Keep Them Busy Without the Screens!

Tired of Too Much Screen Time? Let's talk Screen-Free Activities for Kids!

If you’ve ever heard “I’m bored!” right after limiting screen time, you’re not alone! In today’s digital world, keeping kids entertained without screens can feel like a challenge.

Two toddlers blowing bubbles in a sunny garden, with colorful flowers and toy car in the background. Bright, joyful mood.

But guess what? Screen-free activities for kids can be just as fun (if not more!) — and they help develop creativity, problem-solving skills, and imagination.

Here are some of my favorite screen-free activities for kids, plus Amazon must-haves to make unplugged playtime exciting!

1. Puzzles: Boost Brainpower & Focus

💡 Why you’ll love it: Encourages problem-solving & patience. 🔗 [Insert Amazon Affiliate Link]

Puzzles are a classic way to keep kids engaged while strengthening their critical thinking and fine motor skills.

Stack of colorful animal-themed wooden puzzle boards with knobs featuring varied animals and vibrant backgrounds, labeled for learning.

✔️ Chunky wooden puzzles for toddlers. My son LOVES these Wooden Animal Puzzles by Synarry. You can also find a ton of other multipack options on Amazon! Designed to enhance hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, problem-solving, memory, and the ability to identify and classify animals. It's the perfect choice for moms, and an ideal gifts for your little ones!

✔️ 100+ piece puzzles for elementary-aged kids

✔️ 3D puzzles & brain teasers for older kids & teens

💡 Mom Tip: Start a family puzzle night—it’s a great way to bond!

2. Craft Kits: Let Their Creativity Shine

💡 Why you’ll love it: Hours of hands-on fun with little mess.🔗 [Insert Amazon Affiliate Link]

Crafting is one of the best ways for kids to express creativity while staying off screens.

Colorful pop bead jewelry set in an open box with assorted beads, necklaces, rings, and bracelets. Bright and playful design.

✔️ DIY jewelry-making kits for artsy kids. NexBox makes this really great Jewelry Kit for Kids. This is a great skill-building gift for teaching kids how to sort, count, and snap. Developing kid's fine motor skills is extremely important, as well as color cognition and hand-eye coordination. I would recommend having a dedicated space for this kit, and only allowing your kids to play while under adult supervision. While older kids are certainly a bit more responsible, it's always important to express safety when handling small objects (like not putting it in their mouths).

✔️ Origami & paper crafts for fine motor skills

✔️ Slime or playdough kits for sensory play

💡 Mom Tip: Keep a craft bin stocked with stickers, glue, and colored paper for easy access!

3. Educational Toys: Learning Through Play

💡 Why you’ll love it: Sneaky learning that feels like fun!🔗 [Insert Amazon Affiliate Link]

Toys don’t have to be just for fun—they can also boost STEM skills, creativity, and problem-solving!

✔️ Letter & number games for preschoolers.

Various National Geographic science kits displayed in a grid. Bright colors, product ratings, and "Add to Cart" buttons are visible.

✔️ Science experiment kits for curious minds. My kids have actually just gotten into the Nat Geo Science Kits. So far we've built a Volcano and created a Volcanic Eruption, built a Terrarium, and even raised Butterflies! I highly recommend National Geographic kits for so many reasons, but mostly because your kids can learn all sorts of new things while having fun! Nothing beats watching their little minds absorb valuable information like sponges.

✔️ Building blocks & magnetic tiles for engineering fun. My kids are HUGE fans of these Magnetic Tile Sensory Toys. As a mom, I love it because it helps toddlers to recognize colors, number graphing, build patterns, and shape puzzles.

Colorful magnetic building tiles form structures. Vibrant red, blue, yellow, green pieces. "Soyee" storage box and packaging in background.

It has also encouraged my kids to learn how to work together and SHARE! So if you have multiples, this really comes in handy. Just be weary of the dreadful younger brother who stomps down big sissy's castle... that is a tough one.

We can play all kinds of games with magnetic blocks, puzzles, shadow games, find words, dollhouses, etc. STEM-approved magnetic blocks inspire hours of instruction-free playtime while helping children develop math, science, spatial, and tactile skills

💡 Mom Tip: Rotate educational toys every few weeks to keep things fresh!

4. Indoor & Outdoor Games: Get Them Moving!

💡 Why you’ll love it: Encourages movement & teamwork.🔗 [Insert Amazon Affiliate Link]

Burn off some energy with fun games that get kids moving while keeping their attention.

Colorful play tent set with tunnels, ball pit, and various interconnected sections. Bright red, blue, and yellow colors create a playful mood.

✔️ Indoor obstacle course sets for active play. My kids LOVE this Portable Play Center by Playz. This is an indoor & outdoor pop up playhouse that includes a spacious kids play tent, big kids ball pit, and an interactive crawl tunnels obstacle course that will keep children entertained for hours! Kids can customize the many different crazy maze combos and add more! This is definitely a must-have toy for an active kid, toddler, baby, or all three together!

Green toy with dog graphic; colorful educational cards showing letters, numbers, and objects around. Text reads "Dog Woof-Woof!"

✔️ Board games & card games My daughter was gifted these Talking Flash Cards by Aullsaty for Christmas one year, and she has hardly put them down since! When she's "bored" or simply looking for some quick entertainment, she never fails to feel satisfaction in sticking these little cards into the machine and hearing it sound out the words or pictures to her. There's also nothing more rewarding than hearing her sound out the words for herself for the first time! Now my 1yo son has taken interest to it, and I have every intention to encourage it!

Kids joyfully jump over a purple spinning toy with a digital display reading 123. Remote control and wave symbol nearby.

✔️ Classic jump ropes & hula hoops for outdoor fun. There's always the classic jump ropes that you can get from just about anywhere, but I'm a big fan of trying new things I find on Amazon. My kids are one 1 and 3, so they currently lack the coordination to spin their own jump rope at the moment. I found this nifty little item that saved the day! This Smart Jump Rope Machine pretty much does the work for them, while keeping them entertained for HOURS! It has 10 speed settings, so you have full control over how quickly the rope spins. And the rope is made of soft rubber, so it doesn't hurt if it hits their little legs.

💡 Mom Tip: Set up a prize box to reward kids for completing screen-free challenges!

5. Books & Audiobooks: The Ultimate Screen-Free Escape

💡 Why you’ll love it: Sparks imagination & builds vocabulary.

Child with headphones reads a book, holding a teddy bear on a cozy couch. Warm lighting, bookshelves, and star-shaped lights create a serene mood.

If your kids aren’t big readers yet, try audiobooks! They keep kids engaged while improving listening skills.

✔️ Interactive lift-the-flap books for toddlers

✔️ Chapter books & graphic novels for young readers

✔️ Kid-friendly audiobooks for screen-free storytelling

💡 Mom Tip: Create a cozy reading nook with pillows and soft lighting!

6. Sensory Play: Perfect for Little Hands

💡 Why you’ll love it: Calming & engaging, especially for younger kids.

A table with wooden toys, puzzles, yarn balls, a plush toy, game controllers, and books titled Sensory Play and Kinetic Sand. Neutral tones.

Sensory activities stimulate touch, sight, and creativity while keeping little ones entertained.

✔️ Kinetic sand & playdough for hands-on fun

✔️ Water beads & sensory bins for endless exploration

✔️ Musical instruments to encourage rhythm & movement

This Kinetic Sand is a MUST-HAVE in my home. You can open up the Construction Site to reveal a contained play space. When you’re finished playing, the sandbox easily folds up and fits everything inside for storage or portable play.

Yellow Kinetic Sand construction kit with toy vehicles, tools, sand, and a case. Box displays construction scene with various machines.

Another cool thing about Kinetic Sand is that it comes in many diferent kits, with tons of different colors you can buy, like this Value Pack! This sand is 100% made of eco-friendly, non-toxic materials that fully comply with U.S. toy safety regulations and are completely safe to play with.

You can have fun with your children for hours or keep them occupied for long periods of time. I'll be honest, I've played with them a few times with this sand, and I understand why it's addicting!

💡 Mom Tip: Use a plastic tablecloth for easy cleanup on the messier STEM toys!

7. Cooking & Baking: A Fun Learning Experience

💡 Why you’ll love it: Encourages independence & life skills.

Let kids help in the kitchen with simple, hands-on recipes!

Pizza kit for kids with rolling pin, pizza cutter, chef hat, recipe cards, and a box labeled "Junior Master Kit: Pizza". Vibrant colors.

✔️ Kids’ baking kits for mess-free fun. My kids LOVE this DIY Cake Pop Kit by Baketivity. It comes with pre-measured ingredients and decorating supplies, which makes the process so much easier for parents!

✔️ DIY pizza or sandwich stations for picky eaters. My daughter has sensory and food aversions, so getting her to enjoy what she's eating can be a real task. We learned that having her involved in the process of making her own food really helps, and who doesn't love pizza? If your picky eater is anything like mine, try out this Tovla Jr. Ultimate Real Pizza Cooking Kit for Kids. It includes everything kids need for authentic pizza-making. Features a pizza silicone mat, rolling pin, pizza cutter, oven mitts, chef hat, and fun stickers, empowering young chefs to create their own pizza masterpieces with safe, real tools. My 3-year-old approves!

Four silicone molds with fun shapes; can make 10 popsicles. Text highlights: "4pcs Silicone Mold" and "Can make 10 popsicles at a time." Bright colors.

✔️ Make-your-own popsicles for a summer treat! If there's one thing any kid loves on a hot sunny day, it's sweet cold popsicles! This is by far one of my favorite things to do with my kids. I love that I have full control over what goes into it (so it's not loaded with dyes and sugars), and my babies love eating something they put the effort into creating themselves. We use these Kids Cartoon Popsicle Molds from Amazon. They're reusable and made of food-grade silicone, so you can make as many as you'd like, as often as you'd like! They also come equipped with easy-to-hold handles, so they are perfectly sized for small hands, adding extra fun for kids!

💡 Mom Tip: Give kids their own mini aprons & cooking tools to make it special!

Final Thoughts: Unplug & Enjoy the Fun!

Screen-free activities don’t have to be boring—with these fun ideas & Amazon finds, your kids will stay entertained without the need for tablets and TV.

💬 What’s your child’s favorite screen-free activity? Share in the comments!