We're not here to declare war on screens.
Screens are useful. Screens are entertaining. Screens occasionally allow parents to drink an entire cup of coffee while it's still hot.
We respect screens.
But sometimes it's nice to have an activity waiting that doesn't involve watching, swiping or scrolling.
The trick is finding screen-free activities kids actually want to do — preferably without requiring three hours of preparation and a degree in children's entertainment.
Here are some of our favourites.
1. Make something they can actually use
There's something particularly satisfying about making something that doesn't immediately get relegated to the craft drawer.
Beaded bag charms, friendship bracelets, keychains, decorated pencil cases and personalised accessories all give kids the fun of making and something they can use afterwards.
Let them choose their own colours and combinations rather than focusing on making a particular finished design.
The wonkiness is part of the charm.
2. Set up a “make anything” box
Instead of starting with a particular craft, fill a box with interesting supplies and let imagination do the rest.
Think:
- Paper and cardboard
- Pipe cleaners
- Beads
- String and ribbon
- Stickers
- Pom-poms
- Washi tape
- Googly eyes
- Recycled boxes and tubes
Then give them one instruction:
Make something.
It's amazing what happens when there isn't an example they're expected to copy.
3. Make friendship creations
Everything is more fun with a bestie.
Set up enough supplies for two children to make something for each other — bracelets, bag charms, drawings, decorated photo frames or tiny handmade gifts.
They could make matching pieces, secretly choose colours for one another or swap creations when they're finished.
Bonus: you've occupied two children at once.
We're calling that efficiency.
4. Try an afternoon art challenge
Give everyone the same handful of supplies and set a completely ridiculous challenge.
Make a creature with six legs.
Design the world's worst handbag.
Build a house for something smaller than your thumb.
Invent a new animal.
Create something using only three colours.
There doesn't need to be a winner. The strange explanations of what everyone has made are usually the best part anyway.
5. Start a tiny collection
Kids love collecting things, so turn that instinct into an activity.
They might collect interesting leaves, shells, buttons, beads, rocks or little treasures found on walks.
Then find a way to display, sort, paint, photograph or create with them.
Suddenly the collecting becomes part of the project.
6. Let them personalise something
Give an ordinary object a makeover.
Decorate a notebook. Add charms to a school bag. Paint a little box. Make a name sign. Customise a pencil case.
Personalisation gives children creative freedom without the intimidating blank page of “make some art”.
There's already a starting point. Their job is simply to make it feel like theirs.
7. Put together a ready-to-go creative kit
Sometimes the biggest barrier to a screen-free afternoon isn't the child.
It's us.
If an activity requires finding eight supplies in four different cupboards, printing a template and watching a 17-minute tutorial first, suddenly Bluey seems like an excellent idea.
Keep a couple of ready-to-go activities tucked away for rainy afternoons, school holidays or the inevitable “I'm boooooored.”
A DIY bead kit, small craft kit, puzzle or unopened art set can buy you a surprisingly peaceful pocket of time.
And unlike another hour of scrolling, there's something tangible at the end of it.
A little more making. A little less scrolling.
Screen-free time doesn't need to be educational, productive or particularly impressive.
Sometimes kids just need the space to fiddle with things, experiment, make questionable colour choices and proudly announce:
“LOOK WHAT I MADE.”
We think there should be more of that.
At Bubbl, we're all about colourful little projects designed to give busy hands and big imaginations somewhere to go.
No perfect result required.
Find your Bubbl.