Real-life examples of alternative activities to replace screen time

When parents ask for examples of alternative activities to replace screen time, they usually don’t want abstract categories like “play outside” or “be creative.” They want very specific, plug-and-play ideas:

• “At 6 p.m., when everyone is tired and cranky, what can I offer instead of YouTube?”
• “What can my 11-year-old do that feels as interesting as a video game?”
• “What works if I have 15 minutes and zero energy?”

So let’s build this like a menu. You don’t have to use all of these. Just grab a few that fit your family, your space, and your reality.

Hands-on, low-prep examples of alternative activities to replace screen time

Think of this as your “I’m tired but we still need something to do” category. These ideas need little to no setup and work well after school or dinner.

1. The 10-minute challenge basket

Keep a basket or box with simple items: index cards, dice, a deck of cards, a small ball, sticky notes, markers. On each card, write a quick challenge:

• Build the tallest tower you can with books or blocks in 5 minutes.
• Create a new card game using only red cards.
• Make a paper airplane that can fly across the room.
• Draw a map of our house from memory.

Kids pull a card when it’s time to turn off a screen. This gives you a concrete, fun example of an alternative activity to replace screen time that doesn’t require you to be the cruise director every time.

2. Snack chef instead of snack-and-scroll

Instead of handing a snack and letting them wander off with a tablet, invite them to be the “snack chef.” Real examples include:

• Make-your-own trail mix bar with cereal, nuts (if safe), pretzels, and raisins.
• Fruit face plates (banana “smiles,” blueberry “eyes,” etc.).
• DIY yogurt parfaits with granola and cut fruit.

You’re hitting fine motor skills, basic kitchen skills, and conversation time. It can take just as long as a cartoon episode, but now you’ve got connection instead of silence.

For nutrition inspiration, the USDA’s MyPlate site has kid-friendly snack ideas: https://www.myplate.gov

3. “Job of the day” with power tools (kid version)

Kids often love feeling helpful more than we expect. After school, offer a “job of the day” that feels a little grown-up:

• Use a small hand vacuum to clean the couch.
• Be in charge of watering plants.
• Sort laundry by color or by person.
• Wipe down doorknobs or light switches with a safe cleaner and cloth.

This is a subtle example of an alternative activity to replace screen time that builds life skills and gives them a sense of responsibility. Bonus: something in your house actually gets done.

Active play examples of alternative activities to replace screen time

The American Academy of Pediatrics and CDC both emphasize that kids need regular physical activity for healthy development and better sleep.

• CDC physical activity guidelines: https://www.cdc.gov/physical-activity-basics/children/index.html

So if you’re looking for the best examples of alternative activities to replace screen time, movement-based options belong near the top of your list.

4. Indoor “energy burn” circuits

When the weather is bad or you’re short on outdoor space, turn your hallway or living room into a simple obstacle course. Real examples include:

• Hop from pillow to pillow without touching the floor.
• Crab walk from the couch to the door.
• Do 10 jumping jacks, then 5 frog jumps, then 1 silly dance.
• Balance a stuffed animal on your head while walking a “tightrope” (a line of tape on the floor).

Set a timer for 5–10 minutes. This can be a powerful example of an alternative activity to replace screen time right before bed, because it burns off leftover energy that often shows up as “I need my tablet.”

5. Backyard (or hallway) mini sports leagues

You don’t need a full soccer field. Some real examples of small-space sports alternatives include:

• Sock basketball: Throw rolled socks into a laundry basket.
• Balloon volleyball: Keep a balloon off the ground using only your hands or heads.
• Paper plate frisbee: Use sturdy paper plates as frisbees in a hallway.
• Target toss: Tape paper plates to a wall or fence as targets and toss soft balls.

Rotate who keeps score, who is the referee, who designs the “trophy.” This gives kids ownership and keeps it interesting across different ages.

Creative and quiet-time examples of alternative activities to replace screen time

Screens are often used to “calm” kids, especially younger ones. But quiet, creative activities can provide that same reset without blue light or overstimulation.

6. Story dice and comic strips

This works for preschoolers through teens, just at different levels. You can buy story dice or make your own by drawing simple symbols on small cubes.

Real examples of how to use them:

• Roll three dice: whatever pictures you get must appear in your story.
• Younger kids: tell the story out loud while you draw it.
• Older kids: turn it into a one-page comic strip or graphic novel panel.

This is a fun example of an alternative activity to replace screen time that sneaks in literacy, creativity, and humor.

7. “Create your own world” box

Fill a bin with things like:

• Lego or building bricks
• Toy animals or people
• Fabric scraps or paper
• Empty boxes or toilet paper rolls
• Tape and markers

Invite your child to create a “world” or scene: a zoo, a city, a space station, a school for dragons. Take a quick photo of the finished creation and make a digital or printed “gallery” over time.

This gives kids a sense that their creations matter, which makes them more likely to choose this activity again instead of reaching for a device.

8. DIY calming corner

For kids who reach for screens when they’re overwhelmed, a calming corner can be a powerful example of an alternative activity to replace screen time.

Include things like:

• A soft blanket or pillow
• Fidget toys or stress balls
• Coloring books and crayons
• A small notebook and pen
• A list of simple breathing exercises

You can find child-friendly breathing techniques and mindfulness ideas from sources like the Child Mind Institute: https://childmind.org/article/mindfulness-exercises-kids/

When big feelings hit, you can say, “Let’s try the calming corner first. If you still want a show in 10 minutes, we’ll talk.” Often, that 10 minutes is enough to reset.

Social and family connection examples of alternative activities to replace screen time

Screens often replace face-to-face connection. So some of the best examples of alternative activities to replace screen time are things that create shared memories.

9. Family “micro traditions”

These are tiny, repeatable rituals that give kids something to look forward to besides screens. Real examples include:

• Funny Friday Questions: At dinner, everyone answers a silly question (e.g., “If you could only eat one color of food for a week, what would it be?”).
• Two Truths and a Tale: Each person shares two true facts and one made-up “tale,” and everyone guesses the fake one.
• Sunday Night Show and Tell: Everyone brings something from their week (a drawing, a rock, a meme printed out) and shares.

These are easy to maintain and don’t require special supplies, which makes them very realistic examples of alternative activities to replace screen time for busy families.

10. Co-op play dates with a “screen-free theme”

If you’re comfortable with other families, try rotating homes for simple, screen-free themed play dates:

• Craft swap: Each family brings one simple craft idea and supplies.
• Old-school games: Teach kids tag, Red Light Green Light, or hand-clap games.
• STEM hour: Build paper bridges, simple catapults, or marble runs.

When kids see other kids having fun without screens, it normalizes it. It’s not “my mean parents vs. the whole world”; it’s just how this group plays.

Age-specific examples of alternative activities to replace screen time

Different ages need different hooks. Here are real examples that tend to work at each stage.

For toddlers and preschoolers

• Water play station: A shallow bin with cups, spoons, and plastic toys. Put a towel underneath and let them pour and scoop.
• Sticker stories: Give them a sheet of stickers and a piece of paper, and ask them to tell you the story of what’s happening in their picture.
• Indoor scavenger hunt: Ask them to find “something soft,” “something red,” “something that makes noise.”

At this age, attention spans are short, so think in 10–15 minute chunks and rotate activities.

For elementary school kids

• Puzzle table: Keep a jigsaw puzzle going on a side table. Kids can add a few pieces whenever they feel bored.
• Invent-a-game: Give them a ball and some painter’s tape and challenge them to create a new game with rules, then teach it to you.
• Book-n-blanket time: Everyone (including adults) grabs a book or magazine and a blanket for 20 minutes.

The best examples of alternative activities to replace screen time at this age give kids some control and a sense of mastery.

For tweens and teens

Screens can be deeply social for this age group, so alternatives need to feel respectful and not babyish.

Real examples include:

• Skill-building projects: Learning guitar chords, practicing makeup looks, sewing a tote bag, or trying beginner coding challenges. Sites like Khan Academy (https://www.khanacademy.org) offer free learning that feels more like “leveling up” than homework.
• Workout or walk-and-talk: Invite them for a walk, bike ride, or simple strength workout. Let them choose the playlist (even if you silently suffer through it).
• Creative challenges: 30-day photo challenge using a real camera, not their phone; writing a short story; designing a room makeover on paper.

For teens, one powerful example of an alternative activity to replace screen time is giving them a role in family decisions—like planning a weekend outing or cooking one dinner a week.

Making these examples of alternative activities to replace screen time actually work

You can have the best ideas in the world and still hit a wall if you just rip the tablet out of your kid’s hands and say, “Go play.” A few practical tips make these examples of alternative activities to replace screen time more likely to succeed.

1. Use “when/then” language instead of “no” walls

Instead of, “No more screens,” try: “When we finish 20 minutes of outside time, then you can choose a show,” or, “When you’ve done your 10-minute challenge, then we’ll talk about games.”

This shifts the focus from restriction to sequence. Kids know what to expect and what they’re working toward.

2. Post a “bored list” with real examples

Make a simple list on the fridge titled: “Things to do when I’m bored before I ask for a screen.” Include specific, real examples of alternative activities to replace screen time that your kids helped choose.

Examples:

• Build a Lego world
• Draw a comic
• Play sock basketball
• Do the 10-minute challenge basket
• Read with a blanket

When they say, “There’s nothing to do,” point to the list and ask them to pick one.

3. Start small and predictable

You don’t have to overhaul your entire routine. Pick one or two times of day—maybe breakfast and the hour before bed—where you regularly swap screens for one of these activities.

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests creating a family media plan so everyone knows when screens are allowed and when they’re off-limits: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/media/Pages/default.aspx

4. Join in sometimes, then fade out

Especially at the start, your involvement is the secret sauce. Join the obstacle course for 5 minutes, draw a comic panel of your own, or answer the Funny Friday Question.

Once the activity hooks them, you can often step away to make dinner or answer emails while they keep going.

FAQ: examples of alternative activities to replace screen time

Q: What are some quick examples of alternative activities to replace screen time on school nights?
Short, realistic options include a 10-minute obstacle course, a family card game, snack chef time, or a puzzle table. These don’t require special supplies and fit into that 30–60 minute window between homework and bedtime.

Q: What is one simple example of an alternative activity to replace screen time for a child who hates going outside?
Try an indoor creativity station: set up a small table with art supplies, Lego, or craft materials they like. Offer a specific challenge, like, “Can you build the tallest tower you can in 10 minutes?” or “Can you draw our family as superheroes?” The structure often helps reluctant kids get started.

Q: How do I get my teen to try any of these examples of alternative activities to replace screen time without a huge fight?
Start by involving them in the decision. Ask, “If we cut 30 minutes of phone time at night, what would make that feel worth it to you?” Maybe it’s a later weekend curfew, a weekly coffee run together, or budget for a hobby. Then offer choices that respect their growing independence, like workouts, skill-building projects, or part-time work.

Q: Are educational apps and shows okay, or should I always use non-screen alternatives?
Most experts, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, say that high-quality, age-appropriate content in moderation can be fine, especially when adults co-view or discuss it. The goal isn’t zero screens; it’s balance. These examples of alternative activities to replace screen time help make sure screens aren’t the only source of fun, comfort, or learning.

Q: What if my child says all these examples are boring compared to video games?
That’s normal. Screens are designed to be intensely rewarding. Acknowledge that—“Yeah, games are super fun”—and still hold the boundary. Start with short time blocks, join in at first, and let your child help design new activities. Over time, many kids rediscover that building, creating, and moving can be satisfying in a different way.

If you take just one thing from all these examples of alternative activities to replace screen time, let it be this: you don’t need a perfect schedule or endless energy. You just need a small menu of go-to options and the willingness to try them, imperfectly, again and again. That’s how new habits—and happier evenings—start.