Then, invite your little one to paint pictures on the sidewalk using water. A wooden fence or a large rock are other great options for painting with water.
2. Water Sensory Play
Playing in the kitchen sink or a basin full of water is great fun for toddlers. Add tools such as a funnel, spoons, a turkey baster, a sieve, a whisk, and other kitchen items.
You can switch things up by adding a drop of natural food coloring or some dish soap. Other options for fun include boats and other floating items like corks or ping pong balls.
Grab one of our Toddler Towers so your child can easily reach the kitchen sink. Then, try some of our other kitchen sink activities.
3. Blowing Bubbles
Bubbles are classic fun to enjoy anywhere. You can even make your own bubble solution with dish soap, glycerin, and water.
For a large recipe, mix 4 cups of water with 1 cup of dish soap and 1/3 cup of glycerin. Be sure to mix ingredients gently so you don't get suds. Then, pour a small amount into a dish for your child to use with a bubble wand.
4. Dance Party
Turn up your toddler's favorite song and dance. To add to the fun, you can also grab some silk scarves or balloons to toss around as you dance.
5. Coloring a Cardboard Box
The cardboard box is a favorite among toddlers. Offer them some markers and a large box and let them go to town drawing pictures and designs.
6. Sidewalk Chalk
Coloring outdoors on the sidewalk is a great activity for fostering creativity and building your toddler's fine motor skills.
7. Hide and Seek: Objects Edition
My oldest loved finding Easter eggs so much we made it a year-round tradition. But, we'd just hide one toy or a few eggs for him to find.
To play, simply show your child the object you will hide. Ask them to cover their eyes as you hide it. Then, ask them to find the object. You can take turns hiding and seeking.
8. Make Play Dough
Homemade play dough is always a hit with toddlers. From salt dough to cooked play dough, there are so many recipes to try. For classic play dough, try this recipe:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup salt
- 4 teaspoons cream of tartar
- 2 cups lukewarm water
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Invite your child to measure and mix the dry ingredients in a pot. Then, add the water and oil and heat the play dough as you stir with a wooden spoon until it becomes a ball of dough. Remove from the heat and let it cool.
When cool, put some of the playdough into a plastic bag. Add food coloring if desired and have your toddler knead from outside the bag. That way, you protect your fingers from the food coloring until mixed in. Then, you're ready to play!
9. "Basketball"
Find some soft balls or use socks folded in balls. Then, make "baskets" by throwing them in the laundry basket. Add a challenge by sitting on the floor and putting the basket on the couch.
10. Dig in the Garden
Playing in the dirt can provide hours of fun. If you don't have a yard, invite your toddler to help you water houseplants.
Screen Free Activities for Preschoolers and Kindergarteners
As children grow, so do their abilities. For children aged 3 to 6, you can explore and learn through many fun screen-free activities.
Science Experiments for Preschoolers and Kindergarteners
Explore concepts in science with these fun, age-appropriate experiments for preschoolers.
11. Sink vs. Float
Provide your child with a basin of water and various objects that sink or swim. For example: a ping pong ball, a plastic lid, a coin, a stick, a rock, a key, etc. Then, invite your child to drop each item into the water and notice whether it sinks or floats.
You can also create labels that say "sink" and "float." Then, put the labels on a towel. Your child can put each item under the correct label as they remove each item from the water.
12. Cornstarch Slime
Pour about a cup of cornstarch into a large bowl. Add water slowly as your child mixes it with a spoon. Invite your child to explore the slime at different stages of runniness. Notice how it gets firm and formed when you squeeze it and turns runny when you let go.
13. Volcanic Eruption
Make a baking soda and vinegar volcano. You can do this outdoors with real dirt or inside on a large tray.
Use a small plastic bottle as the center of your volcano. Then, turn it into a volcano by packing dirt around it. If inside, you can use play dough or paper mache to create a volcano.
Then, add a tablespoon of baking soda to the bottle (use a funnel if needed). Invite your child to pour in some vinegar and watch the eruption!
Art Projects for Preschoolers and Kindergarteners
Get creative with these fun art projects for preschoolers.
14. Make a Collage
Offer your child magazines, colored paper, yarn, and other art supplies. Invite them to use scissors to cut out images and glue to add items to their collage. You can create a themed collage based on the season, a holiday, or a favorite theme or sport.
15. Paint with Homemade Stamps
Grab some tempera paint and potatoes; it's time to make some stamps. Cut the potatoes in half and carve out shapes such as circles, triangles, flowers, etc. Then, invite your child to dip the shapes in a plate of paint and make a stamp on a piece of paper.
You can also make different stamps of fruit and vegetables simply by cutting them in half. Some fun options to try include apples, lemons, and bell peppers.
Want to make this activity educational? Create a book called "Fruits and Vegetables." Use half-pieces of paper and stamp a fruit or vegetable on each page. When dry, staple the pages together, add a cover, and write in the name of each fruit or vegetable under the stamp.
16. Make a Popsicle Stick Box
Grab a pack of popsicle sticks and glue to create a little box. Or, cut an empty plastic bottle in half and glue the popsicle sticks around the outside to create a pencil holder. After creating, give your child paint, markers, or stickers to decorate.
17. Underwater Wax Resist Watercolor Painting
Invite your child to use wax crayons to draw pictures of an underwater scene. Try fish, jellyfish, sharks, and seaweed with sand at the bottom. Or, try creating a beautiful scene of water lilies.
Then, use blue watercolor to paint over the wax drawings. Being generous with the water is key to get the ideal effect. Now, you've created a beautiful, watery scene!
Traditional Play for Preschoolers and Kindergarteners
Classic games and activities like board games are perfect for rainy days.
18. Scavenger Hunt
Children love the excitement of a scavenger hunt, especially if there's a small prize at the end. Send children on an adventure with pictures for young kids and written clues for older kids to practice reading. For example, "Look where you brush your teeth," or, "Find the coldest place in the house" (the freezer). After hiding the notes, add a small prize like some fruit or stickers at the end.
19. Board Games
From classics like Chutes and Ladders and Candyland to movie-themed games, board games can inspire hours of play.
20. Card Games
UNO and Go Fish are ideal card games for children at this age.
Screen Free Activities for 7-year-olds
As children grow, they like a bigger challenge. Try these novel ideas for elementary-aged kids.
Science Experiments for 7-year-olds
Build your child's problem-solving skills with these engaging experiments.
20. Cabbage PH Indicator
Did you know that red cabbage is a PH indicator? Bring on the test tubes and droppers for a bona fide science experiment.
You'll need red cabbage, some small transparent jars or cups, and different household substances. First, chop up some red cabbage and cover it with water in a pot. Boil it for a few minutes. When cool, pour a small amount of the red cabbage juice into each of the test jars. You need one test jar for each substance.
Then, your child can add different substances to test for PH. Some good options include liquid dish soap, vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda, Sprite, and powdered soap. Be sure to add each substance to a new test jar. Then, mix in the substance with a stir stick.
If the mixture turns pink or red, the substance is acidic. If the mixture turns blue or green, it's basic or alkaline.
21. Make a Boat
Challenge your child to make a boat that will float. You can use Legos, sticks, scrap wood, or even paper. Test your child's boat in a basin of water or the kitchen sink.
Add an extra layer of fun by seeing how many pennies or dimes the boat can hold before sinking. You can record the results and see which boat performs best!
22. Egg Drop
Give your child an egg. Then, challenge your child to build a capsule that will keep the egg from breaking after you drop it from the highest window in your house. Your child might use materials like cardboard boxes, scraps of cloth, tape, etc. See what they come up with! Then, test the egg capsule by dropping it from your highest window.
Creative Projects for 7-year-olds
Inspire creativity with art and storytelling.
23. Write a Story
If your child isn't sure what to write a story about, provide a story starter. You can make cards for three categories: Setting, Characters, and Problem.
For the "place" cards, get creative with places like the moon, outer space, the Amazon jungle, Medieval Europe, etc. For characters, you can use people, animals, superheroes, and more. For the problem, try options like "lost," "has no money," "is lonely," or "is seeking a treasure."
Have your child pick a card from each of the categories: setting, characters, and problem. Then, they write their story.
24. Create a Mini Model
Invite your child to think of one of their favorite things; it could be a toy, an animal, a building, or even a book. Then, challenge your child to create a smaller model of the object using cardboard, clay, fabric, or other supplies you have on hand.
My oldest son loved making cardboard models when he was younger. He'd create dinosaurs, dragons, vehicles, and airplanes.
25. Aluminum Foil Art
Cover a piece of cardboard with aluminum foil, shiny side out. You can tape it into place. Then, have your child draw on the foil with permanent markers (a pack of colorful Sharpies will really amp up this project). The effect is beautiful.
Traditional Play for 7-year-olds
Enjoy the fun of traditional games and activities with your elementary-aged child.
26. Design and Complete an Obstacle Course
7-year-olds can participate more in creating games. Challenge your child to create a fun obstacle course to go through. Then, they can time how quickly they can get through it.
Looking for inspiration? See some fun indoor obstacle course ideas here.
27. Monopoly
Board games like Monopoly and Clue help your child practice their analytical and planning skills.
28. Charades
Kids love acting out animals, characters, and situations. Enjoy a family night of charades.
Screen Free Activities for the Whole Family
Spend some quality time together enjoying one of these family-friendly screen-free activities.
29. Have a Picnic
Whether you head out to the backyard or a local park, a picnic helps your family break out of the routine and enjoy some time outdoors together.
30. Roast Marshmallows
Sitting around a fire and roasting marshmallows can inspire storytelling, giggles, and quiet moments of reflection.
31. Visit a Local Museum
It's easy to overlook local attractions. Take some time to visit a nearby museum and discover something new.
32. Have an Arts and Crafts Party
Invite everyone to try a craft together, with everyone picking what they love best. From sewing to crochet, watercolor painting, creating sculptures, and more, invite the whole family to be creative together.
33. Make Homemade Pizza
Everyone in the family can make their own personal pizza with their favorite ingredients.
34. Celebrate the Holiday of the Day
Every day of the year can claim a holiday, whether it's official or just for fun. Look up the day's holiday and think of a creative way to celebrate.
35. Create a Family Album or Scrapbook
Take a trip back to the era pre-digital cameras. Print out photos of family vacations or fun memories and create a family album or scrapbook together. You'll love reminiscing and remembering wonderful moments shared together.
36. Play a Sport Together
Whether your family likes to kick the soccer ball around, shoot hoops, or enjoy ping pong, take some time to play together.
37. Invent a New Board Game
This is a great family activity everyone can enjoy together. All you need is a large piece of paper, some dice, some player pieces, and a little creativity.
Draw a gameboard. It could be Monopoly-style, like Candyland, or a completely new design. It helps to have a theme, like "The Jungle" or "Around the World."
Draw some pictures on the board that match your theme. Then, add exciting moments on the game board like, "A mosquito bit you! Lose a turn to apply calamine lotion," or "Ride the boat down the Nile, move ahead 4 spaces."
38. Go See a Local Sports Team
Head out to see a local sports team. Ahead of time, try to learn a few players' names.
39. Go to the Park
If there's a park you normally go to, try a different one!
40. Volunteer
Research and find a family volunteer activity. You can try animal shelters, retirement homes, food banks, or events such as park cleanups. Volunteering can help instill the value of helping others in your children.
Bonus Screen Free Activities at Home: For Kids of All Ages
Still need more ideas? Try these additional screen free activities for kids.
41. Cook and Bake
Children often love helping in the kitchen. Even something as simple as preparing a snack of crackers with cream cheese or fruit on a kebab stick can be fun.
If your child isn't an eager chef, try having them pick out a recipe they'd like to make. Looking through a recipe book or at online meal options can help boost their interest. You can have older children help plan by creating a grocery list or even researching the ingredient costs.
42. Montessori Practical Life Activities
Try a new Montessori practical life activity like making lemonade, spooning dried beans, or wrapping a present!
43. Put on a Puppet Show
If your child needs a bit of inspiration, see if they can create a puppet show that tells the story from a favorite book. Or, have them create a new story about a favorite character.
No puppets? No problem! They can make them using paper and popsicle sticks or make sock puppets with old socks.
44. Create a Cozy Reading Corner
Grab some pillows, a cozy blanket, a Play Mat, and a Montessori Bookshelf to create a reading corner. Your child can draw some pictures to hang up in the space to decorate.
45. Climb the Pikler Triangle
It's a mountain, it's a slide, it's a cave! The Pikler Triangle inspires active play and imagination.
46. Balance on the Balance Beam
After your child has mastered the Balance Beam, have them try it while balancing a bean bag on their head, or holding a ball without letting it ring.
47. Do a Yard Biodiversity Inspection
Measure out a 1-foot square in the yard. You can use stakes and yarn to mark it. Then, count how many different types of plants you can find. The more plants you find, the more biodiversity in your yard!
48. Make a Stress Ball with a Balloon
Use a funnel to fill a balloon with flour or rice. Tie it off, and then you can squeeze it. If you want, you can also decorate your stress ball with permanent markers.
49. Sorting Activities
Find some objects to sort by color, size, or another category. Or, try sorting a collection of toy animals by where they live. Do they live on land, water, or do they fly?
50. Post-It Play
Toddlers often enjoy removing and sticking Post-its to the wall. As they do, they'll also work on their fine motor skills!
51. Make a Terrarium
Find a jar and create a mini habitat with stones, dirt, and grass or moss. If you want a tutorial, you can find one online or check out a book from your local library.
52. Conduct a Survey
Teach your child how to track data by conducting a survey. For example, they can do a survey to find out family members' favorite colors, favorite animals, or what kind of pet they have. Then, you can show your child how to turn the information into a simple bar graph.
53. Make a Lava Lamp
All you need to make a lava lamp is an Alka Seltzer, food coloring, water, oil, and a transparent glass. Put a small amount of water and food coloring into the bottom of the glass. About a tablespoon or two is enough. Then, fill the glass half-full with vegetable oil. Finally, drop the Alka Seltzer in and watch your lava lamp bubble.
54. Make a Sensory Bottle
Use oil, glitter, and water to make a sensory bottle in an empty transparent plastic bottle. You can also add small plastic objects like tiny animals or beads. Shake, and enjoy!
55. Make a Cup and Ball Game
Use a recycled plastic bottle to create a classic cup and ball game. Cut the bottle in half and attach a piece of yarn to the bottom of the cup-shaped portion of the bottle. Then, glue the cap of the bottle to the other end of the string. Can you catch the "ball" in the "cup" by swinging it up and in?
56. Investigate a New Hobby
Public libraries often have excellent arts, crafts, and hobby sections for kids. Take your child and explore options like drawing, sewing, clay, crochet, and more! Have your child pick a hobby and make a list of supplies they need to try it out. Then, try it together!
57. Build a Marshmallow Tower
Using only marshmallows and toothpicks, who can build the highest tower?
58. Make a Sensory Bin
Fill a large empty bin with a filler such as dry pasta, beans, or oatmeal. Then, add items to play with such as scoops, funnels, toy dump trucks, etc. For less mess, take this activity outdoors!
59. Invent and Draw a New Planet
Imagine a new planet and draw what it looks like. Is there life on this planet? Does it have moons? How far away is it? Are there mountains? Rivers?
Even More Screen-Free Activities for Kids
Need even more inspiration? Discover even more no-tech ideas to keep little ones occupied and happy.
60. Build a Fort
61. Read a Book
62. Make a Domino Run
63. Play Pretend Store
64. Make Homemade Stickers with Blank Labels
65. Make Magnets
66. Plant Herbs or Flowers
67. Make Necklaces or Bracelets
68. Sew and Decorate a Bag
69. Dry and Preserve Flowers or Fall Leaves
70. Help a Neighbor in Need
71. Start a Nature Journal About What You See Outside
72. Stargaze on a Clear Night
73. Play "Whisper Down the Lane" or "Broken Telephone"
74. Create a Comic
75. Do Origami
76. Birdwatch: How Many Birds Can You Count?
77. Have a Tea Party
78. Write a Letter
79. Have a Bubble Bath
80. Make Labels for Garden Plants
81. Make a Stained-Glass Window Craft with Tissue Paper
82. Make a Bird Feeder
83. Learn a Tongue Twister
84. Write a Poem
85. Design Your Own Flag
86. Learn How to Write Your Name in Hieroglyphs
87. Create a Fairy House
88. Play Pretend Restaurant
89. Play Hide and Seek
90. Do a Puzzle
91. Make a Paper Airplane and Decorate It
92. Make a Village with Roads for Toy Cars
93. Make a Mobile
94. Invent and Draw a New Animal
95. Invent and Draw an Alien
96. Make a Magazine About Your Favorite Topic
97. Play Keep the Balloon Up
98. Make Popsicles
99. Paint Rocks
Screen Free Activities for the Win
With creativity, you can keep busy without busting out tablets, phones, or the TV. Plus, you'll make more memories and have more fun than digital devices could ever provide.
What's your child's go-to screen free activity? Let us know in the comments below.
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