May 4 – May 10, 2015 is Screen Free Week. Here are six ideas to get playing.

All this week, people around the world have shut off their devices—TV, iPad, mobile, computer—and are making time away from their screens a priority. And even though you are reading this now, you can participate too.

In celebrating Screen Free Week, we can make this possible for our families by providing fun activities for our kids to enjoy away from their devices. Here are six ideas to get started:

Give your kids some cardboard boxes, scissors, tape, and markers and let their imaginations run wild.

Place a sheet in front of your television to create the backdrop for a stage so the kids can create, practice, and put on a show.

Gather all the extra pillows and blankets in the house and build a fort together. Then bring everyone’s favorite books or toys into the fort to play.

Head outside, teach the kids how to play shout tag, and let them play! Whether they continue playing tag or move on to a new activity, you’ll just be happy the kids are outside playing actively.

Have some of your kids’ friends over to play a game of capture the flag. This game is best played with six or more and is a lot of fun with neighbors to extend the boundaries of the game.

Teach your kids your favorite childhood game. Whether you pull out a board game or a ball, playing games from your childhood is one of the best ways to build relationships with your children and play away from a screen.

Now turn this device off and go play!

 

More Resources


woman and child smiling
woman and child smiling

August 17, 2022

How Adults Best Create Supportive Play Communities ›

With over 25 years of experience working with kids in schools, our staff and coaches have learned many things about how to set up the most positive, inviting, engaging play…

students in circle playing game with ball
students in circle playing game with ball

August 17, 2022

Helping kids to find new friends and feel included ›

Play is a natural, safe way that kids can interact with people who are different and rejoice by achieving shared goals. Interacting with people who are different at a young…

two girls playing rock paper scissors
two girls playing rock paper scissors

August 17, 2022

Empowering Kids to Create Their Own Happiness ›

By Playworks and UNICEF Kid Power® When kids’ minds and bodies get active, either while playing or participating in service learning, they experience physical and mental benefits (and support positive…