Activities to entertain and engage kids without screens

I grew up right in the middle of the booming electronic age. I split most of my days between exploring my neighborhood, playing in horse fields, wild creeks, and playing games, watching cartoons or movies, either with my friends or on my own. Now that I have my little girl, I regret I can’t give her my wild child freedom of the land; most of those natural spaces I grew up with have become homes and businesses. Even if I could, I’m unwilling to let her play and explore completely unprotected as I did and plan for her to always have some type of phone on her. 

While I am a fan of video games, movies, and TV in moderation, I know from my own experience how addictive and destructive they can be when abused.

I’m sure most parents can agree that we want to raise kids with the ability to have healthy relationships with technology and still feel they are a part of the physical world. The ability to relax without being tethered to a phone, to disconnect from online, to reconnect with others or the world around us, is a skill that has to be taught. 

1. Connect: The first step I take to entertain and engage my kids without screens is to connect with them. Life is busy with chores, work, and other responsibilities. As a parent, we model balancing boundaries, regulating emotions, trusting your senses and intuition, using judgment, asking questions, and problem-solving. I love to engage with play and imagination. I try to slow down and allow my kids to be a part of my life. I make a point of eating meals, doing tasks, and talking/spending time without my phone nearby.

2. Daily walks: I do two daily walks, sunrise, and sunset, with my girls - my daughter and old shepherd mix, and my husband when he’s available. We chat about our day and ideas, take note of cool plants/gardens, different birds, and how to tell them apart by their songs/features, home decoration, and, my favorite, the local pets. We make up names for our favorite dogs and look for them as we pass. I love connecting before daily responsibilities and after a long day of school and work. It helps us feel like a part of our neighborhood, slow down, and see changes in our surroundings, especially in the different seasons! “How do you think this area will look in spring?” “We could have a picnic here in the summer!” Plus, it gives me peace of mind that if my daughter were alone one day, she would easily be able to find her way back home.

3. Reading Aloud: I start by finding a book we will both enjoy and reading a chapter a night. When the reading time is over, we discuss what might happen next. This is a great way to cultivate imagination and a love for reading. Reading is a beautiful way that kids can play on their own. I don’t always feel great at reading aloud, but I adopt the characters' voices, and I hope my child will see me improve over time. Kids already see their parents as adults who know everything; showing them I am still improving my skills shows them they can do the same. Additionally, we utilize the library as an excellent resource for finding new stories to explore together.

4. Board and puzzle games: These types of games are great for developing problem-solving and emotional regulation. You may think of staples like Monopoly, Life, or Uno. But look into it a bit more, and there are TONS of fun board games of different types for all ages to get into. Learning a new game or playing a long-standing favorite may become a new Friday night tradition.

5. Crafts and Hobbies: Getting kids into sports, cooking, sewing, painting, music, etc., is an excellent way to show them there is more to life than technology. The things we do with our hands are often more satisfying and fun than watching T.V. Learning new skills and getting better is a real treat and teaches valuable lessons in emotional regulation and problem-solving. I pay attention to what interests my kid, ask questions from there, and try different hobbies together without pressure. Doing my best to praise them to make them want to keep trying. See my article on page 75 for tips on that one!