20 old-school family entertainment ideas to do instead of screen time

Between after-school time, rainy or lazy weekends, sick days and—of course—a pandemic that forced kids to stay home for months on end, parents know that it can be maddeningly hard to come up with activities to keep kids busy. And while there’s no need to feel guilty about screen time, it’s understandable that kids’ use of screens is one of parents’ top concerns.

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So if you’re struggling to figure out how to entertain kids when they’re bored, other than screen time, we get it, mama. This list of 20 tech-free, fun activities for kids should keep your preschooler or toddler busy (without the eye strain) and give you some time to get things done.

These 20 activities are your answer to how to keep kids busy at home

1. Create a game box

Fill a box with things your child can play with alone—items like coloring books, playing cards or easy puzzles. When you need to keep your kids entertained, give them the box. While your child might resist a bit at first, but the more you do it, the more they’ll accept “game box time” as part of their routine.

2. Have them make their own cartoon

Instead of watching cartoons, have your children make their own. Give them a piece of paper and some crayons, and ask them to draw you a hero and a bad guy. When they’re done, let them come back and tell you their hero’s story.

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3. Let them help you

If you’re cooking or cleaning, let them assist you. Give them a job they can handle. For young kids, that might be stringing beans or setting the table. For older kids, that might be slicing vegetables, sweeping the house or taking out the recycling. It’s entertainment and dinner help!

4. Give them an important task

Give your child a task, and make it a really big deal. Tell them they need to draw a picture for daddy, or that they need to make a block fort for Grandma. If they think it’s an important job, they won’t complain about working on it independently.

5. Create an idea box

Brainstorm ideas with your children about what they can do to overcome boredom. Write down their suggestions, and put them in an empty box. The next time you’re looking for activities to keep kids busy, have them pick out one of their own suggestions for entertainment. Given that it was their idea, they’ll be more willing to actually do it.

6. Offer creative toys

Any toy that lets a child create is sure to keep them distracted for a long time. Invest in Legos, puzzles and Play-Doh. Not only will your child be able to play with them for hours, but they’ll build up their spatial reasoning, too.

7. Design a treasure hunt

Hide something like a coin or a sticker somewhere in the house. Give your kids a clue, and let them run wild trying to find it. If you make it a bit tricky to find, you’ll build up their resilience—and their ability to find things without begging for your help.

8. Encourage outdoor play

Don’t forget how your parents kept you busy. Just give your child a ball and a stick, and let them run wild. If you’re worried about their safety, just keep them in sight. They’ll be fine.

9. Host a play date

Work out a deal with another parent in your neighborhood. When you need some time, send your kid over to play with their kid. To be fair, you’ll have to let them send their kid over sometimes, too. When two kids play together, they keep themselves distracted.

10. Build a fort

Give your child a few pillows and a blanket, and challenge them to turn the couch into a fort. No child will turn down the chance to make a secret base—and they’ll be much more likely to play independently once they’re inside.

11. Make a sculpture

Give your child a few pipe cleaners and a piece of Styrofoam—or really any child-friendly item you have on hand—and ask them to make a sculpture. Anything will do, but favorite heroes are a winning suggestion.

12. Listen to an audiobook

If your child’s too young to read independently, pick up audio versions of their favorite books. Let them sit down and turn the pages while listening to a friendly voice read to them. Or, if you can’t find a recording, use your phone to make one yourself.

Related: 15 toys that will keep your kids entertained inside *and* outside

13. Play with locks & bolts

Hand your child a lock and a key or a nut and bolt and let them play with it. Young kids, especially, will be mesmerized by the act of unlocking something—and they’ll develop their motor skills while they’re at it. Give them a mixed bag, and see if they can figure out which lock goes with which key.

14. Have messy mixing time

Set up a big tarp on the floor, and give your child some bowls and things from the kitchen they can mix together. Let them go wild. Your child will be so excited that they get to be messy indoors that they’ll be willing to play without your constant attention.

15. Play verbal games

Take turns naming an animal for each letter of the alphabet, or play 20 Questions. You can cook, clean and get ready while quizzing your child.

16. Create a scavenger hunt

You don’t need to make a whole list—just say, “Find me something that starts with the letter B,” and let them run around the house searching. To keep your kids motivated, you might reward them by letting them choose a dish for dinner once they’ve found 10 things.

17. Grow a garden

Give your child a small plant to care for. Maybe they can grow an herb garden or a few flowers on the windowsill. Have them water their plant each day and when you need a few moments, ask them to check on it. They’ll be immersed in their work.

18. Suggest a science experiment

Let your kids discover the world. Teach or show them something about an object or their surroundings and let them explore it. That might mean giving them a magnet and telling them to see what sticks, or giving them a bowl of water and prompting them to see what will float and what will sink.

19. Give new tools to explore

Handing a child a new tool can keep them occupied for a pretty long time. Give your kids a flashlight, a combination lock or a magnifying glass, and let them figure out how it works for themselves.

Also, try giving your child a digital camera. They’ll stay distracted making selfies and videos long enough for you to get something done. Afterward, you’ll get to see what the world looks like through your child’s eyes.

20. Give them chores

This isn’t a popular option, but can be good for them. If you’re going to clean the kitchen, have your children help out with lighter tasks around the house. There are many age-appropriate chores that little ones can make a game out of.

Keeping little ones occupied is tough, but trying new activities for kids will get them used to playing independently and provide entertainment.

A version of this post was published September 17, 2021. It has been updated.