25 Fun No-Screen Activities for Kids at Home
Keeping kids entertained without a tablet or television isn’t always easy. Luckily, screen-free time doesn’t need to involve an elaborate activity or lots of preparation.
Simple crafts, free printable activities, puzzles, and creative games can keep children busy while encouraging them to use their imagination. Many of these no-screen activities for kids only require basic supplies you may already have at home.
These 25 fun and simple activities for kids at home are perfect for rainy afternoons, quiet time, or whenever you want to take a little break from screens.
Easy No-Screen Activities for Kids
1. Make a printable craft
Of course, I have to recommend a printable activity first! Printable crafts are easy to prepare, and most of the work is already done for you. Simply print the template and grab some crayons, scissors, and glue.
Take a look at my cut-and-paste crafts to find an activity, or start with this fun mermaid cut-and-paste craft. Kids can color, cut, and assemble the different pieces to create their own mermaid.
2. Try a drawing challenge
Give your child a simple drawing prompt, such as designing a funny monster, inventing a new animal, or drawing their dream treehouse. All you need is some paper and crayons or markers.
You can also write several prompts on small pieces of paper and let them pick one at random. It’s an easy activity that can be changed to match almost any age or interest.
3. Build with Play Dough
Play dough is a simple sensory activity that can be enjoyed in lots of different ways. Kids can make animals, pretend food, letters or anything else they can imagine.
Add a play dough tool set with cutters, rollers, and shape tools to give them even more ways to play.
4. Try a Dot Marker Printable
Dot markers are easy for little hands to hold and create much less mess than paint. Children can fill each circle, experiment with colors or make their own dot pictures.
Take a look through my free dot marker printables to find an activity. You can also add a set of dot markers if you don’t have them yet.
5. Make a paper plate animal
Paper plates are one of those craft supplies that can become almost anything. Add paint, paper shapes and a few simple details to turn one into a favorite animal.
Try this paper plate giraffe craft or take a look at my other paper plate crafts.
6. Complete a puzzle
Puzzles are great for quiet time and can be adapted to almost any age. Younger children may enjoy chunky wooden puzzles, while older children can work on a larger jigsaw puzzle over several days.
Keep a few puzzles in a cupboard and rotate them occasionally so they feel new again.
7. Make a card for someone
Set out folded paper, crayons, stickers and other decorations. Ask your child to make a card for a grandparent, teacher, friend or neighbor.
You can create one completely from scratch or use one of my free printable Mother’s Day cards to color. The cards can also be used for Grandparents Day or as a sweet handmade surprise for Grandma.
8. Build with toilet paper rolls
Save a few empty toilet paper rolls for an easy recycled craft. They can be transformed into animals, people, binoculars, rockets or miniature buildings.
Try my frog toilet paper roll craft, which includes a printable template to make the activity even easier.
9. Go on a nature walk
Take a walk around the garden, neighborhood or local park and see what you can find.
Children can look for different leaves, flowers, birds, insects and colors. You could also print out a simple nature scavenger hunt before leaving home.
10. Make nature art
Collect a few safe natural materials during your walk, such as fallen leaves, small twigs and flower petals.
Use them to create pictures, leaf rubbings or temporary patterns outside. Remind children to collect items from the ground rather than picking living plants.
11. Make popsicle stick crafts
Popsicle sticks are inexpensive and useful for all kinds of craft projects. Children can use them to build houses, picture frames, puppets or animals.
Take a look at my popsicle stick crafts for more ideas. You can find a pack of popsicle sticks here.
12. Create a sensory bin
Fill a shallow container with a child-safe sensory material and add scoops, cups or small toys.
The contents could match a theme. For example, blue paper filler and toy sea animals can become an ocean bin. Always choose materials that are appropriate for your child’s age and supervise younger children closely.
13. Build a blanket fort
Use blankets, cushions, chairs and clothespins to build a cozy fort. Once it is finished, children can read books, play with toys or enjoy a snack inside.
14. Set up an indoor treasure hunt
Hide a small object somewhere in the house and create a series of simple clues.
For younger children, use picture clues or describe whether they are getting warmer or colder. Older kids may enjoy riddles and clues that take them from room to room.
15. Color a picture
Coloring is a classic no-screen activity that requires very little setup. Simply print a coloring page, place it on the table with some crayons or colored pencils, and let kids choose their own colors.
Take a look through my free coloring pages to find a design. You could also print several pages at once and keep them in a folder for rainy afternoons or quiet time.
16. Put on a puppet show
Children can use puppets they already have or make simple versions from paper bags, socks or craft sticks.
Place a blanket over a table to create a puppet theater. Kids can invent characters, create a story and perform their show for the family.
This shark clothespin puppet is another fun interactive craft that children can play with after making it.
17. Play with sidewalk chalk
Sidewalk chalk is a really popular outdoor activity here in the Netherlands, where I’m from. Kids often decorate the pavement with colorful drawings, games, and little messages.
Let them draw pictures, create a hopscotch course, practice writing their names, or design a road for toy cars.
18. Complete an activity sheet
A printable activity sheet can provide several activities on one page. Mazes, word searches, matching games and drawing prompts all help make screen-free time more interesting.
This free printable summer activity sheet includes a maze, word search and creative drawing prompt.
19. Make a collage
Gather scraps of colored paper, old magazines, stickers and other flat craft materials. Children can cut or tear the pieces and glue them onto paper.
Give the collage a theme, such as animals, favorite foods, summer or “things that make me happy.”
20. Have a family game afternoon
Simple card and board games are a fun way to enjoy screen-free time together.
Choose a game that matches your child’s age and attention span. Memory games, matching games and simple cooperative games are especially helpful for younger children.
21. Try finger painting
Finger painting is a fun hands-on activity that lets kids get a little messy and experiment with colors. You can give them a blank sheet of paper or use a printable to help guide the activity.
My free fall finger painting printables include simple designs kids can complete with their fingerprints. Add some washable finger paint, and you’re ready to start.
22. Complete a word search
Word searches are a nice quiet activity for kids who enjoy puzzles. They can search for the words independently or work together with a sibling, friend, or parent.
Take a look through my free printable word searches to find different seasonal and holiday themes. Print a few at once and keep them nearby for rainy days, travel, or quiet time.
23. Make an animal craft
Animal crafts are easy to connect to a child’s current interests. They can make a farm animal, ocean creature, woodland animal or favorite pet.
My collection of 20+ easy animal crafts for kids includes printable projects and crafts made with paper plates, clothespins, cardboard tubes and popsicle sticks.
24. Start an activity jar
Write simple screen-free activity ideas on craft sticks or small pieces of paper. Place them in a jar and let your child choose one whenever they feel bored.
Some easy ideas to include are:
- Draw a funny monster
- Make a paper airplane
- Read two books
- Have a dance party
- Make a card for someone
- Find five things that are blue
- Build an indoor obstacle course
25. Make a handprint craft
Handprint crafts are fun to make and turn into sweet keepsakes to save afterward. Kids can use their handprints to create animals, flowers, trees, or seasonal pictures.
Take a look through my handprint crafts for more ideas.
How do you encourage kids to spend less time on screens?
It can help to make screen-free options easy to see and access. Place books, puzzles and a few craft supplies somewhere children can reach them.
You don’t need to plan every minute of screen-free time. Giving kids a small choice often works well. For example, ask whether they would like to color, build something or play outside.
Rotating toys and activities can also help. Put a few things away and bring them out again later so they feel more interesting.
Enjoy some screen-free fun
No-screen activities for kids don’t need to be complicated or expensive. A printable page, a few craft supplies or a simple game can be enough to turn an ordinary afternoon into something creative.
Try one activity at a time and see which ideas your child enjoys most. You can also explore my kids’ crafts and free printables for even more screen-free inspiration.