50 Screen-Free Activities for Kids Aged 6–14 (at Home, Outside and on the Go)
Low-prep ideas for after school, weekends, road trips and restaurants, sorted by where you are, plus how to get a screen-loving child to actually try them.
By Jaswanth Nalluri, Co-founder of Bookstaken31 October 20267 min read
"I'm bored." For many children, those words mean "can I have a screen?" The answer doesn't have to be a fight, or a long list of crafts you'll be cleaning up all evening.
Here are 50 low-prep, screen-free ideas for children aged 6 to 14, sorted by where you are, plus a few tricks that make them stick.
In short
Boredom is useful. A few minutes of "nothing to do" is often where play starts.
Make the easy option a good one. Leave books, games and art supplies out where children can see them.
Match the activity to the moment: quiet after school, active at weekends, small and portable on the go.
Let them choose. A jar or list of ideas they wrote themselves gets used more.
Join in at the start, then step back once they're absorbed.
Why screen-free time matters
Screens aren't the enemy, but they crowd out the things children need most. The American Academy of Pediatrics describes play as building brain development, executive function (planning, focus and self-control) and resilience to stress, and recommends protecting time for unstructured, child-led play (Yogman et al., 2018).
Screen-free time also gives children room to get bored, and to fill that space with their own ideas. That's a skill, and it gets stronger with practice.
At home: quiet activities
Good for after school, rainy days and wind-down time.
Read a book of their choice, anywhere comfortable: a den, the floor, the bath.
Listen to an audiobook while drawing or building.
Build with LEGO or blocks, then tell the story of what they made.
Draw a comic strip about their day.
Make a jigsaw puzzle, starting with fewer pieces than you think.
Write and illustrate their own short book.
Play a card game: Uno, Go Fish, Rummy or Snap.
Do a word search or crossword.
Learn a few origami folds from a library book.
Keep a journal or a "questions I wonder about" notebook.
At home: active and creative
Build a blanket fort, then have a snack inside it.
Expect complaining at first. The first few screen-free afternoons are the hardest. It gets easier within a week or two as new habits form.
Make an idea jar. Let your child write their favourite ideas from this list on slips of paper. When they're bored, they pick one.
Set things out in advance. A puzzle on the table or a new book on the sofa invites them in without a word.
Start with you. Children copy what we do. If you read or play instead of scrolling, they're more likely to join you.
Use screens as a set slot, not the default. Agreeing when screens happen, for example after homework and a screen-free hour, stops the daily negotiation. Our guide to reducing screen time without daily fights has more.
Finding a book they'll pick up
A good book is the easiest screen-free activity there is, as long as it's the right book. If your child isn't keen on reading, start with something fast and funny:
Or answer a few questions on the book hunt for seven free picks matched to your child.
Frequently asked questions
What can kids do instead of screens?
Reading, building, drawing, cooking, outdoor games, card and board games, and simple science experiments are all good options. The best ones are low-prep and easy for children to start on their own.
How do I get my child off screens without a fight?
Agree on set screen times in advance, put screen-free options where your child can see them, and expect some complaining for the first week or two. Our guide to reducing screen time covers this in more detail.
Is it OK for kids to be bored?
Yes. Short stretches of boredom encourage children to come up with their own ideas and play. You don't need to fill every gap.
What are good screen-free activities for a road trip?
Audiobooks, I spy, 20 questions, story-building games, number plate games and a travel journal all work well and need little or no packing.
What screen-free activities suit older kids, aged 10 to 14?
Cooking a meal, building a model, writing a story or comic, learning a skill like origami or a card trick, sports, and reading a series they love. Older children often prefer activities that feel grown-up or useful.
Sources
Yogman, M., Garner, A., Hutchinson, J., et al. (2018). The Power of Play: A Pediatric Role in Enhancing Development in Young Children. Pediatrics, 142(3), e20182058.
How much screen time should a child have?
There's no single number for every child. Most experts suggest consistent limits that protect sleep, physical activity, homework and family time. See our guide on how much screen time is too much.
