Screen-Free Holidays: 30 Ways to Keep Kids Busy Without a Screen

The school holidays always start with such promise. Then around day four, the novelty fades and a small voice announces the two words every parent dreads: "I'm booored." The path of least resistance is a tablet — and six weeks blur into a screen-shaped haze.

It doesn't have to. Below are 30 screen-free activities for kids that genuinely hold attention through the holidays — sorted so you can grab the right one for the moment.

First, a quick word on why it's worth the effort

This isn't about banning screens or feeling guilty. It's about balance. The World Health Organization recommends no more than one hour of sedentary screen time a day for children aged 2–4 — and "less is better." The magic of screen-free time is what kids are doing: building patience, problem-solving, imagination and focus.

And a little boredom is good for children — it's the spark that pushes them to invent and figure things out. Your job isn't to entertain every minute; it's to leave a few good options lying around.

5-minute boredom-busters

1. A puzzle challenge. Hand them something that has to be solved — calm and completely absorbing at once (more on our favourite below).
2. The 20-object scavenger hunt. Write a list, set a timer, send them off around the house or garden.
3. Build the tallest tower. Cards, blocks, cushions — anything stackable.
4. Story dice. Roll a few dice and make up a story on the spot.
5. Beat-the-clock tidy. Turn clearing up into a race. Sneaky, but it works.

Rainy-day rescues

6. Indoor obstacle course — cushions, string, a stopwatch.
7. Build a den — blankets, chairs, fairy lights if you're feeling generous.
8. Baking — reading a recipe is sneaky maths and reading practice.
9. Make a comic strip — fold paper into panels and write the plot.
10. Card games — teach a classic like Rummy, Go Fish or Cheat.
11. Jigsaw on the go — leave a big one out all week and add to it.
12. Origami — one sheet of paper, a hundred possibilities.

Get them outside

13. Nature treasure hunt — leaves, feathers, an interesting stone.
14. Chalk the pavement — hopscotch, a mural, a giant maze.
15. Grow something — cress on a windowsill gives fast results.
16. Bug hunt with a magnifying glass — and a notebook to draw what they find.
17. Bike or scooter time trials — around the block, against the clock.
18. A trip to the library — free, dry, and often running holiday clubs.

Afternoon projects

19. Start a holiday journal — a page a day, drawings welcome.
20. Cardboard-box city — the bigger the box, the better.
21. Write and post a real letter — to a grandparent or pen pal.
22. Junk-model something — recycling bin plus glue equals a rocket.
23. Learn a magic trick — then perform it after dinner.

Do it together

24. Family game night — no screens, everyone plays.
25. Cook a meal as a team — each child owns one part of it.
26. Teach them a skill you have — knitting, whittling, a card shuffle.
27. Interview a grandparent — write down the best stories.
28. Backwards day — pudding first, pyjamas at breakfast. Chaos, joyfully.
29. Learn a few words of a new language — together, over a week.
30. A shared brain-teaser race — everyone attempts the same puzzle at once.

The one screen-free activity that hooks every age

If you only try one thing on this list, make it a hands-on puzzle. A good puzzle pulls a child into that quiet, determined "just one more try" state — no batteries, no app, no adult refereeing required. And unlike most kids' activities, the grown-ups quietly get hooked too.

That's exactly what we built Can You Solve Me to do. Each puzzle is a tactile brain-teaser you crack by hand, across three difficulty levels, so it grows with the child. Our 12 Puzzle Gift Set bundles all twelve into one box: enough to keep a family busy for the whole holidays, and a genuinely good gift when it's over.

Screen-free summer offer: free UK shipping on orders over £15 — so the gift set always ships free. Grab yours here →

Three tips to make a screen-free routine stick

1. Make one part of the day reliably screen-free. A "no screens before lunch" rule is easier to hold than a vague "less screen time."
2. Leave the options out where they can see them. A puzzle on the table, paper and pens on the side. Visible beats suggested.
3. Let boredom breathe. The best ideas usually arrive about ten minutes into "there's nothing to do."

Frequently asked questions

What are the best screen-free activities for younger children?

Under-7s do best with sensory and building play — towers, baking, den-building and simple scavenger hunts. Hands-on puzzles suit children from around age 8 up.

How do I get my child to stick with an activity?

Give it a clear goal and a gentle time challenge. A satisfying win — like finally cracking a puzzle — is what makes them come back for more.

How much screen time is too much in the holidays?

There's no single magic number, but health bodies like the WHO advise keeping sedentary screen time low, especially for younger children, and balancing it with active, creative and social play.

Are puzzles really good for kids?

Yes — puzzles build patience, spatial reasoning and problem-solving, and because they feel like play rather than work, children stick with them far longer than a worksheet.

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Screen-free holidays don't need a Pinterest board and a craft cupboard — just a few good options within reach and permission to be a little bored. Keep this list handy, and when the "I'm booored" chorus starts, you'll be ready. Browse all our puzzles →