Resolve to make time for screen free fun!!

Screen-Free Activities for Kids of All Ages: Preschoolers, School-Age Kids, and Teenagers

In today’s digital world, balancing screen time with meaningful, screen-free activities can feel like a challenge. Whether you’re looking for ways to encourage creativity, build skills, or simply have fun, here are some engaging ideas for children of all ages—preschoolers, school-age kids, and teenagers.

The Benefits of Screen-Free Time

Unplugging from devices helps children build critical life skills, deepen relationships, and develop their creativity. By offering a variety of activities tailored to each age group, you can foster a healthy balance between screen time and meaningful play.

For Preschoolers: Playful Exploration

Preschoolers thrive on imaginative play and hands-on activities that build motor skills, foster creativity, and encourage social interaction.

1. Nature Scavenger Hunt

• Take your preschooler outside with a list of simple items to find: leaves, rocks, flowers, or even bugs. Make it more fun by turning it into a “treasure hunt.”

2. Sensory Bins

• Create a sensory bin using items like rice, dried beans, or kinetic sand. Add scoops, small toys, or themed objects for hours of tactile fun.

3. Obstacle Course

• Build an indoor or outdoor obstacle course using pillows, chairs, and hula hoops. Encourage your child to crawl, jump, and balance their way to the finish line.

4. Story Time Adventures

• Read a favorite story and then act it out together. Let your child be the hero while you play supporting characters.

5. DIY Art Station

• Set up an art corner with crayons, markers, paper, and stickers. Encourage free drawing or provide themes like “Draw your favorite animal.”

For School-Age Kids: Active and Creative Challenges

School-age children enjoy activities that mix creativity, problem-solving, and physical play.

1. DIY Science Experiments

• Try simple, hands-on science projects like making a volcano with baking soda and vinegar or creating a homemade lava lamp with oil and water.

2. Board Games and Puzzles

• Pull out family-friendly board games or work on a large jigsaw puzzle together. These activities are great for critical thinking and bonding.

3. Cooking and Baking

• Involve kids in making simple recipes like cookies, pizza, or smoothies. They’ll love measuring ingredients and learning basic kitchen skills.

4. Build a Fort

• Grab blankets, pillows, and chairs to create an epic indoor fort. Once built, it can become a reading nook, a pretend castle, or even a spaceship.

5. Backyard Olympics

• Organize a series of fun challenges like sack races, hula hoop contests, and mini relay races. Award medals (or stickers) to everyone who participates.

For Teenagers: Independent and Social Engagement

Teens often enjoy activities that allow for independence and creativity while also connecting with peers or honing their skills.

1. Journaling or Creative Writing

• Encourage your teen to express themselves through writing. They could start a journal, try poetry, or work on a short story.

2. DIY Projects

• Provide materials for DIY crafts like tie-dye shirts, woodworking, or jewelry-making. Teens can customize items to match their unique style.

3. Volunteering

• Explore opportunities for community involvement, such as helping at an animal shelter, organizing a local cleanup, or assisting younger kids with homework.

4. Outdoor Sports or Fitness

• Challenge teens to try a new sport, go hiking, or create a workout plan. Activities like yoga or martial arts can be done solo or in a group.

5. Music or Art Exploration

• Encourage them to learn an instrument, paint a mural, or create digital-free art projects. This can help them express themselves creatively.

Be creative and be involved! Take time to play with your kids, express interest in their hobbies, and encourage them to spend quiet time away from devices.

“Bored” is NOT a bad word! When children are “bored” it allows them the opportunity to explore hobbies, let their body rest, or learn to self-soothe. Constantly scheduling activities or allowing unrestricted screen time creates children who have a very difficult time coping.

If you have questions about your child’s sensory processing or coping skills, contact Presence Therapy Services for a free consultation at PresenceOT@gmail.com