How to Foster a Screen-less Summer

It’s summer, and we all know what that means: warmer weather, longer days and, if you’re a kid, no school! Ah, yes, it’s a great time to splash in the pool, start up the barbecue and make some memories.

If you can convince your kids to get off their devices, that is.

Excessive screen time has been linked to obesity, insomnia, loss of social skills, eye strain, anxiety, depression and more. Studies indicate that reducing screen time can help you make social connections, build community, boost your mood and even improve your physical health. But managing the time your kids spend on screens can sometimes feel like a full-time job.

Plugged In and Focus on the Family have plenty of tips for how to keep screen time under control (including that you should be mindful of your own phone use first). And one of the best ways to help your kids manage their device usage is to encourage non-tech activities that they’ll actually want to do.

So, here are some ideas to get you started.

For the Outdoor Enthusiast

Sports: Not Just for the Athletically Gifted

Ok, so this first one is kind of a gimme. But what better way to run around in the fresh air than to participate in an activity that literally requires running around outside?

I’m not a particularly athletic person. I hate running, and my hand-eye coordination is nil. But if The Sandlot and Little Giants taught me anything, participating in a sport isn’t about being the most talented player on the field. It’s about having fun, learning good sportsmanship and building friendships.

And if you’re worried about your kids getting hurt (Smalls did get a black eye the first time he tried playing catch with his stepdad in The Sandlot, after all), try a gentler sport like wiffle ball, kickball or even badminton.

Hiking/Walking

The nice thing about hiking is that nearly anyone can do it. And you don’t have to scale a massive mountain your first time out. (In fact, it’s recommended that you don’t try to do that if you’re inexperienced.) If you’re a newbie (or if you’ve got younger kids to wrangle), start off on a shorter, flatter path. It can even be paved! The point is to get out of the house and explore the world around you.

Part of that exploration can include teaching your kids about the local fauna and flora. Learn the history of the place you’re hiking through. A lively game of Would You Rather? or 20 Questions is a great way to keep the conversation flowing.

Swimming (Or Something Like It)

When you want to beat the heat, take a dip in the pool, or the lake, or the stream. (An adult or qualified teen should accompany younger children to ensure safety.) Have fun running through the sprinklers. Make some water balloons, grab some squirt guns and go wild soaking each other. If you’re really motivated, grab some sponges and clean the family car while you’re at it. Just make sure the windows are rolled up! You can even make a DIY Slip ‘n Slide with some heavy-duty garbage bags (unused, obviously) and duct tape.

Camping

I think my favorite thing about camping is that it’s never just camping. It always included a ton of other activities—hiking, wiffle ball, swimming, s’mores … pretty much everything on this list can be incorporated, actually.

And if you’re worried about the weather holding out, I have two words for you: Tarp City. When I went camping with my family as a kid, it almost always rained at least one day. But a unique construction of overlapping tarps strung up over our campsite ensured we were never confined to our tents. Plus, building Tarp City helped us kids develop our creative problem-solving skills.

But if spending time amongst the roots and bugs isn’t your vibe, don’t feel like the screens have won. There’s still plenty of indoor, non-tech activities to try.

For Those Rainy Days

Arts & Crafts

The list of crafting hobbies is almost endless: coloring, drawing, painting, knitting, crocheting, embroidering, building models or if you’re bold, chain-mailing. And since crafting has many levels of skills, moms and dads can sit alongside their kiddos and work on their own projects.

Additionally, crafting is a great time to listen—listen to music, listen to podcasts, listen to stories about Jesus. And, of course, listen to your kids. Sometimes activities like these can help children talk more freely and honestly. (And for parents, it’s a great way to decompress without feeling the need to veg out in front of the TV.)

And the best part is, you and your kids will have something to show for your work when you’re done—a new painting, a cozy blanket, or even just the knowledge that you’ve improved your skills.

Music (and Other Skill-based Trades)

OK, not everyone is as into arts and crafts as I am. But you can explore a plethora of other non-screen hobbies. Summer can be the perfect time for your kids to try out a new instrument. Maybe you want to share your love of carpentry or car mechanics (which doubles as an opportunity to teach them some valuable life skills). Or perhaps your child just saw Kung-Fu Panda and now they want to learn martial arts. All these activities can help get your kids off their phones and into the real world.

Cooking/Baking/Grilling

Learning to cook—even if it’s just cooking grilled cheese—is an important skill to have. Chances are, at some point in your kids’ lives, they’re gonna need to fend for themselves. And wouldn’t it be nice if you didn’t have to worry about them burning down the house when that time comes?

So break out the pots and pans. Grab that cookbook you inherited from your grandmother. (And if you need a refresher on technique or some inspiration to get you started, I give you permission to use your screens just this once to search for YouTube tutorials. You can even check out these YouTube chefs vetted by Plugged In.)

Reading

Unless your kids already enjoy reading, this might be one of the hardest activities to convince them to try this summer. Luckily, this is more about dragging them away from their screens than turning them into a bibliophile.

A trip to the local library or bookstore—particularly if there’s a storytelling hour for kids—can help inspire your kids to pick up a book (instead of their tablet or phone).

And if traditional books don’t spark your child’s imagination, try getting them to read some graphic novels or comic books. Magazines, such as Focus on the Family’s Clubhouse and Club Jr. (or Brio for teen girls) could also be more appealing since they contain shorter stories and lots of activities for kids to try.

As you can see, there are an untold number of screen-free things to do this summer. Remind your more stubborn kiddos that humanity survived for thousands of years before the first personal computer came to be. Spending time away from their phones certainly won’t kill them. And in fact, it just might improve their health and their summers.