Welcome back to Techno Sapiens! I’m Jacqueline Nesi, a psychology professor and mom of three young kids, whom I love very much, but whose presence in our home this winter also inspired me to create this list.

15 min read

Last year, I published a list of screen-free activities for kids. Creating that list involved extensive research: Googling and ChatGPT-ing, scouring Reddit threads, asking friends, testing out various art projects and games in my own house, etc. At the time, I thought to myself, Isn’t this a bit excessive? What kind of person puts this much effort into a simple list of children’s activities?

Well, over the past year, I have confirmed that this kind of person is me. My research has continued. I’ve taken the original list and expanded, revisited, and revised it. I’ve tested out new activities, polled all of you (thank you!),1 and spent far too many hours in the trenches of crafting blogs and playroom cabinets.

And now, I’m pleased to share the culmination of my research in this dissertation post. There is a lot here, so I recommend saving it to revisit as needed.

Please step into my office!

A few reminders

• Screens are okay! Remember, there is nothing inherently wrong with screens. In fact, in my opinion, those dark, cold, winter hours can be a great time to use them. However, if you’re looking to cut back on TV or phone time, get out of a screen time rut, or simply find other activities to fill the time, this list is for you.

• This list skews toward younger kids (under 6), but many activities would work for older kids, too.

• In order to make the list, activities needed to be relatively simple. This includes a zero-tolerance policy on: (1) glitter and (2) other small items you’d dislike finding between your toes.

• This list is not meant to suggest that you need to be constantly entertaining your children. It’s okay for them to be bored. It’s also great for them to play independently! Some ideas on this list are designed to facilitate that.2

Ultimate list of screen-free activities

Outdoor activities

1. Get the kids ready to go outside. This counts as an activity in itself. If cold, layer on warm clothes. Hand and foot warmers help,