Fun and Engaging Screen-Free Activities for Kids

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Keeping children busy without screen time can be difficult in the present digital landscape. Several parents stay busy with their individual tasks, which usually lets their kids watch TV and play video games to entertain themselves. However, such devices can be harmful to them. Apart from just damage to eyesight, these can be as addictive as drugs. So, it is much healthier to indulge the kids in activities that are intellectual as well as entertaining for them and also let them stay away from gadgets or screens. In this blog, we will read about some of the screen-free activities for children which help them stay away from smartphones, and TVs. 

List of Fun and Engaging Screen-Free Activities for Kids

Here are several ways to keep the kids busy without screen time or gadgets: 

1. Art & Craft Corner

Develop an entertaining arts and crafts area at home to boost your kid’s creativity skills. Put all the needed materials that will maximize their curiosity. Indulge them in various challenges that fit their skill level and also appreciate their efforts rather than concentrating on perfection. This technique will help encourage them to relish their creative space. Additionally, it is crucial to make them understand cleanliness after their activities are over. This will ensure that they carry out activities with the utmost responsibility. 

2. Reading Books at Home 

Make reading a part of a kids activities daily routine. Spend time reading stories to your child every day or let them pick books suitable for their age. For toddlers, interactive touch-and-feel books can be particularly engaging. Keep a range of books within reach and create a habit, of reading together at bedtime. You can also motivate your kid to draw pictures based on the stories you read.

3. Household Chores 

Involve your child in daily tasks to teach them responsibility and essential life skills. Younger children can help in washing vegetables or roll dough and older children can assist with cutting and cooking. Let them be part of the process by joining you in trying out new recipes or shopping for ingredients. Simple chores like folding laundry or cleaning up will help them feel a sense of achievement. 

4. Puzzles and Brain Games

Challenge your child’s thinking with age-appropriate puzzles and games. Find puzzles that are the right level of difficulty, neither too easy nor too hard, so that they stay engaged and enjoy the process.

5. Family Activities

Spend quality time with family by playing classic games like board games or charades. You could also have a storytelling session, where each family member shares a short story. This helps encourage creativity and teaches children to complete tasks.

6. Imaginative Play 

Pretend play allows children to create stories and scenarios with everyday objects. This helps them process real-life situations and healthily express their emotions.

7. Hobbies

Encourage your child to explore engaging activities like collecting, gardening, or scrapbooking. Provide the necessary materials to support their interests and creativity. 

8. Singing and Dancing

Play some music and let your child sing and dance. It’s a fun approach to improve their mood and get them away from screens. Therefore, learning and growing without relying on screens can be done through this. 

9. Encourage Outdoor Play 

Give your child a ball or a stick and let them play outdoors. If you’re concerned about their safety, just keep an eye on them. Other outdoor activities can include bike rides, hikes, or collecting rocks. Such screen-free activities also boost their physical health and help them stay active for long.

10. Play Verbal Games 

Engage your child in verbal games such as naming animals for each letter of the alphabet or playing 20 questions. These can be fun ways to pass the time while you’re busy with other tasks.

What are the effects of too much screen time?

Here are some of the negative impacts of excessive screen time: 

1. Physical Health: 

Too much screen time can lead to health issues like obesity due to no exercise, poor posture or uncomfortable positions, and eye strain. As per the WHO, excessive screen time can negatively influence brain areas. 

2. Mental Health: 

Overuse of phones and screens can increase feelings of anxiety, and depression, and disrupt sleep patterns which further impacts the overall mental well-being of a child. To get rid of such negative impacts, there is a need to keep children away from screens and indulge them in engaging activities. 

3. Social Development: 

Spending too much time on technology can reduce face-to-face interactions with others which again can hinder your communication skills and limited vocabulary or even bring out a sense of inferiority.

4. Academic Performance: 

Excessive screen time can cut into study time which affects school performance and academic focus. It may also hamper writing and concentration skills.

5. Eye Problems: 

Spending long periods in front of a screen can cause eye strain, farsightedness, headaches, and blurry vision. Children may also develop conditions like nearsightedness at a younger age.

Conclusion 

There is no doubt that smartphones and screens have their benefits such as providing learning apps or educational content, but children need to balance screen time with other activities. Research has shown that spending good time with family and friends in real life is key to healthy growth. As parents, it’s important to manage screen use and make sure kids stay engaged in screen-free activities. It is crucial to help children find a healthy balance between screen time and other activities.

Also read – Sharanya Narayani International School