Awesome screen free activities for kids and your inner child.

Many of us are part of the last generation to have been raised when the internet became accessible to everyone, which means we had fairly screen-free childhoods. Now we’re raising kids who have access to entertainment 24/7, and most of it is viewed with a device – and they’ve had it their whole lives! It’s time to pass on our ancient expertise and keep the art of using our hands and imaginations to make or do something alive!

On top of that, it’s time we give ourselves the gift of using our hands and imaginations again, too. Remember collecting things? Remember cutting up magazines, boxes, and newspapers to make stuff? Those were the days.

This post is as much for you than it is for anyone else. We set the example for our kids, after all. I have a theory about activities: if you enjoyed it as a kid, you’ll probably still enjoy it (or some version of it) as an adult. What do you think? I reckon it’s worth exploring.

I can tell you without a doubt that any of my friends would LOVE to be included in any of these kinds of shenanigans, and the kids in our lives would become fascinated seeing us do these activities. That’s the whole point of this. We have the skills to indulge in hobbies and pastimes, and we might be the last generation to have experienced these things.

Long live childhood!

Childhood hobbies and nostalgia

Let’s delve deep. What did you love doing as a kid? Then, consider pulling out the supplies to actually do some of them. In my experience, when my kids see me setting up to do an activity they become curious, watch, and want to do it too. Set the example and show them how it’s done!

Also, the mental health and wellness aspect of adopting or revisiting hobbies and interests like these have long term effects. Think of the dopamine hit when you check the mail and see your friend sent you something in response to the card you sent, or when your fridge starts turning into a little art gallery. Having something physical to see rather stuck on a device is a powerful reminder of reality!

Here are some activities/potential hobbies off the top of my head that you might want to revisit from your own childhood/introduce to the kids you’re responsible for.

Handicrafts

“Handicrafts” is defined as “a particular skill of making decorative objects by hand.” These kinds of crafts include things like:
Friendship bracelets
Crochet or knitting
Bead necklaces
Create something with clay or paper mâché
Make a book or journal
Embroider or cross stitch
Weaving on a loom
Make paper
Make pom poms
Make a paper doll
Press flowers
Felting
Quilting
Make a wreath for your front door

Is making slime a modern day handicraft?

Art

Remember loving art as a kid? I bet you still have a creative streak and you’re curious about indulging it again. Here are some artsy ideas to help stoke that flame:

Printable coloring sheets
Draw your own coloring book
Dig out or purchase some pens, pencils, chalks, crayons, paints
Decorate outside with sidewalk chalk
Make and send postcards
Watercolor paint
Draw portraits
Lino block printing
Single line drawings
Tissue paper mosaics
Make a sun catcher
Paint plant pots
Create a board or card game
Make cootie catchers/fortune tellers
Draw a big swirly line on a page and color each overlapping part
Shrinky dinks
Make a puppet
Decorate a pair of flip flops
Design a flag
Make invitations
Learn calligraphy

Remember that game where you would fold a piece of paper into 4 sections and someone would draw the head and neck, fold the paper so their drawing couldn’t be seen, and pass it to the next person who would draw the shoulders and body, fold it and pass it again, the next person draws the hips and thighs, folds it again, and then the last person draws the legs and feet and the whole picture would be unfolded and everyone would laugh? So simple and so fun!

Creative writing

Write a story
Create a comic book
Make a zine
Write a poem
Journal
Write a letter to a friend
MASH
Mad libs
Create a presentation on the topic of your choice
Write a Dungeons & Dragons campaign
Create a newsletter
Create a secret code/language
Read something from a different genre than you usually read

Outdoors

Say “Hi” to your neighbors
Start a game of kickball or rounders
Build a fort, den, or tree house
Jump rope (complete with rhymes)
Ride your bike, scooter, skateboard, etc.
Build a ramp to ride over
Go fishing
Camp
Grow a herb garden, sunflowers, veggies
Pick berries
Water fight
Play tennis or pickleball
Play catch
Chase the ice cream truck
Eat as many meals outside as possible
Run through the sprinklers
Play capture the flag
Hide and seek
Hopscotch
Blow bubbles – make giant bubbles
Visit some National Parks
Play H-O-R-S-E
Running race
Go pond skimming
Geo Caching
Crazy golf
Birdwatching

Kit building

Lego
Knex
Model cars/airplanes
3D puzzles
Doll house miniatures
Mechanical circuits

Hands on

Hammering nails into wood
String art
Pinewood Derby cars
Cook a 3+ course meal
Build a Go Kart
Upcycle something
Soldering
Whittling
Knot tying
Flower arranging
Bake something
Photography
Thrifting
Blind taste test and rate – root beers, colas, apples
Learn to play an instrument
Fly-tying
Origami
Perler beads
Scrapbooking

Games

Board games
Card games
Trumps
Pokemon
Learn to play games with a deck of cards
Subbuteo
Warhammer
Dungeons & Dragons
Do a crossword puzzle

Collect something

Bottle tops
Heart-shaped rocks
4 leaf clovers
National Parks maps
Stickers
Pins
Magnets from places you’ve been

Journaling

Scrapbook – PRINT YOUR PHOTOS
Travel journal
Bullet journal
Nature journal
Book reviews
Dreams
Gratitude
Bucket list
Share a journal – write back and forth with someone

Take a class, join a club

Commit to learning the skill and expanding your mind by enrolling in a class. I’m not talking about getting another degree. I am, however, suggesting checking out local listings for classes run by your library, local theater, small businesses, rec center, etc.

You will likely find there are dance, pottery, sports, gardening, walking, and so many more classes and clubs available to you for free or for a small fee, but either way, worth it!

Just because we’re adults now doesn’t mean we have to stop exploring or being curious. Revisit those childhood interests and find a way to make them your adulthood hobbies. Your blood pressure will thank you.

A shout out to your local library

I’ll never stop hyping up public libraries as the invaluable resource they are. If you don’t have one already, get yourself and your kids a library card. Support your local library!

Then head to the library and check out some books for ideas or instruction on your chosen hobby. While you’re there, see if they offer any programs. Many libraries have craft classes, book clubs, gardening classes, etc. where you can learn or relearn a skill, make new friends, and become part of a community.