5 Screen Free Activities to Explore with Your Child

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As summer rolls around you might be keen to find ways to prise your kids away from their devices and get them stuck into some fun, interactive activities to nurture their minds and souls. To give you a little inspiration an independent school in London has shared the following ideas for fun activities to try out with your family.

Arts & Crafts

Get their creative juices flowing by organising arts and crafts activities at home. Some children are naturally drawn towards creative pursuits but for those who need a little more encouragement, structured activities with a goal in mind may help to unleash their inner artist. Perhaps you could make homemade birthday cards for family and friends or have them create personalised decorations to adorn their bedroom.

Gardening

Children love messy, hands on activities and gardening is a simple, inexpensive experience you can share together. Whether you have a large outdoor space to plant many flowers and vegetables or just a window box to work with, your child will be delighted to see the seeds they’ve planted grow and thrive. Sunflowers seeds are a great option to plant in spring and summer and your child will be able to witness the tiny seed they planted grow into a magnificent sunflower, giving them a great sense of pride.

Nature Walks

As restrictions in the UK begin the ease you’ll undoubtedly want to get out there and explore with your family. Taking your child to a country park or an area of natural beauty is a delightful way to spend an afternoon, you will be able to soak in your surroundings whilst enjoying some fresh air and gentle exercise. You could even make your day out a more educational experience by having your child document the wildlife they spot or by collecting leaves and twigs to be used in an arts and crafts project.

Sports

Sport is a great way to blow off steam and have fun at the same time. Why not organise a family sports day in the garden or at a local park, with various activities such as egg and spoon races and assault courses. It’s a great way to spend an afternoon and your kids will love to see you getting stuck in with the fun. You could go the extra mile by making your own medals or handing out prizes for the winner of each activity.

Reading

Curling up with a book is a great way to take a relaxing break from screen-time. Spending time reading to young children is a wonderful bonding opportunity and has been proven to aid their cognitive development. If your child is a little older and reading independently, you can encourage them by showing an interest in what they are reading or maybe even starting a family book club. If your child is a little reluctant to read for pleasure try and find books which appeal to their existing interests, you’re sure to find something that they will love.