Screen-free ideas for kids

I want to preface this topic by saying that I understand the complexities and emotions (and sometimes defensiveness, if we are being honest) around eliminating or reducing screen time. I am also aware that not all children can easily engage in some or all of the activities listed. None of my posts are ever meant to shame, but rather to educate on the effects of what we have come to dangerously normalize as a culture. This is all about education. And as a single mother building her own business, I fully understand the temptation to turn on that thing that you just *know* will pacify your child while you have a break or check that thing you’ve been itching to get done off your to-do list it. I get it, I really do. The problem is, when we become reliant on screens to pacify our children or make screen time a staple in our routine, it has very significant implications on our kids’ development and behavior. Have you ever noticed that your child may seen more irritable when you turn off that screen? Or that at times you have to pry them away from it? Screen time (an hour or more a day) has been directly linked to more behavioral problems and a decrease in things like imagination and natural wonder and interest in the outside world. More specifically, habitual screen time is also linked to lower IQs, difficulty with empathy, and higher rates of executive dysfunction, inattention, and poor impulse control. Not to mention an abundance of missed opportunities to deepen a sense of creativity out of boredom. What I notice about the over-use of screens is that there are other options being vastly overlooked. One being creating an entirely different family culture and rhythm altogether that brings more connection and feelings of togetherness (yes, this takes work and is not always easy). For example, nixing screens at the dinner table, which can be especially problematic as it intercepts attention to the body and its natural ques such as satiety and just general mindfulness/presence around eating. A big myth around eliminating screen time is that people often believe it will be “harder”, that we as parents must go the extra mile to entertain. Well, not quite. Our children do not have to be entertained constantly. If we need a break from engaging or need to get something done, they do not have to continue to be entertained by something else. Boredom fosters creativity. Boredom is an absolute gift to the developing child’s brain. What it does mean though, is that we may need to have a set of ideas up our sleeve that we can whip out when the going gets tough. When we are stressed and frazzled and desperate for a break, we are not always in touch with our creative side to think of screen-free activities on the spot. So I have compiled a kid-approved screen free list that my daughter (and myself) have learned to love. Some of these you may notice require participation of siblings (or maybe even yourself) so if you are looking for a screen-free alternative that does not require your participation, just skip on past those. I hope you enjoy these as much as we do!

· Play pretend prompts – my daughter and I have a small mason jar filled with play prompts such as “pretend you are a queen preparing her castle for a dinner party” or, “pretend you have just discovered a new land – explore the land and figure out how you will live here”. You can create plenty of prompts that can be done independently.

· Candy Land Squares – disperse and lay out different colored construction paper on the floor as if they are “Candy Land” board pieces (usually this alone sets the imagination on fire).

· Scrapbooks – Invest in a scrapbook and simple scrapbook supplies – Kids seem to LOVE looking at pictures, and the older kiddos can have practice writing, spelling, and using fine motor skills such as cutting or gluing on jewels as they make their scrapbook their own.

· Board games – board games seem to be obsolete these days, gathering dust and only being pulled out every once in a while. Bust them out and have them in easily accessible places in your home. Sometimes the board game pieces inspire something totally different than the actual game…

· Build a fort – blankets, pillows, cardboard boxes, anything that is reasonable and around the house - another activity that seems to be a thing of the past! And yes, things can get disorganized and chaotic – but healthy parenting is more about giving these opportunities and less about maintaining a spotless home. They only have one childhood!

· Create a cozy corner – my daughter recently took it upon herself to create a make-shift hammock out of a sheet and hang it from the bottom of her bunk bed (she also has a cozy bean bag in the corner of her room). From her hammock or her bean bag she can access a basket in her room with magnetic building tiles, books, sticker books, her “journals”, and other activities she can do independently.

· Scavenger hunt (indoors or outdoors) – write up a list for the kids to go find things or rattle them off as you go, kids usually love doing this, especially if you time them to see how fast they can be! It could be as simple as “see how many red things in the house you can find in 15 minutes and come set them on this table”. Viola. You just bought yourself 15 minutes.

· Playdough or clay – unstructured play, or asking them to build something specific or stating something like “I wonder if you could try to build the world’s tallest play-dough tower”.

· Stamps and Stencils – a craft bin (of any kind really) is typically a safe bet to pull out when boredom strikes… I just don’t recommend glitter…

· Make a meaningful request – children love to feel like they are engaging in something special and meaningful. This could be something like “I wonder if you could make a card for someone you love”, or, “I wonder if there are some old clothes or toys you could set aside to donate”.

These are just a few ideas, and maybe they can inspire some more ideas of your own. And if you find yourself stuck in routines and unable to find the energy to bust out of the screen-reliant habits that you know are not the best, stay tuned for another blog post on the things that may be keeping you depleted.

With love,

Caitlin