57 Alternative Activities to Screen Time

Playdough, homemade or store-bought, provides hours of creative play. Photo by Jennifer Murray via Pexels

Can you accurately add up your kids’ daily screen time? With texting friends, social media, video games, and streaming services, it’s almost impossible to track. But all parents can agree that screen time can get out of hand! While it's tempting to let our kids stay glued to these devices, finding alternative activities for kids that are fun and engaging things to do is essential for their development.

Thinking outside the box is the best way to reduce daily screen time for your kids, without them complaining. Need some inspiration? We’ve rounded up our 57 tried-and-true activities for kids, games & crafts, and family fun that will keep kids entertained, happy, and screen-free!

For more ways to cure the boredom blues, check out our list of 100 Things To Do When Kids Are Bored - it’s in our aptly named Boredom Buster Guide that’s packed with games, activities, crafts, and more.

Adventure Playground in Huntington Beach Reopens After a Four Year Hiatus

Slide into muddy fun at Adventure Playground!

Adventure Playground will have you reminiscing and nostalgic for summer camp. This hidden outdoor recreational experience in the center of a Huntington Beach park is like nothing else. Kids will get to channel Tom Sawyer as they float in tubes and slide into muddy waters. If your kids are anything like mine, they'll have their best day ever at Adventure Playground. 

After a long-time closure through the pandemic, Adventure Playground reopened in 2023. It's as wholesome as the Andy Griffith Show, with a mudslide, innertubes, a rope bridge, and tree forts packed with larger-than-life LEGO bricks. Read on for all the details on where to go, how to get there, and what to expect. 

For more adventure, there's the Adventure Playground in Irvine, or you can discover the best playgrounds in Los Angeles and explore more places to climb and slides to conquer in our Guide to the Best Parks and Playgrounds of Los Angeles & OC.  

We Tried Out the $11,000 Massage Chair and You Can Too

Take a luxury massage chair for a spin at OSIM's first East Coast Store at Roosevelt Field Mall.

When I heard the first ever East Coast OSIM Experience Store was opening on Long Island, I couldn’t have volunteered myself any faster to try out the brand’s totally innovative massage chairs and gadgets.

With my husband along for the ride, we headed to OSIM’s beautiful new storefront in Roosevelt Field Mall, where we were able to test drive their newest, luxurious offering, the OSIM uLove 3 Well-Being Massage Chair–pun intended, as this top-of-the-line chair was actually designed in Italy by the same geniuses behind Ferrari!

What was it like to take a spin in this innovative, app-controlled, AI-powered, deluxe massage chair? Get the downlow on the uLove 3 or head over to Roosevelt Field Mall to get a free stress analysis and try it out yourself!

AMNH and More Places to Get Scientific in NYC

Kids can get up close to live insects at AMNH's new Gilder Center. Photo by Drew Kristofik

Sure the American Museum of Natural History is the most well-known science museum in NYC, but curious city kids have so many options, with loads of STEM-inspired spots and science museums in New York that encourage kid-focused scientific exploration and creation. From the American Museum of Natural History to the New York Hall of Science, local maker spaces, brain-boosting playgrounds, STEM-focused camps, and quirky, curiosity-inducing off-beat stores, there are tons of spots for kids to get scientific in New York City. We've rounded up 13 of the best below.

Find more great geeky ideas in our STEM Guide and more cool museums to explore in our Guide to NYC Museums.

Stay Safe During a Wildfire: A Wildfire Primer for Kids and Families

 Smokey for Kids teaches children about fire safety through games, activities and other resources. Photo courtesy of Smokey for Kids

With wildfires becoming more frequent and threatening in recent years, it's important to know what to do to keep your family safe during a wildfire. If your family lives in an area prone to smoke or fires, it’s especially smart to be prepared. But even areas not directly affected by wildfires have been feeling the impact, as reduced air quality due to smoke has canceled youth sports, recess, and other outdoor activities throughout the US.

Because of the worsening climate-change crisis, wildfires will likely continue to be an issue in the future. So we’ve gathered resources on how to prepare for and manage the impact wildfires have on your kids, from how to talk about the scary stuff to what to put in your Go Bag. Plus, we have a few ideas about how your family can help out before and after a wildfire.

For more climate-conscious tips and tricks, check out our Earth Kids Guide.

17 Things To Do in New Jersey with Teens

Teens can experience the thrill of throwing an axe at a wooden target at Stumpy's. Photo courtesy of Stumpy's

Planning things to do with your New Jersey teen can be tricky business. You've got to walk a fine line between appealing to someone who's approaching adulthood, but who also loved bubbles and slides a few short years ago.

The good news is that NJ is packed with fresh spots that teens and tweens will love exploring. Whether your teen would enjoy trying a round of upscale bowling and mini-golf, trying out a cooking class, or gaming at a retro arcade, we've got 17 ideas to try with your teen. And be sure to check out our Tweens & Teens Guide to New Jersey for even more ideas. 

17 Things To Do on Long Island with Teens

Teens can zip around the go-kart track at Country Fair Entertainment in Medford.

We've scoured Long Island for things to do in Nassau and Suffolk that are sure to keep tweens and teens happily occupied–and so much easier to live with.

When your kids are young, it’s easy to keep them entertained. But what about the older kids, the ones who say “I’m bored” way too often? The next time they start to whine about having nothing to do, hand them this list and calmly walk away!

Find our rundown on the best pre-college summer programs for high school students and more in our Teens & Tweens Guide to Long Island

25 Things To Do in Montauk with Kids

The beaches in Montauk are among the nation's best. Photo by Joe Shlabotnik via Flickr

If you're looking for a relaxing getaway, Montauk, on the extreme East End of Long Island, is the place to be. Montauk has things to do for everyone in the family, whether you crave excitement, exercise, or just want to read a book on the sand.

From the western edge of the community to the lighthouse at Montauk Point, Montauk boasts more than 5,000 acres of parkland, a host of surf schools, fishing and camping adventures, and more. It's a welcoming destination with a host of diverse activities sure to entertain kids of all ages.

Stopping off in the Hamptons along the way? Check out our list of great East End activities for families and our Ultimate Long Island Kids Summer Vacation Guide

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