AD. Almost every activity we complete has a screen involved in some way. Texting, watching films, looking for a new recipe, and even work. Although it is a revolutionary piece of technology that has made our lives so much easier, it has also taken over most of our time and energy. This includes the children in our lives who have noticed and picked up these habits. Watching your child spend hours on end on a screen when the weather outside is warm and inviting can be frustrating. However, quarantine forced both school, work, and entertainment to solely rely on screens which is why it is so much more common to have more screen time than usual. But in an effort, it is important we find a balance and help our children enjoy activities they once did when screens weren’t as accessible. Here is some advice from a pre-prep school in North London on 5 screen free activities.
[Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash]
Screen Free Activities for Kids
Learn a New Skill
Sometimes children tend to reach for their tablets more often as it is the most interesting thing they have access to. Teaching your child a new skill may be a way to keep them away from their screens for longer periods of time. Find out what your child enjoys and cater the new skill to that. This could be baking, learning how to ride a bike, or even painting on a canvas. The opportunities are endless.
Pick up a Book
Reading isn’t everyone’s cup of tea especially when it is mainly associated with academics which can come across as boring. Nevertheless, reading is perfect for everyone given that the right genre is chosen. The world of books is wide and is guaranteed to be able to cater to everyone. Help your child find a book they’ll enjoy and watch them spend their free time with their nose buried in a book instead of a screen.
Take a Walk
Children love to be outside. Grab a few snacks and walk down to your local park. If you’re feeling adventurous, drive up to your nearest country park and allow your children to roam free. This will definitely become a family favourite in no time.
Learn to Cook
Children love to get creative so what better place than the kitchen? Not only will this be a great helping hand for you but will teach your child lifelong skills. You may even have a young chef in the making.
Work on Puzzles
This not only requires time but a lot of patience and concentration. The best part is that it can be completed alone or with a buddy.
It may seem difficult at first, but getting your child complete activities off of the screen is possible. It just needs a little creative thinking and a whole lot of encouragement to get them started.
What screen free activities would you recommend?
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Even as a adult I feel like I needed to read this. My screen time is absolutely ridiculous and I think these 5 activities will work in my favour too haha. I’ll for sure be sharing this with family and friends, I think they’ll also benefit from this massively. Thank you so much for sharing with us lovely Xo
Elle - ellegracedeveson.com
These are such great tips. Something we try and do in our house, if we can.
I totally agree, it's easy to get bogged down in screen time. But it's important not to, too much.