Screens, phones and online life

Screen-free activities for kids

Forty low-cost ideas for indoors, outdoors and rainy days — the “something else to do” that makes screen limits easier.

Updated 3 min read By the AI Tutor Vault team, written with the help of an AI assistant

On this page
  1. Indoor ideas (1–10)
  2. Outdoor ideas (11–20)
  3. Creative ideas (21–30)
  4. Rainy-day and calm ideas (31–40)
  5. How to make screen-free time stick
  6. Frequently asked questions
  7. Next steps

Limiting screens is much easier when there’s something appealing to do instead. Here are forty low-cost, screen-free activities for children aged 6–14 — indoors, outdoors, creative and rainy-day — most needing nothing more than what you already have at home.

Indoor ideas (1–10)

  1. Build a blanket fort and read inside it.
  2. Board games or card games — let them teach you one.
  3. Bake something and let them measure everything.
  4. Jigsaw puzzles.
  5. A family quiz night with questions you each write.
  6. Paper aeroplane contest — whose flies furthest?
  7. Learn three card tricks.
  8. Build a marble run from cardboard tubes.
  9. Indoor treasure hunt with written clues.
  10. Start a family book club.

Outdoor ideas (11–20)

  1. Bike ride or scooter route with a picnic.
  2. Nature scavenger hunt: a feather, three leaf shapes, something round.
  3. Build a den in the garden or park.
  4. Chalk drawings or a hopscotch course.
  5. Plant seeds and track how they grow.
  6. Bird or bug watching with a notebook.
  7. Obstacle course with a stopwatch.
  8. Kick-about, catch or frisbee.
  9. Explore a new local park or path.
  10. Cloud spotting — what shapes can you see?

Creative ideas (21–30)

  1. Write and illustrate a comic.
  2. Make a stop-motion story with toys and a notebook flipbook.
  3. Junk modelling from recycling.
  4. Write a letter to a grandparent or friend.
  5. Learn to sew a button or knit a few rows.
  6. Put on a play or puppet show.
  7. Make up a song or rhyme.
  8. Design a board game from scratch.
  9. Keep a journal or “weird facts” notebook.
  10. Draw a map of an imaginary world.

Rainy-day and calm ideas (31–40)

  1. Audiobooks with drawing.
  2. Lego or building challenges with a theme.
  3. Kitchen science: what dissolves, what floats?
  4. Origami from instructions in a library book.
  5. Sort old photos and make an album.
  6. Learn a few words of a new language from a book.
  7. Chess or draughts tournament.
  8. Help plan a family meal and shopping list.
  9. Reading den with a torch.
  10. Simple yoga or stretching routine together.

How to make screen-free time stick

  • Have ideas ready before screens end — a list on the fridge helps.
  • Join in, especially at first.
  • Let boredom happen. A little boredom often leads to creativity.
  • Make materials easy to reach: paper, pens, games, books.

For managing the moment screens end, see how to limit screen time without daily fights. For more learning-focused ideas, see fun learning activities at home.

Frequently asked questions

How do I keep my child busy without screens?

Keep a list of easy activities ready, have materials within reach, join in at first, and allow some boredom — it often sparks creativity.

What can kids do instead of screen time?

Board games, building, baking, outdoor play, reading, crafts, music and simple science experiments are all good options.

Is it OK for kids to be bored?

Some boredom is normal and can lead to imagination and problem-solving.

How do I get my teen to do screen-free activities?

Follow their interests — cooking, sport, music, building, earning money — and involve friends.

Next steps

Pick five ideas from this list, write them on a card by the TV or charging spot, and offer them the next time screens end.

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