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While there’s absolutely nothing wrong with the occasional screen time for your child, they definitely need a break from it.

But, soon enough, you’re sure to hear “I’m bored” or “there’s nothing to do” … Really?

As a child, one of my favorite things to do was to go outside and get on my bike. I get it though, times have changed. It’s unfortunate, but it’s true. Sometimes we may even fear as parents that we can’t let our kids go out unsupervised without fear of a neighbor calling CPS.

So how do we combat screen time? I’m sharing 20 screen free activities for your child that you can try at home.

Summer will be here before you know it! Keep the "I'm bored" cry at bay with these 20 budget friendly screen free activities for kids.

Tired of hearing "I'm bored" from your kids? Trye one of these 20 budget friendly screen free activities.

20 Fun Budget Friendly and Screen Free Activities for Kids

1) Make paper airplanes. Almost everyone made paper airplanes as a child and there’s really no limit to what you can do! And if you need inspiration to get you going, take a look at 100 Paper Planes to Fold and Fly and 100 More Paper Planes to Fold and Fly.

2) Make a tower with toothpicks and peas. Or you can use mini marshmallows. Get creative with this and encourage your little engineer.

3) Make homemade ice cream. You absolutely do not need an ice cream maker to make homemade ice cream. We made our own three ingredient banana and berry ice cream or you can try an ice cream ball.

4) Give them a magnet and instruct them to run it all over the house and see what they find. Just be mindful, of course, with magnets and electronics. Or, give them this book about Electricity and Magnetism in addition to the magnet and see what they can do.

5) If you have bunk beds, put blankets around the lower one and make a submarine. Make it a yellow blanket. Then sing the appropriate Beatles tune.

6) Play Monopoly or make up your own bank. Have your children make their own currency. This is a great way to teach kids about money.

7) Build a mini log cabin with twigs or craft sticks.

8) Have a tic-tac-toe tournament or you can also play Dots.

9) Make your own milkshake bar. Set out ice cream ingredients and let your kids get creative.

10) Make a card. Get out the rubber stamps, art supplies and construction paper and make a greeting card for Grandma or another loved one.

11) Bake a cake. Either using a boxed cake mix or giving them a recipe to follow, let your kids do most of the work.

12) Make up a treasure hunt or have a scavenger hunt. Buy cheap dollar store toys. Hide in your closet. Make a list of items they must find outside. (A white rock, a feather, a red leaf, a penny, etc). Tell them an exciting booty awaits when they bring all the items to you.

13) Make a cave inside the house. Put old blankets over the backs of chairs or over a table to make a tent. Grab a flashlight and instruct child to go read scary stories inside it. This was always one of my favorite things to do.

14) Build with LEGOS

15) Make your own playdough

16) Celebrate Christmas in July (any day of the year!)

17) Have a sensory snow wonderland

18) Grab a baseball bat, baseball (or tennis ball), and glove. See if you can round up some neighborhood kids for a game.

19) Have a picnic! Make it indoors or outdoors, but just have fun.

20) Have an aspiring cook on your hands? Try your own Chopped Junior tournament at home.

There are so many screen free activities for your child that you can do. I’ve only touched on a few and I hope that this list helps you out as well. One of my personal favorites? Read a book. And then if you’re really ambitious? Pick a chapter and act it out.

Or pick your favorite character and write a new adventure for them.

Screen free doesn’t have to mean boring.  Try a few of these screen free activities with your child and let me know what their favorite was!

Trying to add in screen-free time to your summer plans? Keep track with my free summer family planner!

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Kori

Digital Product Creator at Kori at Home
Kori is a late diagnosed autistic/ADHD mom. She is currently located in Albany, NY where she is raising a neurodiverse family. Her older daughter is non-speaking autistic (and also has ADHD and Anxiety) and her youngest daughter is HSP/Gifted. A blogger, podcaster, writer, product creator, and coach; Kori shares autism family life- the highs, lows, messy, and real. Kori brings her own life experiences as an autistic woman combined with her adventures in momming to bring you the day-to-day of her life at home. Kori is on a mission to empower moms of autistic children to make informed parenting decisions with confidence and conviction.

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