10 Screen-Free Activities for Kids

We all know too much screen-time is not good for kids!

The good news is that you don't need to come up with elaborate activities or spend hours setting up crafts. Some of the best screen-free activities are simple, hands-on and don't require too much effort for parents.

Here are 10 screen-free activities to try with your kids!

1. Set up a colouring station

Put out some markers or pencils and a colouring activity and let your child get creative.

For something a little different, try a Hey Doodle Colouring Mat. The reusable silicone mats come with nine non-toxic markers and can be wiped clean and used again and again. They're also easy to take with you in their handy carry pouch, making them perfect for restaurants, holidays or quiet time at home.

2. Make a giant masterpiece

Sometimes bigger really is better!

The mierEdu Giant Colouring Scrolls give kids three metres of colouring fun to explore. They can work on one section at a time or create one huge picture together with siblings or friends.

Spread it out on the floor, grab the pencils or markers and let them go.

3. Have a puzzle challenge

Puzzles are a fantastic way to get little hands and minds working without a screen.

For younger children, the Crocodile Creek Let's Begin Puzzles feature chunky two-piece puzzles that are easy for little hands to manipulate. The dinosaur version includes 10 different puzzles and is suitable from age two.

For older kids, try a larger puzzle such as the Crocodile Creek 60-piece Natural History Museum puzzle, which is suitable for ages four and up.

For extra fun, set a timer and challenge your child to beat their previous puzzle time.

4. Create a sensory play station

Sensory play is great for kid's development and creativity.

The Jellystone Tray Play Bundles make it easy to create a sensory activity without needing to spend hours setting everything up. The reusable silicone tray comes with a lid for easy packing away, and the themed bundles include sensory materials and figurines for children to scoop, pour, explore and create with.

The best thing about sensory play is that there isn't a right or wrong way to play. Kids can explore the textures, scoop, pour, build and use their imagination as they go.

5. Go on an outdoor treasure hunt

Give your child a list of things to find:

Something green
A smooth rock
A tiny leaf
Something that smells nice
Something shaped like a circle
A bird
A flower
Something bigger than their hand

You can make the hunt as simple or challenging as you like depending on their age.

The Tiger Tribe Explorer Magnifying Glass is a fun addition to an outdoor adventure and is designed to encourage children to investigate the world around them.

6. Build a pretend-play world

Set up a small pretend-play scene using dolls, soft toys, blankets, cardboard boxes or whatever you already have at home.

A little rag doll can become a baby, a patient at the doctor's surgery, a passenger on a plane or the star of an elaborate imaginary adventure.

The Tiger Tribe Mini Rag Dolls are just 25cm tall, making them easy for little hands to carry around and perfect for imaginative play.

7. Have a mini car race

For kids who love things that go fast, create your own race track.

The Tiger Tribe Presto Racers are battery-free mini racing cars that simply need a push to zoom across a smooth surface. They're recommended for ages 3–7.

Use masking tape to create starting and finishing lines, then see which car travels the furtherest.

8. Have a pretend cafe

Set up a little cafe at home and let your child take over as the chef or waiter!

The Jellystone Silicone Tea Sets or the Kaper Kids Tea Sets are perfect for imaginative play. Kids can serve pretend cups of tea, take orders and create a menu for their customers.

Add a few soft toys as customers and let your child decide what they're serving.

9. Get creative with face paints and play make up

With our Oh Flossy and Glitter Girl products, kids can create their own looks, experiment with colours and get creative.

Turn it into a whole afternoon of imaginative play. They could transform themselves into a fairy, unicorn, butterfly or superhero, or give Mum, Dad or a sibling a makeover.

10. Make a "boredom basket"

This is one of the simplest ways to encourage screen-free play.

Choose a basket and fill it with activities your child can do independently. Keep it somewhere accessible and bring it out whenever they say I''m bored'!

You could include:

Puzzles
Stickers
A craft kit
Sensory toys
Books
A note pad and pencils

Keep a few things aside and rotate them regularly. You don't need a huge collection of toys. Sometimes putting away the things they've seen every day is enough to make them interesting again.

Many of these activities can be packed into a bag and taken with you, whether you're heading out for lunch, going on holiday or simply need something to keep little hands busy while you're getting things done.

It's easy to keep kids entertained without screens - you just need a little planning ahead and something to replace them with!

What other ideas have you got? Let us know!