Simple Swaps to Raise ‘Screen-Free Children!’
Of course, it’s almost impossible these days for children to go totally screen-free (even schools make them use computers). But if you watch on aghast as your child remains welded to his or her phone, laptop or TV screen, here are a few alternative ideas.
Go for a Nature Walk
Of course, this is the obvious choice, if the weather is fine. You could even make it extra-fun, and encourage your child to complete a nature journal, fostering creativity as well as knowledge of the natural world.
Richard Louv is an American writer, who has happily taken it upon himself to be the tsar of ‘children getting outside in nature’. He prescribes ‘Vitamin N‘ as the dose needed by most youngsters.
When he was young, he said that ‘nature was my Ritalin’. On interviewing doctors, he says that most now have far less incidences of broken bones (children not falling out of trees – not good either). But many cases of children with depression or repetitive strain injury (from playing computer games).
Richard writes that the saddest day of his professional life, was when he asked a boy where his favourite place was. The boy replied ‘Inside, because that’s where all the sockets are’.
Encourage a Love of Books!
Most of us that love the English language and have good imagination, are like that because we were raised with a love of books and reading. Join the local library and stock up on good books, so they become absorbed in a good yarn, to while away the hours, if bored.
Learning to read well is also a skill that will foster them for later life. And they will become adults, that won’t be afraid to switch the ‘off’ button’, if there’s nothing on TV!
Be a bit adventurous. Seek out your child’s interests, then find books that are good, not just ones promoted by the major book chains.
- Living Paintings offers touch-to-see books for children & adults. Everything is dispatched for free through RNIB’s Articles for the Blind program.
- Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library mails free books addressed to children, and has so far delivered 6 million books to children in the UK at no cost. The selected children receive a free book each month, until they are 5 years old.
If you only read the books everyone else is reading, you’ll only think like everyone else is thinking. Haruki Murakami
Play Card Games
Again, a traditional game of Snap is fine. But think outside the box. This pack of cards is not just beautifully illustrated, but teaches children also about flora and fauna.
Flora & Fauna Playing Cards are sent in printed tissue, each card features whimsical art by Eleanor Longhurst in the following suits:
- Hearts are mushrooms
- Diamonds are wildflowers
- Spades are birds
- Clubs are bees, butterflies & moths
There are also two jokers in the deck: A seagull and pigeon!
Emma Ball’s Playing Cards are in a wee box, choose from birds or wildlife designs. A pack of 54.
Play some Board Games
Board games used to be the way to while away the hours, when it was raining outside. As long as you don’t have a ‘troublesome toddler’ who throws everything up in the air once losing (and actually it would be a good exercise perhaps to learn to co-operative), board games are great fun.
Keep board games away from young children and pets, due to choking hazards (dice etc).
You could go for traditional board games (there are local versions for Monopoly if you prefer) Or go for one of the modern board games dedicated to learning about the planet and wildlife.
MontroseBiology offers fantastic nature-inspired board games. These have been created by an American biology teacher, who spent his childhood fascinated by David Attenborough programs. The text is science, but the art is makes these extra-special, with digital 1700s maps or lithograph prints from the 1800s.
The same company also makes card games that educate on natural science.
The Board Game Family covers 100 popular board games and how to play them, plus a history of board games and their benefits.
Complete (plastic-free) Jigsaws
Jigsaws require the brain to work in different ways. You can now buy good plastic-free jigsaw brands. Again, keep jigsaw pieces away from young children and pets.
Wentworth Puzzles are all made with sustainable materials, sold in plastic-free packaging. Made in the heart of the countryside, you can choose from ones focused on animals and nature, fine art or ‘extra difficult!’
These puzzles don’t use chemicals, so they smell a bit like ‘burnt wood’ from the woods used, but this should disappear in a ventilated area. It also offers a free replacement service, if you find a few pieces missing on delivery (within 6 months).
If this is beyond your budget, most local charity shops sell them (don’t support animal-testing charity shops). Of course the risk here is that you may do it, then find a piece missing!
Swap Video Calls for Face-to-Face Visits
Whenever possible, choose real-life visits with friends and relatives over video chats. In-person interaction brings warmth, fosters emotional bonds, and helps children learn social cues.
If a visit isn’t possible, try sending voice notes or handwritten letters instead. Personal touches make relationships stronger.
Replace Cartoons with Puppet Shows
Puppets, whether homemade or store-bought, can bring endless stories to life. Children love making up characters, setting up scenes, and putting on shows for their family.
Change E-Books for Library Visits
A trip to the local library opens up a treasure trove of stories, facts, and friendly faces. Libraries often run storytelling sessions, craft times, and reading challenges, drawing children into a screen-free world of discovery.
Picking out physical books and joining events helps build a lifelong love of reading.
Substitute TV Time with Outdoor Play
Instead of another episode, grab a ball and head outdoors. Walks, skipping, cycling, or a picnic in the park all encourage movement and exploration.
Outdoor play helps children stay active, improves mood, and builds a healthy relationship with nature.
Trade Learning Apps for Cooking Together
Cooking is packed with opportunities for learning, from measuring ingredients to counting spoonfuls. Invite children to help chop, mix, and taste.
They pick up practical maths and science skills, learn about healthy food choices, and gain confidence in the kitchen, all without a screen in sight.
Before cooking, read up on food safety for children and pets.
Replace Phone Time with Mindfulness Moments
Quiet time together, such as drawing, guided breathing, or gentle stretches, helps children relax and reset. Use candles, calm music, or a cosy corner to make it special.
These moments teach children to pause, check in with themselves, and find comfort away from screens.
