Every Monday, I inquire about my students’ weekend activities. It’s astonishing how many respond with “played on my tablet.” While some might have had fantastic experiences, they prioritize screen time. It’s crucial for kids to explore activities beyond their tablet screens. Diverse childhood experiences are essential for healthy brain development.According to Kendra Cherry, at Very Well Mind, varied experiences influence how a child’s brain grows and develops. On the other hand, more time on the tablet can negatively impact a child’s development. According to Dr. Jennifer Cross at NewYork-Presbyterian, kids who spend more time on a screen have increased developmental delays (especially in speech and problem solving). These children are seen to score lower on language and thinking tests. Children, depending on age, should only have one to two hours of screen time per day.
Kids should be encouraged to explore other engaging activities. Check out these engaging activities and educational games that can be enjoyed independently, whether at home, with friends, or while waiting at a restaurant. Ditch kids’ screen time and dive into enriching experiences!
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1. Puzzles
Offering students choice activities, I’ve noticed a strong attraction towards puzzles. Children enjoy both quick, short puzzles and larger ones they can revisit. Puzzles not only captivate kids but also enhance spatial awareness, problem-solving skills, and deductive reasoning. Kids who are toddlers and preschoolers can even have fun with puzzles, just be mindful of the number of pieces and the size of the pieces with little ones.
2. Reading
As a child, I always stayed up too late…because I was reading. I got lost in so many books and stories. To this day as an adult I love to read and read many books a year. Reading is so important for a child’s education and development. They say a child’s vocabulary grows by hundreds of thousands of words with 20 minutes of reading nightly. See my list of the funniest read aloud books to read with your child. Check out my storefront for some awesome chapter books for those independent readers. Children should be encouraged to read all types of books, not just ones at their reading level.
3. Board Games
Board games are the original video game! Board games are an amazing way for children to practice turn taking, problem solving, fair play, and following directions. Some kid friendly games are Memory, Candy Land, and Jenga.There are so many great games that children can play with others (adults or children) or ones they can play independently.
4. Coloring
Coloring is a beloved activity among children, offering relaxation, focus, and motor skill development while sparking creativity. Many kids happily spend hours coloring, and the best part? It can be done virtually anywhere. Access free downloadable coloring pages online or invest in affordable children’s coloring books, available at stores like the Dollar Store. Opt for simpler designs featuring characters, making coloring less complex for young ones. To make it convenient on the go, consider a small pencil or crayon box. Some restaurants even provide crayons, allowing children to color on placemats.
5. Crafts
Kids get so excited when you say they are going to do a craft! Crafts can be simple or more complex. You can get craft kits online or at the Dollar Store. An easy kids craft hack is to create a craft box of supplies they can use all the time. There are even simple supplies you can pull out any time (like Play Doh!). See my suggestions here!
6. Building Set Toys
Building set toys have been around forever! I even played with these when I was a kid. The children can use the many different types of parts in so many ways, and can have endless fun. Building sets encourage creativity, planning, problem solving, and future math and engineering skills. Some building sets (like formal Lego sets) require following of single and multi-step directions which is so important. Kids love using their imagination with structured and unstructured building sets.
