100+ Offline Activities to Reduce Screen Time

Online Activities to Reduce Screen time (Ultimate Guide)

With studies indicating that too much screen time can have a negative impact on children, many parents are searching for ways to protect their kids and regulate screen time. Instead of taking their devices away (and possibly sparking resentment), try finding offline activities that are safe and that your child enjoys. When students are excited about participating in offline activities they naturally spend less time on their devices and social media. Aside from reducing screen time, offline activities provide students with the opportunity to grow, learn new skills, and collect experiences they can add to their student resumes.

We created a list of offline activities that can positively impact students of all ages. We encourage you to review this list, share it with your children and friends, find new ways to unplug, and have regular discussions about digital safety with your family.

Some of the links below may be affiliate links. You pay the same price, but we get a small advertising commission from Amazon, etc. This helps to support our program. Thanks for all your help!

Regardless of whether your student is participating in an activity online or offline, it’s important that you monitor them. Pay attention to their actions, have an open dialogue, provide support when they need it, and step in when the situation calls for it.

Table of Contents

Building and LEGO

Ages 4+
According to Parenting Science construction toys like Legos can foster a wide range of abilities, including motor skills, spatial skills, language skills, divergent problem solving, and non-verbal intelligence. Whether you’re following a set model of instructions or building things from scratch, Legos are a great way to unplug and have fun. Families can spend time building sets together, engineering machines, or using Legos to act out their favorite stories.

Our recommendations:

Books

Ages 2+
There are so many benefits to reading at any age. The New York Times reports that reading out loud to younger children has the potential to help curb problem behaviors like aggression, hyperactivity and difficulty with attention. Family Education says that teens can gain skills from reading outside of the classroom including expanding their vocabularies, handling complex ideas, improving their score on the verbal section of a college admissions test, and helping them see solutions to their own problems. Parents can encourage reading by reading out loud to their children at a young age, showing interest in the books that their kids are reading, or encouraging them to read the book version of their favorite movies. Visit your local public library and sign up for their summer reading program or consult their book club options or recommendations.

Our recommendations:

Puzzles

Ages 1+
According to the Child Development Institute, puzzles have the ability to positively impact children by developing or improving hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, gross motor skills, problem solving, shape recognition, memory, goal setting, and learning to work with their environment. Families can spend time solving puzzles and coming up with a strategy (e.g. building out the border first or grouping pieces together based on colors) together. Consider taking advantage of your puzzle time to have an open dialog with your children.

Our recommendations:

Board Games and Card Games

Ages 3+
Game night is one of the most tried and true methods for families to spend more time together. According to Scholastic, games don’t even need to be overly educational to have a positive impact on students. Games can help them master new skills such as number and shape recognition, letter recognition and reading, communicating verbally, sharing, waiting, taking turns, enjoying interactions with others, the ability to focus, and lengthening their attention span. The Wall Street Journal says that family card games can teach math, memory, self-confidence, how to face competition in a healthy way, and strategic thinking. Parents can set a positive example for their children by following the rules of the game while not taking winning or losing too seriously. Games are also a great way for tweens and teens to "hang out" offline.

Our recommendations:

Bicycling

Ages 4+
Aside from being good for your health, bicycling also provides a lot of other positive benefits to children. According to the Child Development Institute, teaching kids how to ride a bike can build stamina, coordination, balance, and persistence. It’s important to remember that riding bikes can be dangerous, so parents need to set clear limitations and teach their children about bike safety before they start riding. Then, parents can help their children find the right bike for their age and skill level. Families can find bike paths to ride together, have friendly speed races, and use biking as a mode of transportation for short trips.

Our recommendations:

Craft Kits

Ages 4+
Many parents put the majority of their focus on their children’s test scores, but fostering their creativity is equally important for mental growth. In fact, Livestrong.com states that arts and crafts can help boost a student’s academic performance in subjects like math and literature. Activities such as painting and pottery also teach kids problem-solving and communication skills. Craft kits in particular are great for both children and parents because they offer easy-to-follow guidelines and clean up is a breeze!

Our recommendations:

Writing or Journaling

Ages 4+
Child Researcher Marlene Ritchie, B.S., M.N. suggests keeping a regular written record (journaling or keeping a pocket notebook) of thoughts, feelings, happenings and dreams. The journal is a non-judgmental friend, a therapist, and will be a historical reference to significant events in the writer’s life. Scientific research has identified many physical, psychological and emotional benefits from journaling. Mental health therapists recommend journaling as a means of dealing with traumatic experiences.

Our recommendations:

Drawing & Coloring

Ages 4+
Drawing is one of the earliest forms of artistic activity that children learn how to do. According to Scholastic, even adults discover the relaxation and self-expression benefits of drawing, sketching, and coloring. Children have a similar experience, with the added advantage of motor skills development. Kids can practice free-form sketching or coloring in order to boost creativity and improve their ability to focus or to encourage educational learning, whether you’re teaching a child geography, animals, colors, or even numbers. For parents and teachers, these inexpensive activities require limited preparation and are well-suited to travel. Additionally, coloring books and sketch pads can be used by students of all ages which makes it one of the best offline activities.

Our recommendations:

Sports

Ages 4+
Playing sports with your child at home gives you the ability to bond with each other and engage in physical activity. Psychology Today points out that organized sports through a school or club league are also beneficial when it comes to learning valuable life lessons. Whether your kid picks up baseball or cheerleading, they will quickly understand the importance of commitment and resilience. Plus, the more time your child spends on sports, the less time they have to participate in unhealthy habits, like underage drinking, playing mind-numbing video games, and eating junk food.

Our recommendations:

Playing an instrument

Ages 3+
According to TIME, music can help develop your child’s brain. However, they have to actively participate in making music to reap the full benefits… learning a musical instrument improves a child’s neural processing and reading skills, along with their ability to focus. Research has even discovered that students who take music classes are more likely to graduate from high school and attend college. However, if you want your child to stick with this hobby, you should help them find a musical instrument that they actually enjoy. Forcing them to play the trombone when they really love the drums is a recipe for disaster. We’ve linked some of our favorite videos about learning musical instruments below!

Our recommendations:

Gardening

Ages 4+
Gardening is often overlooked when your family is trying to decide on a fun, educational hobby. However, PBS urges parents to consider getting their hands dirty when teaching children science and math. Measuring out the soil and water gives your kids a better understanding of arithmetic, while learning about the lifecycle of a plant can improve your child’s biology grade. You can also use gardening to encourage healthy eating habits! Grow simple plants–like garlic or spinach–and use the ingredients to cook a nutritious meal. Your kids will be proud to showcase their hard work on the dinner table!

Our recommendations:

Camping

Ages 4+
Camping is an entertaining activity for the entire family. Whether you’re 8 or 80, KOA explains how camping helps reduce stress and encourages you to connect with your environment. Your children will especially benefit from this outdoor adventure as they practice problem-solving and survival skills while pitching tents, making a fire, and learning about surrounding plants and wildlife. It will also give you a chance to unplug for a while and strengthen your relationships. Bring a guitar, some marshmallows, and some fun nature games to make your camping experience extra special!

Our recommendations:

Cooking and Baking

Ages 4+

Helping in the kitchen can boost your child’s math skills, language skills, and even their emotional development. Since baking and cooking require waiting, it can help your children learn the value of patience. Start early enough and your teenager may be willing to take over the kitchen once or twice a week. Learning how to cook is especially beneficial for picky or unhealthy eaters. Making a dish from scratch can help your child develop a more sophisticated palate and it will give them a sense of pride once the food is finally served. In the beginning, kids can start out slow by helping you mix a few ingredients or reading off the instructions. As they get older and gain more kitchen confidence, challenge your child to double or half their favorite recipe which will help develop their math skills.

Our recommendations:

Blanket Forts

Ages 2+
According to the Waldorf School educational and environmental psychologists, along with educators in the field, have taken a keen interest in fort building. It’s a constant presence in early and middle childhood, the creation of secret places, often in plain site, and the experts agree that den, fort or secret space creation offers a host of cognitive and psychological benefits for the developing child. Building forts helps children create a rule structure of their own and provides a sense of control. Encourage your children to build blanket forts while setting expectations. Outline which materials (e.g. blankets, sheets, couches) they can use and how they should deconstruct their forts when finished.

Our recommendations:

Paper Airplanes

Ages 4+
Being fascinated with airplanes can be a great gateway to STEM learning for younger children. The PennState College of Agricultural Sciences suggests that making and playing with paper planes can lead to discussions about aerodynamics (the forces that impact plane flight): thrust, lift, drag, and gravity/weight. Older children can also learn about plane movements like roll, yaw, and pitch. “The most amazing thing about a paper airplane is that all you need to make one is a sheet of paper—nothing more. You don’t need scissors, glue, tape, or paper clips. A few folds, a couple of adjustments, and you have a superb paper flyer. The properties of paper give the airplane all the attributes it needs.” (Doherty n.d.).

Our recommendations:

Robotics/Drones/Remote Control

Ages 4+
According to NYU Tandon School of Engineering, robotics is often used in clubs, after-school activities, and competitions to expose K-12 students to technology, engineering, math, and science. Students with a natural interest in STEM will gravitate towards these offline activities but robotics, drones, and remote control toys can be beneficial for students of all ages. Younger students can learn about basic mechanics, while older students can get more in depth knowledge on building and engineering machines.

Our recommendations:

Volunteering

Ages 14+
Aside from impressing college admissions officers and future employers, volunteering offers students a lot of benefits including helping others, developing time management skills, networking opportunities, and building soft skills. Scholarships.com recommends that high school students who already know what their intended field of study will be once they’re in college should try finding volunteer opportunities in those areas. For example, if you like the idea of becoming a lawyer, find a legal aid clinic to work for.

Sewing

Ages 6+
Aside from being a valuable life skill, sewing offers a lot of benefits to students. Montessori Services suggests that sewing, weaving, and knitting activities help young children develop manual dexterity and manipulative skills. By using their hands, children more fully integrate learning experiences. Weaving, sewing, and other kinds of handwork extend the benefits of Practical Life work for the older child. Children will continue to develop fine motor skills and concentration, while building self-confidence with successful experiences.

Our recommendations:

Science Experiments

Ages 2+
It’s easy to expose your students to science concepts at home. Children are naturally curious and love experimenting. At-home science experiments can inspire the whole family. Learn interesting science and technology lessons by testing out different materials and creating new things together.

Our recommendations:

Do you have any offline activities you suggest we add to this list? Comment below. Thanks!

Read More From Smart Social:

Read More Posts On Our Blog
Right arrow

Parents: Do you know the specific dangers inside of TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Fortnite, Minecraft, Roblox (and more)?

Support us (by becoming a VIP Member) to learn every danger you need to know...

VIP Membership (Very Informed Parent) SmartSocial.com Videos, Lessons & Virtual Events Teach Families How to Safely Navigate Social Media and Shine Online

The SmartSocial.com VIP membership is the leading parent-friendly and student-friendly video training program that shows students how to be positive (and productive) online. Our video courses (and live events) reduce frustration between parents and students and teach students to excel with a positive digital footprint.

Become a free newsletter subscriber to get our social media suggestions in your email every Tuesday & Thursday.
Dotted arrow to right
Join the Smart Social weekly newsletter for FREE guides
Right arrow
Josh Ochs headshot Round
Host a Positive Social Media Zoom Training  For Your Organization

Our remote presentations (and website) teaches over a million students each year how to shine online. We teach students how their accounts can be used to create a portfolio of positive accomplishments that impress colleges and employers.

Request SmartSocial.com To Train Your Community
Right arrow
SmartSocial podcast logo
Join Our Smart Social Podcast each week on iTunes

With over 240 episodes, Josh Ochs interviews psychologists, therapists, counselors, teachers, and parents while showing you how to navigate social media to someday shine online.

Listen on:

Apple Podcasts
Google Podcasts
Youtube
Spotify

Free Parent & Teacher Forum: 25+ Dangers On
TikTok,  Snapchat, Instagram, Fortnite, Netflix, YouTube, Discord, & More

Join Josh for a presentation that will teach you the hidden safety features of TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Netflix, Discord, Fortnite, Twitch & more! (Register Here)

Register For Our Free Parent Event
Right arrow