Screen-Free Summer: 7 Activities to Help Kids Stay Present

In a world buzzing with notifications, auto play videos, and endless scrolls, summertime offers a rare chance to slow down and rediscover the beauty of being fully present. For families, it's the perfect season to trade screen time for sunshine, creativity, and connection.

Whether you're looking to unplug for a few hours or make screen-free habits a weekly ritual, these seven activities are fun, low-pressure, and great for helping kids stay engaged with the world around them.

1. Backyard Adventure Day

Turn your own yard or a nearby park into an exciting world to explore. Create a scavenger hunt with items like pinecones, smooth rocks, or something red. Bring magnifying glasses, bug catchers, or nature journals to document your findings

2. DIY Obstacle Course

Use what you have—pillows, hula hoops, jump ropes, cones—to create a simple course indoors or outside. Time each other, create challenges (“hop on one foot,” “army crawl under the blanket”), and cheer each other on.

3. Story Circle or Backyard Book Club

Choose a fun read-aloud or let each child bring a favorite book. Sit in a circle and take turns reading or acting out scenes. Add snacks and a cozy blanket, and you’ve got a no-tech story time to remember.

4. Creative Craft Station

Set up a “creation corner” stocked with paper, recycled containers, paints, tape, and string. Give a theme like “build a robot,” “make your dream house,” or “create your own board game.”

5. Cook Something Together

Invite your kids into the kitchen for hands-on, age-appropriate tasks. Whether it’s making their own lunch, baking cookies, or picking herbs from the garden, cooking together builds skills and memories.

6. Sunset Wind-Down Walks

After dinner, take a short walk as a family. No phones, no agenda—just observe the changing sky, listen to the sounds of summer, and share thoughts about the day.

7. Family Challenge Jar

Fill a jar with folded slips of paper with ideas like “Do a random act of kindness,” “Draw a comic,” or “Write a postcard to someone.” Let each family member pick one each day or week.