If you are looking for screen-free activities for kids, you have come to the right place. I’ve put together a list of screen-free activities sorted by age group.
You don’t have to subscribe to a screen-free parenting philosophy to use this list – these activities can be enjoyed by every family.
Let’s get to it.
Parenting is a long road and days tend to have the habit of seeming far longer than the mere 12 hours of awake time we actually experience with our kids.
In order to prepare or plan activities for you children, it is important to have a basic understanding of where your kids are at in their development.
Below, we have put together a list of fun boredom busters for kids of every age group, along with a brief explanation of approximately where they may be at developmentally.
Table of Contents
- Screen Free Activities for babies 0-6 months:
- Screen Free Activities for babies 6-12 months:
- Screen Free Activities for babies 12-24 months:
- Activities for kids 2-3 years:
- Activities for kids 3-5 years:
- Activities for kids 6-8 years:
- Activities for kids 9-12 years:
- Screen Free Activities for Teenagers:
Screen Free Activities for babies 0-6 months:
The first 6 months of life is a time of rapid physical growth and brain development, coupled with utter helplessness for babies. During this time, most babies cannot crawl, or even sit up.
They require bonding and crave comfort from their primary caregiver.
At this stage, caregivers might find it difficult to come up with activities to pass the time. Rest assured, snuggles, songs, solo discovery time, and conversation is all baby’s need at this age.
This is often the stage wherein caregivers feel overwhelmed and bored, simultaneously. It’s important for parents and caretakers to know that how they feel may be normal and that there is no need to go overboard planning activities.
This is likely to lead to overstimulation. Short, simple activities, with a snuggle and independent time, are just as important for a child’s development as activities are.
- Babywear
- Tummy time
- Play gym
- Reading with caregiver
- Songs
- Library
- Playground
- Board books
- Rattles
- Sensory toys
Check out our screen-free activities for babies write-up, too!
Screen Free Activities for babies 6-12 months:
The second 6 months of life is when things start to get fun! Though this is still a tough stage for many parents, finding activities for kids in this age group is a bit easier.
During this stage, babies begin to sit unsupported, crawl, pull to standing, and sometimes even walk. They enjoy trying to imitate sounds and motions and may even utter their first words.
A very exciting time for babies and parents!
- Babywear
- Tummy Time
- Play gym
- Posts and pans banging
- Crawling in and out of large cardboard box
- Reading with caregiver
- Knobbed puzzles
- Songs
- Hand clapping games
- Loose parts play
- Sensory table play
- Library
- Playground
- Peeling painter’s tape
- Threading pipe cleaners through colander
- Board books
- Rolling ball back and forth
- Scribbling
- Fun finger food snacks
- Gross motor space/yes space
- Texture play with purees
- Rattles
- Sensory toys
- Children’s museum
Screen Free Activities for babies 12-24 months:
The second year of life is here and your child has already changed so much. During this year, you are in for some fun surprises.
Toddlers keep us on our toes! Baby proofing is paramount at this age, as you may find that your toddler is getting into anything and everything.
Gross motor and vocabulary will be a big focus for your budding social butterfly during this stage.
- Pots and pans banging
- Going in and out of large cardboard box
- Reading with caregiver
- Table setting
- Dishwashing/doll washing station
- Food prep (washing fruits/vegetables, slicing with a wavy chopper
- Fort making
- Sound games
- Scavenger hunt
- Knobbed puzzles
- Balance biking
- Process art
- Hand clapping games
- Movement songs/games
- Playing with children’s instruments
- Rock painting
- Pinecone painting
- Loose parts play
- Dress-up
- Nature hunt
- Sensory table play
- Library
- Playground
- Peeling painter’s tape
- Threading pipe cleaners through colander
- Pitcher to glass water transfer
- Scooping beans/rice from bowl to bowl
- Window washing
- Miniature animal transfer (featured here)
- Nomenclature matching games
- Board books
- Gross motor space/yes space
- Building with block
- Picnic (indoor or outdoor)
- Bird watching
- Play I-spy
- Water table play
- Exercise together
- Tea party
- Children’s museum
Activities for kids 2-3 years:
Walking, running, jumping, climbing, and chatting up a storm; you’re in the terrific two’s stage!
Children at this age engage in something called parallel play. They are social creatures but are not quite at the age where they have achieved the social and emotional development for interactive games with their peers.
They appreciate interaction with caregivers, though. If you are one of the lucky caregivers, you may even start to notice your child is even starting to appreciate long stretches of independent play!
- Pots and pans banging
- Finger paints in bathtub
- Large cardboard box imaginative play
- Play-doh
- Reading with caregiver
- Dishwashing/doll washing station
- Food prep (washing fruits/vegetables, slicing with wavy chopper
- Fort making
- Sound games
- Scavenger hunt
- Gardening
- Threading large beads
- Knobbed puzzles
- Balance biking/scooter
- Process art
- Movement songs/games
- Playing with children’s instruments
- Pottery painting
- Rock painting
- Pinecone painting
- Loose parts play
- Dress-up
- Nature hunt
- Daytime camping (indoors or outdoors)
- Sensory table play
- Make ice cream
- Library
- Playground
- Making paper airplanes
- Audiobooks
- Leaf threading
- Pealing painter’s tape
- Threading pipe cleaners through colander
- Pitcher to glass water transfer
- Scooping beans/rice from bowl to bowl
- Window washing
- Miniature animal transfer (featured here)
- Nomenclature matching games
- Board books
- Gross motor space/yes space
- Building with blocks
- Picnic (indoor or outdoor)
- Water balloon play
- Bird watching
- Flower pressing
- Play I-spy
- Water table play
- Sand box
- Wash car with caregiver
- Simple science experiments (float or sink?, oil and water, ect.)
- Exercise together
- Tea party
- Play memory
- Visit nursing home
- Children’s museum
Activities for kids 3-5 years:
These years are so precious and can be so much fun! Your child’s personality is really shining through these days!
Kids at this age have mastered most gross motor functions, can speak well, and can perform many self-care tasks on their own.
They appreciate independence and it’s a great age to get them set up with a play area wherein they can choose their own activities, color on their own, and flip through books without interference.
- Decorating and playing in large cardboard box
- Pots and pans banging
- Finger paints in bathtub
- Play-doh and plastic knife
- Coloring and activity books
- Audiobooks
- Reading with caregiver
- Dishwashing/doll washing station
- Cooking activities
- Board games
- Fort making
- Sound games
- Scavenger hunt
- Finger crocheting
- Sewing cards with large plastic needle
- Gardening
- Making jewelry
- Puzzles
- Bike/scooter riding
- Loom weaving
- Sports
- Process art
- Movement songs/games
- Playing instrument
- Tie-dying clothes
- Snap Circuits Beginner
- Pottery painting
- Rock painting
- Pinecone painting
- Loose parts play
- Dress-up
- Nature hunt
- Daytime camping (indoors or outdoors)
- Sensory table play
- Make ice cream
- Library
- Playground
- Making paper airplanes
- Leaf threading
- Peeling painter’s tape
- Learning knots
- Threading pipe cleaners through colander
- Pitcher to glass water transfer
- Scooping beans/rice from bowl to bowl
- Window washing
- Miniature animal transfer (featured here)
- Nomenclature matching games
- Gross motor space/yes space
- Building with blocks
- Climbing trees
- Picnic (indoor or outdoor)
- Water balloon play
- Bird watching/identifying
- Flower pressing
- Play I-spy
- Water table play
- Sand box
- Wash car with caregiver
- Science experiments
- Exercise together
- Tea party
- Write letters to family
- Make family tree
- Ask neighbors if they need help with tasks
- Lemonade stand
- Make book marks
- Play memory
- Play store/restaurant
- Look through old photo albums together
- Scrap book together
- Play checkers
- Visit nursing home
- Volunteer
- Make book
- Soap making
- Children’s museum
Activities for kids 6-8 years:
The 6-8 stage is a fun one! Many kids at in this age range are able to do quite a bit on their own and they have a focus on perfecting their skills.
You will find that your child enjoys quite a bit of independent activity, but will also invite you over for a craft or game when they feel the need for connection and conversation.
- Decorating large cardboard box for imaginative play
- Play-doh and plastic knife
- Audiobooks
- Reading
- Activity books
- Dishwashing/doll washing station
- Cooking activities
- Board games
- Playing cards
- Fort making
- Scavenger hunt
- Crocheting
- Sewing
- Gardening
- Making jewelry
- Puzzles
- Bike riding/skateboarding
- Cross stitching
- Loom weaving
- Sports
- Felting
- Candle making
- Process art
- Movement songs/games
- Playing instrument
- Tie-dying clothes
- Snap Circuits Jr. or Snap Circuits Beginner
- Geochaching
- Pottery making/painting
- Journal
- Rock painting
- Pinecone painting
- Loose parts play
- Dress-up
- Nature hunt
- Daytime camping (indoors or outdoors)
- Make ice cream
- Library
- Playground
- Origami
- Robotics STEM toys
- Leaf threading
- Learning knots
- Window washing
- Climbing trees
- Picnic (indoor or outdoor)
- Water balloon play
- Bird watching/identifying
- Flower pressing
- Play I-spy
- Water table play
- Sandbox
- Wash car with caregiver
- Science experiments
- Exercise
- Tea party
- Write letters to family
- Make family tree
- Ask neighbors if they need help with tasks
- Lemonade stand
- Make book marks
- Making smoothies
- Play memory or make memory game and play
- Play store/restaurant
- Look through old photo albums together
- Scrap book together
- Play chess
- Visit nursing home
- Volunteer
- Write story
- Soap making
- Museum
Activities for kids 9-12 years:
When children reach pre-teen years, they start to really enjoy games that have social components, sports, and other social activities.
Kids at this age very much enjoy one-on-one time with caregivers, as well. As with the previous age group, you may find yourself being invited to many of these activities if none of your child’s friends are around.
- Audiobooks
- Reading
- Word searches
- Crossword puzzles
- Paint by numbers
- Baking/recipes
- Board games
- Playing cards
- Crocheting or knitting
- Sewing
- Gardening
- Making jewelry
- Puzzles
- Bike riding/skateboarding
- Cross stitching
- Loom weaving
- Wood whittling
- Sports
- Felting
- Candle making
- Process art
- Playing instrument
- Tie-dying clothes
- Snap Circuits
- Geochaching
- Pottery making/painting
- Journal
- Rock painting
- Pinecone painting
- Loose parts play
- Nature hunt
- Daytime camping (indoors or outdoors)
- Make ice cream
- Library
- Playground
- Origami
- Robotics STEM toys
- Learning knots
- Climbing trees
- Picnic (indoor or outdoor)
- Water balloon play
- Bird watching/identifying
- Flower pressing
- Wash and detail car
- Science experiments
- Exercise
- Write letters to family
- Make family tree
- Ask neighbors if they need help with tasks
- Start small business
- Make book marks
- Making smoothies
- Play memory or make memory game and play
- Look through old photo albums together
- Scrapbook
- Play chess
- Visit nursing home
- Volunteer
- Write story
- Soap making
- Museum
If you’re looking for screen-free activities specifically for 10-year-olds, which is a common request, we’ve got that list for you.
Screen Free Activities for Teenagers:
Major physical, social, and emotional changes are taking place for your child right now. You will likely notice that your child wants to either spend more time with their friends than their parents. They may also want to spend more time alone, which may be normal.
Activities for kids in this age group should encourage kids to take on new challenges and foster a greater sense of self apart from family and friends.
Activities for this age group can easily be tailored to help fine-tune your child’s existing strength in preparation for the college years and adulthood.
- Audiobooks
- Reading
- Word searches
- Crossword puzzles
- Paint by numbers
- Baking/recipes
- Board games
- Playing cards
- Crocheting or knitting
- Sewing
- Gardening
- Making jewelry
- Puzzles
- Bike riding/skateboarding
- Cross stitching
- Loom weaving
- Wood whittling
- Sports
- Felting
- Candle making
- Process art
- Playing instrument
- Tie-dying clothes
- Snap Circuits
- Geochaching
- Pottery making/painting
- Journal
- Rock painting
- Daytime camping (indoors or outdoors)
- Make ice cream
- Library
- Origami
- Robotics STEM toys
- Learning knots
- Climbing trees
- Picnic (indoor or outdoor)
- Bird watching/identifying
- Flower pressing
- Wash and detail car
- Science experiments
- Exercise
- Write letters to family
- Make detailed family tree
- Ask neighbors if they need help with tasks
- Start small business
- Making smoothies
- Look through old photo albums together
- Scrapbook
- Play chess
- Visit nursing home
- Volunteer
- Write book
- Soap making
- Museum
For some more screen-free activities for teens, read here.
I hope these lists of screen-free activities for kids help you achieve your family’s screen-time goals.
If you want some advice on limiting your own screen time or cutting back on your Facebook use, we have help for you on this site, too.