Low-Tech Activities: Keeping Kids Entertained Without Screens

As tempting as it may be to let TV watch the kids for hours, eventually the parent guilt will probably kick in, and you'll need screen-free solutions. We've got you covered with a repertoire of low-tech toys and activities that will save the day and keep your kids entertained without the need for screens.

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Digital breathers are totally necessary in our home, we call them "screen time breaks" or "brain breaks" because too much of that video game or television induced dopamine turns their minds to mush. If you have a kid who goes ballistic when you take away the remote, then you know they've had too much. To avoid those sorts of meltdowns, here are some strategies that have worked for us.

1. Set the Limit BEFORE You Press Play: Before you hand over the tablet or turn on the TV, it's essential to establish the rules upfront. Our general rule is after one show, it's time for a break. For video games, we follow a similar guideline of about 30-45 minutes. By setting clear boundaries, you may prevent those epic meltdowns when it's time to disconnect from the digital world.
2. Tick-Tock, Take a Break: When the program or game doesn't have a natural stopping point, a timer can be a lifesaver. We rely on our trusty digital assistant, Echo Dot or Google Nest, to set a timer or reminder. Once the allocated time is up, we all hear the alarm, signaling the cue for a quick break. It's amazing how a simple timer can stave off a mutiny.
3. Igniting Imaginations: While your child adjusts to the screen-time break routine, you might need to offer a couple of suggestions to jump-start their imaginations after prolonged vegging out. Below are some ideas that have worked wonders for us.

Favorite Low-Tech Games & Activities for Kids

Let's dive into our favorite screen-free activities and toys that will capture your child's imagination. During the early years, children yearn for your undivided attention, and these activities will provide you with the perfect opportunity to bond and recharge together, even if it's just for 10 to 15 minutes. Once the ball is rolling, some of these may spark their creativity and keep them engaged in independent play for extended periods, causing them to momentarily forget about the TV or tablet.

No Supplies Needed

• Dance Party: Put on your kids' favorite songs and transform the living room into a lively dance floor. Spice things up with freeze dance or hot potato games.
• Conversation Starter Activities: Engage in a game of Guess the Character. Played like 20 questions but with characters from books, TV, or movies. With Versus you can stimulate their minds by challenging them to support their arguments or think creatively when asked "Who would win in a fight: Mulan or Jasmine? A dolphin or a sea lion? The ocean or the sky?" And, of course, the timeless game of Would You Rather? never fails to spark laughter and debates.
• Charades: Even the youngest can play along if you keep the game simple, acting out animals or things we do at home are good places to start. Invite your child to draw a bunch of animals which you then have to guess and act out. This Guess the Drawing + Charades combo is a hit for all ages.
• Movement games. You'll need a fairly open space for these games, but if you have one, they're great for expending bottled up energy. Red Light Green Light and Mr. Fox, What Time Is It? are fun choices. Slow Motion Freeze Tag is also great for indoors. It's played like regular tag, except everyone has to walk around in slow motion which always cracks them up.
• The Floor is Lava. Kids love to rearrange the furniture and put couch cushions on the ground. On a rainy day, sometimes this kind of creative destruction is necessary. No equipment is really needed for this, but we do happen to have some stepping stones and logs and a tunnel that typically make it into any obstacle course.

Minimal Supplies

• Hide & Seek Games: Turn any day into an Easter egg hunt by hiding objects around the house. Getting stuck? Give hot or cold hints to keep the search going.
• Art Supplies: Unleash your child's inner Picasso with basic paper and crayons. From markers that won't dry out to solid tempera sticks, these art supplies will keep the mess under control while inspiring artistic masterpieces. For regular painting and color mixing, these tempera paints will last a long time and come in every color needed for color mixing and exploration. Sturdier art paper is best for painting, but is also useful for paper puppets and miscellaneous paper creations your child makes for their creative play.

• Paint by Sticker books: Start with the Brain Games "Sticker By Letter" series and Paint by Sticker Kids books for preschoolers, and if your kid is like mine and completely addicted, you can graduate them to the incredibly intricate adult Paint By Sticker series that will keep them challenged for hours.

• Sensory Activities: Slime, kinetic sand, water beads and of course Play-doh are great for hands on play and developing fine motor skills, but be prepared for some messy fun with adult supervision.
• Bubbles & Rocket Balloons: Chase and pop bubbles or watch rocket balloons soar through the air. Whether indoors or out, these are great to get kids moving.

Games for Preschoolers and Early Elementary

• Peaceable Kingdom Games: Monkey Around and Mermaid Island foster emotional development and creative problem-solving in a non-stressful play environment.

• Wonder Forge "I Can Do That!" Games: Help your kids develop gross motor skills and self-confidence through imaginative and funny activities featuring characters like Dr. Seuss's Cat in the Hat or Marvel Heroes.

• Spot It: This compact card game sharpens focus, visual perception, and speech-language skills. Plus, it's available in a wide range of themes from colorful animals to Disney characters to Harry Potter.
• Tiny Polka Dot: A versatile set of cards that can be used for 16 easy to learn games that introduce basic number and math concepts while offering fun for all ages.

• Eye Found It: These collaborative board games, Busytown and the Disney version, bring the joy of "Eye Spy" to a whole new level of fun.

• Classic Board Games: Rediscover timeless classics like Chutes & Ladders and Candyland in their original form or with fun themed variations.
• Uno: A game that preschoolers can easily join, and as they grow older, you can introduce more challenging house rules to keep things interesting like stacking numbers or Draw 2s or if you have an exact match, you can play out of turn.
• Classic Card Games: Engage in Go Fish, Memory, Old Maid, and Slap Jack with a 6-in-1 fun pack that you'll get tired of playing long before your kids do.

Play a lot of cards like our family? The original boxes don't take wear and tear very well so we've upgraded to these transparent storage cases and a carrying case for our well loved sets of Monopoly Deal and Uno.

Screen-Free Activities and Games for Older Kids

As your kids continue to grow, their interests and abilities evolve. When they reach the milestone of reading and writing, a whole new world of gaming enjoyment opens up. Explore some of our top picks for school-aged children and beyond.

• Pencil & Paper Games: From Hangman/Spaceman to Tic Tac Toe, these classics are perfect for on-the-go entertainment. When we're out and about we bring these erasable doodle boards. Before the kids have a robust vocabulary, you could work off a shared word list, or they can choose words off of menus or that they pluck from their surroundings. Guess the Drawing is also popular with my kids. Here are 15 easy pen and paper games for all ages to inspire you.
• Board Games: Unleash their strategic thinking with games like Chess, Chinese checkers, Bananagrams, and Scrabble.

• Branded Card Games: Monopoly Deal, SET, and Blink are quick to learn and guaranteed to keep you sharp and never bored.

• Classic Card Games: A standard deck of cards opens up a world of possibilities. Play games like War, Crazy 8s, and 21 for younger kids, and introduce more complex games like Spit, Hearts, Spades, and Poker as they grow older.
• Book Making: Encourage your child's storytelling abilities by providing paper and art supplies for them to write and illustrate their imaginative tales. Use a hole punch and loose-leaf rings to bind their creations into mini-masterpieces.
• Watercolor Painting: Minimize mess and maximize creativity with a portable watercolor paint set. Kids can practice painting still life versions of objects around the house, or take it outdoors on a sunny day and paint what they find in nature.

• Puzzles: From beginner to expert levels, puzzles are fantastic for all ages. Ravensburger puzzles offer a wide range and makes it easy to choose puzzles based on age and skill level.
• Legos: Once the choking hazard phase is behind you, let your kids' creativity soar with Lego sets. Build a Lego city and watch as their imagination takes over. Let them use minifigures to tell elaborate stories and engage in imaginative play. See our post on No Tears Decluttering with Kids for how we keep our Lego collection contained and under control.
• Musical Instruments: Foster their musical talents with keyboards, ukuleles, recorders, and more. Enroll the kids in lessons and they can practice what they've learned whenever they're "bored." Or check out the free lessons and resources available on Youtube when screens are allowed.

As I like to say, only boring people get bored, and with active imaginations and these engaging options, your kids will always find something to keep them and others entertained. So bid farewell to excessive screen time and embark on a world of fun, creativity, and quality family moments!