As I sit here typing on my computer, while my son enjoys his limited 30 minutes on the iPhone and my daughter stares into the depths of the TV’s soul, I am reminiscing about our recent screen-free day. Anyone who knows me well, knows I’m quite passionate about limiting my kids’ screen usage and when they get to acquire certain devices. This includes smartphones, iPads, computers, gaming systems, and TVs. There is so much in this world to look at and be entertained by, yet humans just keep falling deeper and deeper into the screen obsession. I remember a time when everyone was looking up. Now I just see the tops of everyone’s heads all the time. That is why our household recently started doing one screen-free day per month on a Saturday or Sunday.
Some, like my teenager, may view this as torture. I call it bliss.
The productivity that comes from this day, the family time, the enjoyment we get is irrefutable. We set a date on the calendar and create a list of stuff to do for that day so there is no excuse for anyone to say, “I’m bored.” And honestly, by the end of the day, everyone seems to be in a really good mood.
Below is a list of ideas to fill up your screen-free days. I promise it is a sigh of relief and you actually feel physically, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally better at the end of the day. My youngest has even said he would do this weekly. I hope you try this out with your own family!
Ways to stay busy all day without screens. And they’re all free!
- Set up a puzzle. 250 or 300 pieces is a good number to complete in a day without it taking the whole day. I just set this up in the middle of the house on a card table and it’s inviting anyone passing by when they don’t have a screen to walk to instead.
- Plan out the meals for the day and make them together. Or choose one kid to cook with at each meal so they all get their own time with you.
- Bake something together.
- Go to the library or a bookstore. Browse, sit, read, write, and enjoy the quiet.
- Read a book/magazine/newspaper cuddled up in a blanket on the couch.
- Play a paper version of sudoku/crossword/word search/look-n-find.
- Take a bike ride as a family.
- Go to a park to play or to eat lunch in the pavilion.
- Play in your yard. My son would play outside all day if someone played out there with him.
- All the games! Enhance the experience by doing these outside when it’s nice, around a fire pit when it’s cool, or inside by a crackling fireplace when it’s cold.
- Board games
- Card games
- Charades
- Would You Rather questions.
- If I had one million dollars…questions.
- If it’s summer, go swimming.
- Chores/Clean/Purge/Yardwork; it’s amazing how many chores we get done on screen-free days, even when we also fit in the fun stuff.
- Have a fire pit and make s’mores.
- Go shopping. (I guess that one’s not free). But don’t pull out your phone!
- Volunteer somewhere: church programs, animal shelters, soup kitchens, nursing homes.
- Drive around and do Random Acts of Kindness
- Take a hike or a long walk as a family; nature is good for clearing your head.
- Create a silly story as a family. You may have to implement rules because my kids would instantly bring in the potty words.
- Go over your family’s fire plan. This has been on my to-do list for years. I’m determined to add it to our next screen-free day!
- Go around the table at dinner time and say a compliment about each other.
- Go somewhere without screens like restaurants that don’t have TVs or ice rinks and roller rinks.
- We all have house project lists that sit for months and months, sometimes even longer. Pick something on that list that would take less than a day.
- Have a deep conversation with your partner.
- Shovel snow, blow leaves or mow for an elderly or disabled neighbor. When your whole family is involved it’ll go way faster.
A few tips you may want to keep in mind:
- Anyone you speak to outside of your home on a daily basis, like parents, siblings or best friends, you may want to forewarn them so they don’t start calling hospitals when you don’t respond.
- The car’s GPS doesn’t count as a screen. I need to know where I’m going.
- You could go as far as turning off your router for the day, but we learned we can’t listen to music on our Alexa when we do that. We allow music to fill the house and accompany us throughout the day.
I personally love having a good ole fashioned day of limited technology. It brings the family closer together, moods improve, and we get stuff done. If you are interested in specifically limiting your smartphone on a more regular basis, check out these posts I wrote about breaking up with your phone here and here.
