Summer Survival Series: 20 Screen-Free Summer Activities For Kids That Actually Work
Looking for screen-free summer activities for kids? Here are 20 low-tech, high-fun ways to help your child stay creative, active, and engaged…no devices required.
Welcome Back To The Summer Survival Series
This is the second of ten blog posts designed to help parents prepare for a summer that’s calm, connected, and full of joy. Each week, I’m sharing real-life tools to help you create a home rhythm that supports your kids without burning yourself out. If you missed last week’s post on daily summer routines, you can catch up here. Let’s dive into this week’s focus: screen-free fun.
Why Screen-Free Summer Options Matter
It’s no secret that screen time can spiral during the summer months. According to the CDC, the average child spends over seven hours a day on screens. That number tends to increase when school is out.
While technology has its place, too much of it can interfere with sleep, behavior, and the kind of creativity that comes from real-world exploration. The goal isn’t to ban screens. It’s to make screen-free options easier, more exciting, and built into the rhythm of the day.
1. The Boredom Buster Jar
When kids say, “I’m bored,” it’s not a complaint. It’s a cue that they’re ready for inspiration. The Boredom Buster Jar turns that moment into something self-directed and fun.
How To Make One:
Use a simple container and fill it with activity prompts. Write each one on a slip of paper or popsicle stick. Let your child decorate the jar and come up with some ideas, too.
8 Activity Ideas To Include:
Build a blanket fort
Create a comic book
Wash the car or bikes
Make a nature collage
Write and perform a short skit
Invent a new snack and give it a name
Learn three new magic tricks
Create a new sport and explain the rules
2. Five Outdoor Challenges Kids Will Actually Love
These screen-free outdoor activities are simple, high-energy, and don’t require a lot of space.
5 Outdoor Activities:
9. Scavenger Hunt with a Twist — Use themes like color, nature, or sound. Add a story element for extra fun.
10. Backyard Olympics — Set up events like sponge toss, balloon stomp, or hula hoop relays.
11. Obstacle Course Designer — Let kids create and run their own course using basic household materials.
12. Water Games Without a Pool — Try sponge tag, cup-to-cup relay races, or driveway painting with water.
13. Build a Kid-Only Clubhouse — Use tents or blankets to create a hideout they can decorate and enjoy.
3. Screen-Free Indoor Activities That Keep Kids Engaged
When the weather doesn’t cooperate or everyone needs a quieter day, these low-tech ideas help kids stay creative.
7 Indoor Activities:
14. DIY Escape Room — Set up clues around the house leading to a surprise or mission.
15. Role-Play Games — Pretend to run a restaurant, vet clinic, or post office using props and paper.
16. Interactive Storytelling — Start a prompt like “A kite flew in the window…” and let them take it from there.
17. Invent-a-Thing Challenge — Build something silly or practical using recyclables or LEGO.
18. Create Your Own Game — Let your child invent and test a brand-new board or card game.
19. Journal Drawing Time — Give them a notebook to draw or write about their day.
20. Indoor Obstacle Course — Use couch cushions, tape paths, or tunnels to create movement-focused challenges.
4. Build A Screen-Free Daily Rhythm
Even unstructured time benefits from a gentle flow. Giving your child a simple structure helps reduce “What do I do now?” moments.
Suggested Daily Rhythm:
Morning: Physical movement and a creative project
Midday: Quiet time and independent reading
Afternoon: Outdoor play or a hands-on challenge
Evening: Story time, board game, or wind-down activity
Let your child help choose one option from each time block to give them ownership.
Recommended Resources:
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to be an entertainer all day. When you make screen-free options easy to reach and fun to use, your child will start choosing them on their own.
Start small. Give them space to lead. And let summer be a time to explore, connect, and create.
You’ve got this.
Coming Next…
Come back for The Summer Learning Slide: 5 Parent-Approved Ways to Keep Kids Learning Without Feeling Like School. Practical, pressure-free learning strategies that blend into daily summer life without making your child feel like they’re back in a classroom.
See you this Wednesday!