Looking for easy ways to entertain your kids without electronics? This big list of screen-free activities for kids includes a wide variety of activity ideas that are simple to set up and perfect for children of all ages!
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If you find that your kids are constantly bored and reaching for electronic devices, make sure you bookmark this page! I’ve compiled a list of almost 200 screen-free activities that children can use to entertain themselves.
On this page, you’ll find lots of activities for every age group and budget, ranging from outdoor activities to art projects to science experiments (and everything in between). You’re sure to find the perfect boredom buster for your little one!
Why You’ll Love These Activities
- Budget-friendly: Most of the activities listed can be done with free or low-cost supplies that you may already have at home.
- Varied: This list includes a variety of different types of screen-free activities, including outdoor activities, indoor activities, sensory activities, art projects, and activities to do alone or with the whole family.
- Not age-specific: I made sure to include activities that are appropriate for several different age groups, ranging from toddlers to teens. You should be able to find lots of ideas to try no matter how old your children are!
Looking for more simple ways to entertain your kids? Check out this Shaving Cream Car Wash, this Muddy Farm Animal Sensory Bin or these 2-Ingredient Sensory Recipes!
Outdoor Activities
Spending time outdoors has such a positive impact on children’s physical and mental wellbeing, and there are lots of different ways to play!
- Go birdwatching
- Paint the fence with water
- Go to the park
- Do some backyard camping
- Blow bubbles
- Make mud pies
- Start an herb garden
- Collect rocks
- Draw with sidewalk chalk
- Fly a kite
- Set up a lemonade stand
- Hunt for insects
- Make a flower bouquet
- Play soccer
- Watch the clouds or stars
- Do a Relay Race
- Make nature crowns
- Paint a shower curtain
- Climb a tree
- Toss ping-pong balls
- Have a picnic
- Collect sticks and leaves
- Build a bug hotel
- Make “nature soup”
Indoor Activities
Too hot, cold or rainy to spend time outdoors? These simple indoor activities are perfect for both younger and older kids.
- Pop bubble wrap
- Make a pom-pom drop
- Read a book
- Make s’mores indoors
- Do a puzzle
- Build with LEGO
- Host a trivia night
- Play “20 Questions”
- Stack paper cups
- Build a recycled car ramp
- Learn to sew
- Play with stickers
- Play cards
- Put on a puppet show
- Play hair salon
- Look at a photo album
- Sing a song
- String Cheerios or beads
- Build a fort
- Play hangman
- Have a glow stick bath
- Play solitaire
- Start an indoor garden
- Play dress-up
- Read a nursery rhyme
- Play with dolls
- Play “Follow the Leader”
- Make a sticky wall
- Tell jokes
- Build a house of cards
- Do indoor camping
- Play “Duck, Duck, Goose”
- Practice playing chess
- Tell riddles
- Have a spa day
- Play with a felt board
- Play with marbles
- Have a flashlight scavenger hunt
- Stack blocks
- Play a board game
- Play “Would You Rather?”
- Play hot potato
- Put on a play
- Have a pillow fight
Creative Projects
You don’t need to be crafty to try these simple art projects! If your kids enjoy making crafts, they’ll love doing these fun creative projects at home.
- Draw inside a box
- Do process art
- Sketch a family portrait
- Draw a comic book
- Finger paint
- Make a fairy garden
- Make a painting
- Create a time capsule
- Paint without a paintbrush
- Create with air dry clay
- Do a collage
- Make your own bookmarks (try these bleeding tissue paper bookmarks or download these free coloring bookmarks!)
- Start a scrapbook
- Paint rocks (we like to use acrylic paint pens for this)
- Make a flip-book
- Make pasta necklaces
- Make a sock puppet
- Decorate t-shirts
- Make a bird feeder
- Paint with Q-tips (these free Q-tip painting templates are the perfect way to get started!)
- Learn to crochet
- Make friendship bracelets
- Draw a self-portrait
- Make sun prints
- Craft some jewelry
- Make seed bombs
- Write a poem
- Make paper flowers
- Draw a picture
- Do some coloring (you can grab lots of free coloring printables from our site!)
- Build a cardboard dollhouse
- Use dot markers
- Host a comedy show
- Finger knit
- Paint the windows (you can use this DIY window paint recipe to make your own washable paint for your windows)
- Have a paper airplane race
- Make your own scratch art paper
- Write a short story
- Press flowers
- Make a treasure map
- Start a journal
- Make wind chimes
- Make some leaf prints
- Make paper chains
Movement Activities
These movement activities are perfect for getting the wiggles out and using up some of that excess energy that kids have!
- Play hide-and-seek
- Play Twister
- Do some yoga
- Play musical chairs
- Limbo dance
- Do some indoor bowling
- Go for a walk
- Play Simon Says
- Play catch
- Throw a frisbee
- Play freeze dance
- Play tag
- Jump on the bed
- Create an obstacle course
- Use a hula hoop
- Jump rope
- Have a dance party
- Play hopscotch
- Go for a bike ride
Science Experiments
Have a little scientist at home? These simple science experiments are the perfect way to keep them entertained.
- Make DIY bouncy balls
- Make a volcano (you can also try this fizzing baking soda volcano craft or switch things up with this erupting snow volcano)
- Make a tornado in a bottle
- Make dancing raisins
- Make floating dry erase hearts
- Make Elephant toothpaste
- Make rock candy
- Make a Skittles rainbow
- Make a water cycle in a bag
- Make invisible ink
- Make fizzy moon sand
- Make a lava lamp
- Make fireworks in a jar
- Make shaving cream rain clouds
- Build a bottle rocket
- Make rainbow celery
Sensory Activities
Not only is sensory play lots of fun, but it also has many benefits for kids! These DIY sensory activities are perfect for kids of all ages.
- Make a sensory bin
- Play with shaving cream
- Make cloud dough
- Make slime
- Make moon sand
- Play with soap foam (or, if you have a younger child at home, try making taste-safe sensory foam)
- Paint ice cubes
- Paint in a bag
- Make play dough
- Make “potions”
- Make a sensory bottle
- Play with water
- Give toys a bubble bath
- Make a Jell-O dig
- Make a sensory bag
Cooking & Baking
Preparing food together is a fantastic bonding activity for families. Try making some of these easy recipes together!
- Bake some cookies
- Try a new recipe
- Make homemade gummies
- Make Jell-O
- Make energy balls
- Make homemade pizza
- Make popsicles
- Make ice cream in a bag
- Make a smoothie
- Make animal crackers
Other Activities
Still looking for ideas? These is no shortage of ways for kids to entertain themselves without screens.
- Start a collection
- Do a random act of kindness
- Write a letter
- Volunteer
- Play a musical instrument
- Learn a magic trick
- Host a tea party
- Do a scavenger hunt (you can grab this free nature scavenger hunt and print it out at home!)
- Learn a new language
- Have an arm wrestling match
- Go to the library
- Create a secret code
- Paint your nails
- Play charades
- Take some photographs
- Play tic-tac-toe
- Build a race track
Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question that wasn’t answered here? Let me know in the comments and I’ll be happy to help!
More Simple Activities for Kids
If you have tried these Screen-Free Activities for Kids or any other project on my website, please let me know how it went in the comments below. I can’t wait to hear from you!
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