“A lot of children who gravitate toward screens still crave creativity and imagination … ,” said Brandon Jenkins, a fourth-grade teacher. Photograph: Courtesy Photos View image in fullscreen “A lot of children who gravitate toward screens still crave creativity and imagination … ,” said Brandon Jenkins, a fourth-grade teacher. Photograph: Courtesy Photos The Filter US Life and style Pool noodles and DIY escape rooms: the best screen-free kids’ activities, recommended by teachers Five elementary school teachers spill the beans on how to keep kids engaged in creative play and away from screens
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The best screen-free kids activities at a glance: Introduce them to the classics Keep their hands busy Recreate their favorite video games ... or try a ‘world-building’ game Make it a (friendly) competition ‘The magic isn’t in the equipment’ … if they insist on a screen Meet the educators The “iPad kid” meme is popular for a reason: screens have become a near-permanent fixture in gen Alpha’s lives.
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On average, kids five and older spend more than three hours a day on their devices. We know that too much screen time is linked to harmful health outcomes , but it is not easy to convince your child that reading a paperback novel is more exciting than playing Roblox or binge watching YouTube.
That doesn’t mean we should throw in the towel. “A lot of children who gravitate toward screens still crave creativity and imagination – they just need activities that feel immersive and engaging enough to compete with digital entertainment,” said Brandon Jenkins, a fourth-grade teacher based in Houston, Texas, in an email.
We interviewed five elementary school teachers across the country, who shared their tips and tricks. Here are six of their recommendations – including the classic board games their students love and creative ways to use sidewalk chalk.
Ticket to Ride Read more $39.47 Buy at Amazon Unifix Cubes Read more $35.19 Buy at Staple’s (set of 240) Lego Bricks Read more $15.89 Buy at Amazon, originally $19.99 Disney Eye Found It Read more $21.95 Buy at Amazon Uno Read more $5.99 Buy at Walmart, originally $6.97 Introduce them to the classics This year, Adrian Neibauer’s students are partial to the games you probably grew up playing: Battleship, Sorry!, Jenga and Uno.
“I would recommend these specific games to parents because they are classic games that are quick to learn, easy to play and require strategy,” the Denver-based elementary school teacher said. “I use Battleship when teaching coordinate plane geometry and students immediately make the connection to the game.”
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