50 Screen Free Ideas

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I wanted to share these screen-free ideas for kids because it is so important that they use their imagination and play.  It’s important that they learn to rely on themselves for entertainment instead of electronics.

I know that technology has a place and can be so helpful, but as with anything in life… balance is the key to happiness.

If you want to scale back on electronics with your family in order to find that better balance,  a good place to start is with a no-technology week!

Another idea is to use these cards to let them EARN electronic time by doing chores and helping out around the house.  This teaches them that they must do their work before they can play.    They must be responsible before relaxing.   Both of these things will be lessons that they will need in life.

It will be hard, but SO worth it… technology can be addicting to our kids and even for us (because it makes life easier when they are watching a show & we can be doing what we need to do), but that is what makes it even more important that we break the cycle & limit it.

I don’t have certain limits set up like “You get 20 minutes a day”, I just monitor it.  We don’t watch it during the school week (because it causes the kids to run behind in the morning), so I just keep an eye on them on the weekends.

A few things you should know: 1).  “While inmates at maximum-security prisons in the U.S. are guaranteed at least 2 hours of outdoor time a day, half of the children worldwide spend less than an hour outside”, reports TreeHugger.com”

2).  A survey of 12,000 parents in 10 countries found that one-third of children (ages 5 to 12) spend less than 30 minutes outside each day. The survey, sponsored by Unilever laundry detergent brands OMO and Persil, inspired a new marketing campaign – “Dirt is Good – Free the Children.”

3).  American children spend 5-8 hours in front of a screen per day and less than 1 hour outside (that is less than prisoners!)  Too much screen time can cause sleep problems, higher risk for attention disorders, higher risk for obesity and actually changes the chemistry of your child’s brain. I don’t know about you, but those risks scare me.  They should be outdoors getting dirty and exploring, not watching someone else having fun on TV.

I challenge you to really think about the amount of screen time your child is getting and consider implementing a screen-free day once per week or a screen-free zone such as in the car or at the dinner table where screens aren’t allowed (including parents). Let’s give our kids the childhood they deserve and do as many of these fun activities as a family as possible.

50 Scree-Free Fall Activities for Kids

Make a leaf math game Climb a tree Paint under a table … like Michaelangelo Make a car out of cardboard boxes.Make a kitchen table fort (like my friend Jodi)
Make Nacho S’mores Make Pumpkin Pie Play Dough

Catch bugs & observe themGo to a new parkFind a local park that you can hike… and go hiking!Write in a journalStay up late & go to a Friday night Football Game at your local high schoolBlow bubbles out of new things…

Draw a road with chalk and then ride on it with a scooter.Find a “Look & Find” book at the libraryPaint Rocks Plant fall flowersGrab an umbrella & take a walk in the rainPlay dress-up in costumes (just for fun!)Find an indoor pool and go swimming!Make Pearler Bead creations Have an apple cider standMake banana bread Make a telescope & look at the starsGo on a nature hunt, searching for specific things.Go to a ball field & do a scavenger hunt with this sheetPitch a tent & camp out in the backyard.Make yogurt popsicles… and eat them for breakfast! Build a fort & read in it.Make a dinosaur out of toilet paper rolls:

Make MUD-PIE in the dirtGo on a family bike ridePlay CatchPlay Four-SquarePlay PIG with a basketballGo to a trampoline parkLet them build in the garage with leftover materialsMake a DIY Creativity Kit togetherPlay a huge game of tic tac toe outside with rocks & sidewalk chalk.Make a flower headband.Play TagHide toys in ice cubes Snuggle up on a porch & read a book togetherCollect leaves, rocks & pinecones and do math with it!Build a pinecone Birdhouse with peanut butter & seedsUse an empty container to build a fairy house like this one 
Take the dog on a walkGo to a new MuseumJump RopePaint a pictureMake ice creamPick Berries and Make JamHave a Pajama Party & movie night 🙂Send the picture that you painted to a family memberRoast marshmallows  🙂Go to a local farmPlay Hide and Seek in your back yard … with a toy!  (hide the toy!)Make a new recipe every day for a week… the kids get to pick it off of Pinterest (here is my meal-planning board). 🙂

Are you ready to do more screen-free family ideas?
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