Families For Life | Screen-free activities to balance out screen time

If you are reading this article, it is your sign to put down your phones, close your laptop, and gather your kids for a fun, screen-free activity! The good news is that it doesn’t take much for a family activity without screens to be engaging, exciting and filled with laughter. Here are 5 easy screen-free activities you can do with your kids now!

Dance freeze

Incorporating music into simple games or activities can create development opportunities for your kids and strengthen family bonds without screens.

To play dance freeze, play your child’s favourite music and dance freely, then pause the music for everyone to freeze in place like statues. Resume music to continue dancing. You can up the ante by designating someone to control the music and see if they can make the ‘statues’ laugh while the music is paused!

Finish a colouring page

Colouring is a great way for young kids to build their fine motor skills. Similarly, older kids can get a moment of calm while they work on their artworks. Make it a relaxing family activity with snacks, soft music and cosy pillows. Don’t forget to give your kids lots of praise when they finish their masterpieces!

Don’t have a colouring book? A quick Google search can help you find free colouring pages to print out. Alternatively, let your family members draw their own colouring pages and swap with one another afterwards.

At-home fashion show

Aside from colouring, clothes are another way for your kids to express their creativity. So, why not turn that into a family fashion show?

Let your kids become stylists for a day, create fun themes and let them raid closets to create outfits. Get creative with using recyclable materials to make accessories. When everyone’s done, show off everyone’s freshest fits down a “runway” in the living room, and snap lots of photos! It’s a light-hearted activity that’ll boost everyone’s mood.

Create a nature journal

A nature journal helps keep your little ones engaged while outdoors. It builds their curiosity and gives them a chance to observe, slow down and reflect. 

There are many ways to create a nature journal; the limit is your kids’ creativity and imagination. Encourage them to write, collect or draw what they see, hear and smell, like the flowers, leaves, stones or animals they see. As an added challenge, you can pose a theme for them to fill their journal with, such as using only one colour or collecting one type of item.

Make a cookie advent calendar

Instead of buying an Advent calendar this year, why not make your own? Better yet, make it a sweet treat by creating a cookie Advent calendar. Even better, rope in your little ones to help out so they can learn new kitchen skills and develop a sense of responsibility. Pick a simple cookie recipe and let your kids cut, decorate, and pack each one. Enjoy your sweet creations together when the designated day arrives!

Even if you’ve missed the festive season, you can turn this idea into a countdown to important holidays or milestones, like birthdays or the end of exams. It’ll make every milestone a sweet day to remember!

Want more ideas?

Families for Life’s Parent’s Guide to Digital Wellness has a dedicated section offering ideas for both indoor and outdoor activities, ranging from short 15-minute sessions to longer activities lasting more than an hour, to encourage your family to take small steps towards stronger connections and healthy digital wellness. The Health Promotion Board’s Parent Hub also has a collection of screen-free activity ideas, categorised by age group, to keep your family active and healthy!

Being screen-free doesn’t take grand gestures or complicated plans. Sometimes, all it takes is a spontaneous idea or some enthusiasm to turn going screen-free into family activities that are fun, natural and one to remember for a lifetime.

References

https://familiesforlife.sg/pages/Small-Steps-Stronger-Connections

https://www.kingmaker.com.sg/unplugged-activities-diversifying-beyond-screens/

https://singaporemotherhood.com/music-activities-children-home-fun/ 

https://thimbleandtwig.com/how-to-start-a-nature-journal-with-kids/ 

https://torriemadeit.com/diy-advent-cookie-calendar/