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Daily Screen Time for Kids (On Average)

Guess how much screen time the average kids have each day? Hint: too much!

CDC Screen Time Recommendations

Now compare that to the CDC recommendations…

Activities for Kids & Friends Without Screen Time

1. Camp indoors

Spend the evening telling campfire stories while munching on oven-baked s'mores and singing campfire songs.

2. Throw a mocktail party

Dress up and party! Make these sophisticated mocktails for kids and have a toast.

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You can use toys and sheets to build indoor forts! Photo by Sara Marentette for Mommy Poppins

3. Build indoor forts

Here are six simple ideas for building forts in the house.

4. Learn magic tricks

Some magic tricks are easy for kids to master. They can spend time learning the tricks, and culminate in putting on a show.

5. Would you rather…

Kids can give each other the giggles by asking each other outlandish and disgusting “Would you rather” questions! It's fun for kids to make up the questions, but we also have 100 of the best "would you rather" questions gathered here.

6. Have a spa day

This can be as simple as splashing in a bubble bath in bathing suits for little ones, or get more complex, like face masks, cucumber slices on the eyes, and tot-safe nail polish manicures at home for bigger kids!

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These pinatas are so easy to make, little kids can join in the fun. Photo by Maureen Wilkey for Mommy Poppins

7. Make a pinata

You can easily make a paper bag pinata at home and fill it with any treats you have on hand!

8. Sleepover party

Every kid loves even more friend time, so host the ultimate sleepover, complete with the best sleepover snacks and games. Don’t forget the not-too-scary ghost stories.

9. Write messages in invisible ink

No special ingredients required, and kids can spend ages making and decoding secret messages. Check out our secrets to making invisible ink.

10. Play hide-and-seek

Trust me, as a mom of teens, this never gets old! You can also try Sardines! (This is where one child hides, and everyone else looks for them. When you find the hiding person, you join them. Last person to find the growing group has to hide next time.)

11. Form a band

Pick up real instruments, or just bang on pots and pans!

12. Have a tea party

It can be a teddy bear tea, American Girl doll tea, or just lemonade in fancy cups and whatever snacks are in the house. Calling it tea makes it an event, and preparing for it is half the fun.

13. Play Simon Says

This game takes nothing but fast talking and imagination, and can be played with kids or adults, and anywhere from 2-20 people!

14. Indoor bowling

All you need are empty plastic bottles, a pair of rolled-up socks, and a long hallway or room! You can weigh the bottles down with small toys if you like, and use a ball instead of socks if the bottles get too heavy, but we like the low stakes, low possibility of breaking things that comes with empty bottles and socks.

15. Play Mafia

You can play this with a deck of cards, or an adult to tap kids and let them know which part they play. This is fun for a bigger group, so play when the whole neighborhood is around and in need of an activity. The rules are explained on Amanda Write Now, and these simple instructions make it easy for young kids to play.

No Screen Time Family Activities

16. Family cook-off

Who can make the best food? Bring this family activity to the next level by making mom and dad play host to a culinary competition. Give rewards for categories like “most delicious,” “most creative,” and “most unique use of an ingredient.” Check out our Guide to Easy Recipes for Kids for ideas.

 
Pizza making is a science, craft, activity, and ends in a delicious dinner! Photo courtesy of Mommy Poppins

17. Pizza making night

Make or buy the dough and have a fun family event of customizing the pies. We’ve got some crazy creative pizza recipes and topping suggestions.

18. Build a family time capsule

Spend the evening writing a letter to the future finders of the time capsule, and filling it with meaningful items!

19. Family talent show

At the beginning of the week, set the state by announcing there will be a talent show on Friday night, and everyone can work on their acts all week.

20. Interview grandparent

Here are 100 questions that kids ask grandparents on the phone or in person, or mail them a couple of questions at a time and start a pen pal relationship with their grandparents to learn about family history.

21. Play ball outside

Got a favorite sport? Teach your kids to play! Or learn a new sport together: we’ve got 100 ideas for sports and hobbies for kids and parents alike.

22. Play charades

This classic game takes no special materials or skills!

Outdoor Games for Kids (No Screen Time Here!)

23. Summer water games

Keep cool while playing! We rounded up our favorite water games for play when the weather is wonderful.

24. Outdoor games

These outdoor games are perfect for any time (except maybe a snowy or rainy day!).

25. Nature games

These games let you commune with nature and get your hands dirty. Is there anything kids love more than getting dirty?

26. Star gazing night

Bring blankets, a thermos of cocoa, and a book about the constellations, and stare at the night sky. This is a good excuse to sneak in a few cuddles, too.

 
Make a sandbox volcano for science fairs or just for fun! Photo by Kelley Heyworth for Mommy Poppins

27. Messy science experiments

Science experiments (see below #38) are great anywhere. But these super fun messy science experiments are best outside!

28. Fizzy chalk fun

Take chalk to the next level by making colorful, homemade fizzy chalk fireworks.

29. Hair chalk

While you could do this inside, this messy fashion project is best done outside! If your child's hair needs a touch of pizzazz, hair chalk is the easiest way to dazzle it up.

30. Scavenger hunts

Confine it to the backyard or neighborhood, or hop in the car and take it all over town! These scavenger hunts are fun for kids of all ages.

31. Gardening

Plant a pollinator garden in the backyard, or do some gardening in pots that can live in a home, if you don't have a yard.

32. Play pickleball

Take the kids to a Pickleball court to enjoy the latest craze. We've got all the rules here.

Screen-Free Quiet Indoor Activities for Kids

33. Play a board game

Play one of these classic board games or collect supplies and make your own. With a large whiteboard and erasable maker, you can play a few rounds of hangman, Pictionary, or tic-tac-toe.

34. Or a card game

These 25 card games are for kids of all ages, and are hours and hours of fun.

35. Do puzzles

We've picked our favorite brainy puzzles for everyone from toddlers to teens.

36. Make your own playdough

If your playdough is all dried out, no worries! Whip up your own batch, using our easy playdough recipe and accompanying how-to video.

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Slime-making is fun for kids of all ages, and we've got several ways to customize it. Photo by Ally Noel for Mommy Poppins

37. Or make slime

Who doesn't love slime? From glow-in-the-dark slime to glitter slime, we've got 5 easy slime recipes.

38. Play mad scientist

We rounded up 64 science experiments for kids that will occupy and enlighten them for hours. Got little ones? We have some great science experiments perfect for toddlers and preschoolers, too.

39. Color!

We rounded up loads of fun printable coloring pages for every occasion.

40. Do word searches and other word games

We also have printable games and activities that parents can print out and give to kids to keep them off screens and having fun. Quiet, non-messy fun.

41. Play with Legos

Every kid can spend hours playing with a bin of Legos. Especially armed with our list of 100 fun things to do with Legos.

42. Or Magna Tiles

We also have 50 games and building ideas for Magna-Tiles.

43. Try some light experiments

Make a room really dark and play with light with some fun light experiments for toddlers and preschoolers.

44. Make a duct tape wallet

Our instructions walk you through making a duct tape wallet; a really fun craft that leaves kids with something they can actually use every day!

45. Make butter

Shake it til you make it, with this easy recipe for butter.

46. Or ice cream

If your kids prefer something sweet, this ice cream recipe requires no special equipment or ingredients.

47. Make rock candy

Part science experiment, part delicious, all fun. Check out our simple instructions for making rock candy.

48. Create recycled card bookmarks

All those cards you haven't wanted to throw out? You can turn them into bookmarks and then get reading!

49. Make a lava lamp

Step back in time with this groovy project that leaves you with a homemade lava lamp.

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We've got loads of ideas for things to do with all those extra boxes. Photo by Rose Gordon Sala for Mommy Poppins

50. Get creative with cardboard boxes

Everyone has at least a few Amazon or shoe boxes lying around. Here are 50 ideas for fun things to do with cardboard boxes.

51. Learn origami

Folding paper is so satisfying. And quiet. So very, very quiet.

 
A simple game of catch is actually lots of fun and gets kids outside. Photo by Rose Gordon Sala for Mommy Poppins

Get Your Body Moving with Screen-Free Activities

52. Jump rope

We've got 20 jump rope games that get will raise your heart rate and your fun Q.

53. Have a dance party

Everyone loves a dance party; just put on one of these playlists and shake your groove thing.

54. Play indoor games

So. Many. Games. From sock skating to balloon ball, we've rounded up your favorite games to play indoors.

55. Take a push-up challenge

How many can you do? We've got 10 push-up challenges for kids.

56. Try these classic games from the 70s

Try these games Grandma used to play. No screens involved, we promise!

57. Hiking games

We've even got hiking games that turn hikes and walks into outdoor adventures.

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