Disconnect to Reconnect: Screen-Free Activities for the Whole Family
A cursory look around our communities and even our homes will show that most people today have one thing in common: an electronic device, most likely a phone. While a phone in our hands helps keep us connected and allows us to look up information in an instant, it is also a detriment to us socially. Adults can take a look at their screen time and try to set limits, but this is much harder for kids, who are often given free range to play and surf all day.
It’s no surprise that too much screen time harms developing children. A recent article published by the National Library of Medicine examined the damaging effects of excessive screen time. It explains, “Too much time spent in front of a screen and multitasking with other media has been related to worse executive functioning and academic performance. As screen time reduces the amount and quality of interactions between children and their caregivers, it can also have an impact on language development.”
The article goes on to say that “excessive screen usage has detrimental effects on social and emotional growth, including a rise in the likelihood of obesity, sleep disorders, and mental health conditions including depression and anxiety. It can obstruct the ability to interpret emotions, fuel aggressive conduct, and harm one’s psychological health in general.”
Simply put, excessive screen time is unhealthy for our children. To be well-rounded people with various interests, skills, and abilities, and to thrive emotionally and physically, we must all put down our devices.
At Performance Inspired, we create products to help adults thrive both physically and mentally, but we care about your entire family, and we believe education is important. So we also strive to inform you of ways to keep your family healthy—both mentally and physically. As we approach summer, we challenge you to put down the phones and have fun with your families.
Below are 11 activities that don’t involve a computer, a TV, or a phone. We encourage you to try all of them, and we hope you enjoy!
Read
Help kids learn to love the feel of a book and the power of immersing themselves in a great story. Reading builds imagination, vocabulary, writing skills, and more. Take them to the local library or to a bookstore and let them shop around for a few new books. Many of these places have story times for little kids, and bookstores and libraries will even host summer reading programs that offer incentives for reading a certain number of books. All of this generates excitement and a love for reading.
Go Bowling
Whether you are a regular bowler or just want to give it a try, taking your family to bowl a few games is incredibly fun. And over the summer, there’s a great program called Kids Bowl Free, where yes, literally, kids bowl free. Though it sounds too good to be true, it is not. At select alleys across the country, kids under 16 can bowl two games a day for free. I joined this program with my kids for many years, and they loved it. It does have a couple small caveats: You have to pay for shoe rental, and our alley didn’t allow the program on Fridays and Saturdays. But other than that, yes, they got two free games a day. And parents can buy a family pass at a low price to join in. We bought bowling shoes, as it ended up being cheaper than renting. This is a great way to learn a new skill and to get some exercise. And it’s perfect for hot or rainy days.
Visit a Museum
Every town has some kind of museum nearby. And many offer yearly passes, which makes it much cheaper to go regularly. If you live near a big city, you will likely have many options—from art museums to science museums to natural history museums. Learning something new as a family leads to exciting adventures!
Play Miniature Golf
This is a great way to get outside and have fun as a family. Plus it teaches kids fine-motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and even sportsmanship.
Go Hiking
A hike outside allows you to partake in the wonder of nature. You can explore new trees, plants, flowers, and animals as you get some exercise and fresh air.
Have a Family Game Night or Put Together a Puzzle
Nothing brings out laughter and family fun like a game or a puzzle. Allow each member of your family to choose their favorite and play several. Or hit the store and buy some new ones. Playing games or putting together a puzzle helps improve cognitive skills and even fosters teamwork.
Try Some Arts and Crafts
Bring out the paints, some popsicle sticks, the glue, some beads, a model car, or some wood and create a project. Whether you’re putting together a birdhouse, painting a picture, or creating something unique, everyone will have fun.
Teach Your Kids How to Bake or Cook
While this may require some patience on the part of parents, it can be a lot of fun to bake a new type of cookie or a special dinner (and kids can even learn some math). Kids will feel proud upon tasting their own creation, and everyone benefits from adding some new cooking skills to their repertoire.
Go Swimming
Whether it’s a small pool for little ones in the backyard or your neighborhood pool, kids will have fun (and get some great exercise and sun) while splashing in the water. Don’t forget the sunblock!
Visit Historical Places in Your Town
Most people love to learn history, and many people don’t know the historical facts of the town they live in. Do a Google search of your area to see what new places you can explore.
Visit the Zoo
Kids and adults marvel at animals. And visiting a zoo is not only a great opportunity to learn about new animals but it offers the chance to get some fresh air and great exercise. Many zoos even have petting areas where you can feed goats or ride camels.
Research has shown that spending time with family reduces stress, increases mental health and happiness, and is beneficial for your physical health. So this summer, we encourage you to set aside the devices and enjoy time with your family. We guarantee that you will have a great time no matter which activities you choose.
