Kids absolutely love watching TV, playing games either on their phone or on the TV. It is definitely ok sometimes, but it is also important that they use their minds and have some imaginary play too! Kids now a days want to be entertained so it’s up to us to figure out a way for them to use their minds while playing.
Here are some ideas to keep your kids busy and off the screens.
It’s also ok for your kids to be bored. When they are bored, they start using their imagination more and who knows what they may come up with all on their own that will be amazing!
Staying off screens will help your kids be more creative and who knows what may come of it. Here is our list of ideas…
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Sidewalk chalk
You can buy or make your own sidewalk chalk and then take it in the driveway and make up games or draw photos.
Play dough
Again, you can start by making your own or buy play dough. Then finding some pictures of what you want your kid to build or make. You can show your kid how to have a fun play dough restaurant, ice cream stand. Kids love making all kinds of things with this.
Canvas Paint
There is so much you can paint on a canvas. You can find your favorite quote, get creative with abstract art, landscape paintings or self-portraits. If you are going screen-free for your kids, you will have to show them how to use the paint first if they do not know how. It doesn’t have to be perfect, it’s a learning and fun experience for all. We love painting with washable paint as well as watercolor paint.
Cut and Paste crafts
Pinterest has so many ideas of things you can use with construction paper, straws, paint swatches. My kids love just cutting up paper, so they usually come up with something on their own but adding glue and scissors to the mix helps them make all kinds of things. If you want something you don’t have to search for, Stephanie loves using this cut and paste book with her preschool. Once they master cutting, she also loves this cutting and pasting book.
Painting Rocks
Head down to the lake, river or even a playground and collect some rocks. You can paint them while you are out on a picnic then wash it off after you get all messy or bring it home. If you want to get real creative, you can get this fun kit from amazon. We did a fun Christmas kit.
Finger Paint
What kid doesn’t like to finger paint? They love the fun texture, the mess it brings and the creative ideas it gives them. I don’t care if the kids finger paint as long as we have a safe place to do it and the mess isn’t too crazy.
Make Beaded Necklaces
Beaded necklaces have come a long way since I was a kid, and they are so much fun. They have all kind of kits you can buy online or at your local craft stores. They even have some boys may like.
Tie Dye Shirts
This activity was so much fun to do as a family. We all made matching tie dye shirts and then wore them out one day! We just picked 3 colors and made it our own way! You can tie dye so much stuff now such as hats, bags, or shoes.
Do A Scrapbook
I miss the days of doing scrapbooking. I do a lot of it now digitally (on screen lol which is what we are trying to stay away from) but bringing back buying the fun paper, taping photos on a page, putting it in a book with stickers was so much fun growing up. Start with something small that has everything, then see how your kids like it. If they like it, you can keep growing your stash. They also have fun options for boys.
Play Board Games
Having a family game night is so special to kids. They love to see parents get involved in the game, laughing and getting along. There are so many board games that are available. My little kids love; Zingo, Pretty Pretty Princess, Pie Face, Yeti in my spaghetti, Waffles vs Pancakes, Trouble, HeadbandZ. There are also really fun card games; crazy eights, slap jack, old maid, memory matching, go fish, memory, guess in 10. Stephanie’s family loves playing card games, they use card holders for the kids.
Bake A Cake
Your kids can learn so much by helping you in the kitchen. They can help crack the egg, measure the ingredients, mix it up and maybe put icing on the cake.
Make Lemonade And Sell It
It’s hot outside so letting the kids sell some lemonade to their neighbors or friends is a great way they can make extra money. If you don’t live in a neighborhood then maybe if you had a yard sale one day, the kids could do that to help.
Tell Stories
You can tell stories about your childhood to your kids or make up a story. We also have storytelling conventions a couple of hours away in Jonesborough, TN. They are professional story tellers, and they are fun to go to as well.
Go through items to get rid of
We all know we need to go through our clothes, toys, closets, garage…. everywhere. Make the kids and you do this together and find out who you can give items to, sell, or throw away.
Play with old toys
This goes with going through items to donate, but we all love to come across things we forgot all about.
Do a paint by number
Go to your local craft store or check amazon you can find some fun paint by number pictures to paint. There are some beautiful ones you can do as a family or on your own.
Write a friend a letter
Growing up, I had a pen pal that lived across the country, and I LOVED getting mail from them. Your pen pal can be your grandparents or even your neighbor but sending someone mail will make them feel very special.
Make up a play
Have the kids to write a play and perform it. They can get really creative and pick out costumes and do hair and makeup.
Go through old photos
This is something we all need to do but don’t make time for. Go and look at all your old photos. You can scan them onto the computer or make an album with them.
Play with sand
Go buy some sand at Lowes and get an old tarp and let the kids play with sand and make some fun sand castles.
Run through a sprinkler
If it is hot out, go grab the sprinkler and have the kids jump and play.
Ride your bike
Ride your bike around the neighborhood, a park or a long biking trail.
Play Hop Scotch
This is a classic game kids can have fun playing especially the little ones.
Make cookies and decorate them
Make chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookies, brownies anything fun and then decorate them for yourselves or give some to your friends and neighbors to make them smile.
Do a house of playing cards
This requires a lot of patience and focus but once you get going with it, you will love your creation and be so proud of it.
Bedazzle a Journal or Hat
Making something pretty and unique is fun and special. They have fun bedazzle kits for kids or if you are more advanced this bedazzle kit is fun and like a paint by number for older kids or even adults. You can bedazzle shirts, hats, journals or shoes!
Paint on a wooden sculpture
You can buy all kinds of Jewelry boxes, animal sculptures or large wooden crafts and paint them to look stunning! Go to your local craft store to find some unfinished wood sign and decorate to your personal liking. We like this wooden craft set here.
Do some splatter Art
This is a fun outdoor project your kids will love. You just need some canvases, squirt guns and paint. Fill those squirt bottles with some paint and then just have fun. You can put tape on the canvas and create an image or letter then paint all around it.
Make Ear Rings
They make some really cool Ear Ring kits that you can make and design yourself. Wouldn’t you love to have some customized jewelry!
Paint Pottery
You can Sculpt Your Own Pottery and then paint it. They have cups, bowls and vases.
Do some Stencil Art
Are your kids interested in learning to draw? Stencil art can really help them draw and create their own image.
Make Stained Glass
This is a fun and easy project kids love to do. This Stained Glass kit will give your kids so many choices on ideas and keep them busy!
Create soap
This is a fun creative project!! You can pick make your soap look like so many pretty ways. They have so many smells, shapes and colors you can add or mix in. This Soap Kit looks fun!
Blow Bubbles
If you have small kids, get out the bubbles and have them to blow bubbles. You can also get this fun Bubble Machine, Bubble Lawn Mower, Bubble Wand or Bubble Guns!
Fly A Kite
Kite Flying is a lot of fun on a windy day!
Get out the Water Tables
Kids love getting wet and playing with water. You don’t have to go swimming to get wet. Get out the bathing suites and pull out the fun water tables. They have so many kids will love from a Classic Shower and Splash Water Table to waterfall water tables, a 4 tier water table and River and Roads Water Table
Have a Water Balloon Fight
This is another fun idea we don’t do nearly enough. They have reusable water balloons, classic water balloons. Put on your swim suites and have fun playing.
Play Hula Hoop
Hula Hoops are good exercise and take lots practice to get good at.
Go Backyard Camping
Get a tent for the whole family, blow up air mattress and fun sleeping bags and roast some marshmallows outside.
Jump Rope
Jumping rope is another great and fun activity for kids and adults. It gets your heart rate up and can do all kinds of fun things with jump ropes. include them in an obstacle course race or see how long you can jump till you mess up!
Eat S’mores
We mentioned eating S’mores while doing your back yard camping but if your kids are not wanting to sleep outside then just have fun roasting marshmallows outside or even inside. This marshmallow tabletop fire table is perfect if you want to roast marshmallows indoors.
Play Badmitton
We had this game in our backyard growing up. It is a lot of fun. You can play this with 2 or 4 players. The round or called “rally” ends when the shuttlecock touches the ground. Only one stroke is allowed to pass it over the net. One badminton match is made up of three games, of 21 points each.
Have a game of Cornhole
Cornhole is a fun game to play and have in your back yard. Kids and adults of all ages love it. Here is how to play…
Toss the corn hole bag into the hole of cornhole board for 3 points. Land the cornhole bag on the cornhole board and score 1 point. The first player or team to 21 wins. It’s a simple and addictive. Don’t have a corn hole board? This cornhole game kit is portable and easy to set up.
Play Hide and Seek
This is a fun game kids love to play. You could even make it extra fun by scaring them when they find you or use nerf guns or squirt guns to have some extra fun.
Go on a picnic
You don’t have to travel far to have a picnic if you don’t want to leave the house. Sit on the front porch, back deck, on a blanket on the ground any where outside is fun!! Makes lunch different and more creative
Jump on the trampoline
Do you have a trampoline but never use it anymore? Remind the kids to use the trampoline and have fun on it.
Play at the Playground
Get outside and let the kids play on the playground, either in your back yard, the neighborhood local park or at a city park.
Play with the Sprinkler
If it nice outside hook up the water hose and get out the sprinkler for the kids. There are so many kinds you get. Here are our favorites..
2 in 1 Baseball Water Sprinkler and Toy Tee Ball
Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Splash Patrol Sprinkler Toy With Hose Attachment
Splash Pad Sprinkler and Water Mat for kids
Collect Lighting Bugs
If you live in an area with lighting bugs or sometimes called fireflies, get the kids outside and try to catch them and put them in a jar. I use to love to do this as a kid then after you catch a few, set them free! They are so pretty when you get a few together.
Play Frisbee
This is another fun and classic game to play with the whole family. They have classic frisbees but here are some other fun ones.
Throw A Ball
Get out in the yard and play some catch with the kids.
We hope this list of ideas help you come up with some ideas to keep the kids off the screens and more active in their home and outdoors! We have more ideas coming soon!