Screen-Free Activities for Homeschooled Kids

Whilst technology has its benefits, it’s not something I like to rely heavily on when it comes to home educating. Sure, it has many benefits. In fact, I definitely find many resources and learning ideas simply by going online.

There are times when educational videos come in handy and my daughter loves watching them. We also use screens for music and movies, but it’s everything in moderation. We’ll spend the majority of the day doing things that are screen-free, like going for a walk or doing some crafts because, let’s face it, there are endless screen-free activities and they don’t take much effort to put together. I often find that the simplest activities keep my daughter busier for longer. 

So, let’s dive into some fun screen-free activities for your homeschooled child!

Screen-Free Activities For Homeschooling 

Arts & crafts

The best thing about arts and crafts is that there are endless things to try! Here are some suggestions:

• Paint plant pots or rocks
• Candle making
• Sculpting and modelling
• Playdough
• Make bracelets
• Make puppets
• Sew, knit or crochet
• Make a birdhouse 
• Make a card

Puzzles & board games

For a quiet and relaxing screen-free activity, get a puzzle or board game out! 

• Scrabble
• Monopoly
• Jenga
• Mastermind
• Snakes and ladders
• Chess
• Battleships

Word searches, Sudoku or brain quizzes

The best screen-free activities to keep those minds working!

Writing activities

• Write a poem or short story
• Write a script and act it out
• Plot a story
• Write a book review
• Create a recipe
• Start a diary
• Write a letter to your younger or future self

Learn magic tricks

Magic tricks are fun for any age and not only are they entertaining, they also help with a child’s confidence and social skills. 

Create a donation box

A great way to get rid of stuff that your child doesn’t need anymore and donate to charity. It also teaches your child compassion and generosity. 

Design clothes

You could find some old clothes for your child to redesign or buy some material for them to start from scratch.

Cooking & baking

Here are a few suggestions on what you could make:

• Bread
• Cakes
• A national dish from another country
• Healthy snacks

Draw a self-portrait

Get your child to draw a portrait of themselves or someone they know.

Play bulls-eye

Get an age-appropriate dart board or create your own!

Garden activities

• Hunt for bugs
• Create a fairy garden
• Grow a vegetable patch
• Plant a favourite flower

Make up your own language

This is a fun screen-free activity to do together or with multiple children.

Repair or redesign second-hand furniture

This activity will keep your child busy for hours, whether it’s repainting or repairing. Here are some fun furniture suggestions:

• A mirror
• A bedside table
• A desk 
• A chair

Pick a topic and read about it at the library

This screen-free activity really gets your child delving into their interests in a quiet environment.

Look back through old photographs

Relive old memories with your child and explore your family history. 

Wash the car

A great hands-on, screen-free activity which also benefits you!

Create checklists

Get your child to create their own checklists. You can create a checklist for just about anything.

Active activities 

Doing anything active is a great alternative to a screen. Here are some suggestions:

• Hiking
• Rock climbing
• Ball sports
• Yoga
• Cycling
• Dancing 

Set up a treasure hunt

If you want to keep your child busy, set up a treasure hunt and leave them to it!

Start a colouring book

You can’t get a more screen-free activity than colouring!

Try a sensory activity

Sensory activities can be enjoyed at any age, whether it’s with water, sand or another fun material. Here are some activity suggestions that you could create:

• Dig for dinosaur fossils 
• Make slime
• Make ice boats
• Make a winter wonderland with fake snow

Read together 

Whether you decide to read to each other or separately, there’s something special about reading together. 

Design your dream house

You’re never too young to design your dream house. In fact, children come up with the most fun and unique ideas.

Draw your family tree

This is a lovely activity to do after going through old family photographs.

Create a screen-free box

There isn’t just one best screen-free activity, so why not make a screen-free box full of fun ideas or things to do? Your child’s screen-free box can include whatever they like, but here are a few useful suggestions:

• A notepad and pen
• A book
• A mini radio
• A board game or puzzle
• Stickers
• A fidget toy
• An activity prompt