It can be challenging as a parent, helping your child find a balance between screen time and…real life. Heck, it can be challenging as an adult limiting your own screen time! It’s easy to get sucked into whatever screen that’s been turned on. Next thing you know, you’ve lost an hour of your day to staring at a- phone, the tv, a tablet.
Getting outside can assist you in getting your kids off their devices, and into fresh air, and truely living. Its interesting that as much time as we spend during the day on our phones or watching tv, I’ve yet to hear about people having dreams at night about being on a phone or watching TV! If you’ve had a dream like that, please tell me about it in the comments!!
Outdoor activities can make screen-free time, and living life so much more appealing! There’s just endless things you can do outside! If you were an outdoor kid, you know what I mean.
I GREW UP outside as a kid:
- Playing on playgrounds
- Trampolines
- Playing in the woods
- Riding bikes
- Scooters
- Roller blading
- Going fishing at the pond
- Catching toads
- Walking around barefoot
When I came back inside, my family would cringe and say “you smell like outside”. I want that for my kids too!! To me, it’s the smell of a good time outdoors!!
Even if you have a small backyard, this list of screen-free outdoor activities are sure to be enjoyed by any child at any age. Let’s turn “screen kids” into “outdoor kids” and loose track of time in nature!
This post contains affiliate links which means that I will make a small commission if you purchase a product after clicking on any of them, at no extra cost to you. Teselate graciously gifted me a towel, and I talk about it in this blog post. I have enjoyed using Teselate products since 2022, and have loved the versatility of them.
Step 1: Set Up A Comfortable Base Place Outdoors
Bring the essentials, plus a portable place to chill outside. For my family, this includes:
Water bottles
A healthy snack
Teselate blanket or towel
Outdoor cushions
Setting up this base station encourages everyone to STAY outside once they’re out there. The only reason to come in would be because of the weather or to take a bathroom break.
At the end of this post, you’ll find a list of all essential gear needed for our simple outdoor screen-free activities with links to find everything you’ll need.
Step 2: Choose at least 1 Outdoor Screen-Free Activity
Browse the list below, and choose the activity(s) you think best fits your family’s interests!
15 Outdoor Screen-Free Activities for Kids (and adults)
1. Outdoor Reading Picnics
– Set up a cozy reading spot with your sand-free towel or blanket
– Bring favorite books and pillows
– Create a special snack
- – Read aloud a book to the children, or everyone can quietly read their own books depending on their age
2. Nature Art Studio
– Use a towel or blanket as a clean, dry workspace
– Collect leaves, flowers, and pinecones
– Create artwork using natural materials
– Easy cleanup since most nature items don’t stick to the towel by Teselate.
3. Cloud Watching and Storytelling
– Lay on a blanket or towel and look up at the sky
– Take turns making up stories about cloud shapes
– Combine with drawing what you see
4. Picnic Learning Games
– Use a towel or blanket as your “game board”
– Play educational games like alphabet rocks or counting games
– Have lunch while learning!
5. Outdoor Science Lab
– Safe space for messy experiments
– Easy to clean up spills
– Perfect for activities like making volcanoes or slime
6. Nature Scavenger Hunt
– Use the towel as home base
– Create lists of items to find
– Sort and categorize findings on your picnic blanket
7. Outdoor Board Game Station
– Transform your yard into a game area
– Stable surface for board games
– Comfortable seating for players
- – Bring your favorite board game or card game to play together!
8. Art Gallery Setup
– Create artwork while sitting on a picnic blanket or beach towel
– Display finished pieces
– Host a mini art show for the family and let everyone discuss their artwork
9. Sensory Play Station
– Safe space for messy sensory bins
– Perfect for playdough or kinetic sand
10. Outdoor Music Time
– Bring your favorite instruments to play
– Include a dance area
– Music appreciation picnic
11. Writing Workshop
– Comfortable spot for journaling
– Story writing inspiration from nature
– Letter writing to friends/family
12. Puppet Theater
– Use the towel or blanket as a stage
– Create shows with stuffed animals, dolls, or puppets
– Story performance space
13. Nature Journaling
– Document observations
– Draw plants and insects
14. Outdoor Math Games
– Use natural items for counting
– Create patterns
– Measure and compare objects
15. Mindfulness Time
– Yoga and stretching
– Quiet reflection time
– Cloud watching
Essential Gear For Outdoor Screen-Free Activities:
– Teselate makes amazing sand-free blankets and towels that dirt and leaves fall right off with a shake. Making it a perfect addition to your play time outside. It serves as a clean, comfortable home base for outdoor activities!
2. Other Complementary Items:
– Portable umbrella for shade
– Art and/or journaling supplies
– Nature exploration tools like bug catchers for example
Final Thoughts About Screen-Free Activities For Kids
The right setup makes screen-free time more appealing. We can’t just say “okay kids, give me your iPad” or “I’m turning off the TV now!” And expect a positive response from them. Giving them ideas or guidance on a screen-free activity they may be interested in will encourage them to WANT to put the screen down, with no tears or arguments involved.
Consider having a planned activity or options of things to do outside, to create lasting memories for you and your children, together.
There are endless ideas of what to do outside to get away from screens and forget they exist all together during play!
My kids LOVE exploring outside, and when we go, we leave the screens inside. That’s the rule in my house!
If they want to bring something outside, they can bring a toy, a book, a snack, just about anything besides a screen.
I encourage you to start with one activity and see where it takes you! My children’s imaginations go wild outdoors. And you can let your inner child join in too! I do!
