Brilliant ways to encourage screen-free time with tweens and teens in 2023

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All tweens teens are different but one of the universal challenges today as a parent is how to encourage screen-free time during these age groups. While some love to spend their free time with friends, gaming or watching movies, others prefer spending more and more time on their computers or phones. However, between the screens they use at school and devices you have at home, it’s easy for them to rack up the hours online. While it might seem hard to convince them to step away – but it can be done!

There are plenty of activities that tweens and teens can enjoy that encourage screen-free time that will keep their minds and hands busy. Here are some of our top ideas to encourage screen-free time during the tween and teen years.

Outdoor activities – get out in the sun and the wild

Outdoor activities are one of the easiest ways to get your kids away from their screens.

You can start simple by heading to the backyard and playing outdoor games. These can be sporty, like backyard basketball or cricket, or reminiscent of childhood fun with outdoor Checkers, Jenga, or even a tic-tac-toe set. You could also teach them classic outdoor games, such as bocce or croquet.

As well as games, you can encourage your kids to go on sporty outdoor adventures. Get the bikes out and go on a ride with them around town or on a track. Encourage them to take a soccer ball or football to the park and play one-on-one. Anything that gets them outside and moving is a plus! 

encourage screen-free time
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Indoor activities – cosy up with a good book and fun games with the family

If it’s too miserable to go outside, or your kids prefer indoor activities, there are plenty of screen-free things for them to do in the comfort of your home.

One screen-free, cosy indoor activity you can encourage your kids to try is reading a (physical) book. They may be a little resistant since they’re already reading for school, but you can make it more enticing by giving them a selection of age-appropriate books in genres that they enjoy watching on TV to choose from.

An indoor screen-free activity you can do as a family is playing board or card games. Whether it’s Chess, Checkers, Monopoly, or UNO, games provide you and your kids with hours of screen-free fun and can bring back happy memories of your kids’ younger days. 

encourage screen-free time
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Creative activities – build or create a masterpiece

Creative activities are ideal when it comes to getting your kids to engage their minds away from screens.

At this age, you might find they prefer a little more freedom with their art, rather than a structured kit. Instead, look for things like a paint-by-numbers set, or just let them get creative without any limitations. 

Giving your kids craft materials will easily fill a screen-free afternoon, allowing them to express themselves, while being creative and productive at the same time. It can even encourage bonding time, as you can join in as well, or help out with more difficult parts. There are a variety of craft kits out there that your kids can try from jewellery making to origami, depending on their interests.

Home activities – teach your kids the basics of cooking and baking

As your kids get older they’ll want to be self-sufficient (and you’ll want that too!). One of the first things you can do to put them on the path to independence (and get them away from their screens for a bit) is teaching them the basics of cooking and baking.

You can start with a simple recipe (e.g. making a pizza or a salad) and supervise them, giving tips if they need. You can also teach them how to bake (e.g. making chocolate-chip cookies), which provides the opportunity for them to learn about different measurements, following instructions, and temperature control.

encourage screen-free time
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Mind-expanding activities – get your kids to learn new skills and try new things

Your kids might groan at the thought of “expanding their minds” when they’ve spent all week in the classroom, but if you make activities fun for them, they’ll enjoy learning from the comfort of home.

Learning how to play a musical instrument can provide them with a new, fun hobby for life. Once they eventually master it, the whole family will benefit from nice music to listen to at home.

If your kids are more scientific, STEAM kits are a great way to kill a few hours and get away from their screens. You can’t go wrong with a new Lego kit – they’re not just limited to towers anymore! There are tons of options from beautiful floral bouquets, to pirate ships and robots.    

With all these indoor, outdoor, creative and mind-expanding activities to choose from, you and your kids will definitely have fun times to remember away from screens.

Images by fxquadro, freepik, jcomp and senivpetro

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