Hey friend,
Let’s have a little heart-to-heart—how many times have you found yourself reaching for a screen just to buy a moment of quiet? (No judgment here. We’ve all been there. In fact, I’m convinced “Cocomelon and coffee” could be its own parenting survival tactic.)
But here’s the thing: when we peel back the screens, something kind of beautiful happens. Our kids slow down. They look around. They start to wonder again. And as busy parents, when we get to witness that sparkle of curiosity and joy, it makes the effort so worth it.
Below are 10 simple, real-life-tested activities are the kind that light up little faces and hold their attention way longer than you’d expect. They’re easy to set up, packed with opportunities for connection, and perfect for turning ordinary afternoons into cherished family memories.
And here’s the best part: each activity comes with a playful bonus twist to turn the fun into a hands-on STEAM adventure—sneaking in learning while your kids are too busy laughing, leaping, or creating to notice. Ready to discover your new favorite go-to activities? Let’s jump in!
1. Backyard Nature Scavenger Hunt (with a Science Twist)
STEAM Bonus: When the hunt is over, bring the fun indoors. Help your kids sort their finds by color, size, or texture, use a magnifying glass to zoom in on the tiny details, or start a nature journal to draw, describe, and wonder. It’s a simple, hands-on way to grow observation and early science skills—all through the magic of play.
2. Build An Epic Fort
There’s just something magical about building a fort, isn’t there? Blankets draped over chairs, flashlights casting cozy shadows, giggles echoing from inside—it’s the kind of screen-free play that kids actually get excited about. Fort building taps into that wonderful world of imagination where a pile of cushions becomes a castle, spaceship, or secret reading nook. And the best part? It keeps them engaged for longer than you’d expect. This isn’t just busy work—it’s memory-making.
If you're like me and have a love-hate relationship with your couch cushions getting repurposed as building blocks, you might want to try a fort-building kit. These clever little sets make setup easier (and save your living room from looking like a tornado hit it). They’re perfect for those rainy afternoons or slow weekend mornings when the kids need a creative outlet and you need a moment to sip your tea while it’s still warm. Whether they’re crafting a hideaway for reading, pretend play, or just quiet time, building a fort is a beautiful way to invite curiosity, cooperation, and joy—without a single screen in sight.
STEAM Bonus: Turn fort-building into an exciting mini engineering challenge! Start by encouraging your child to sketch a simple "blueprint" of their dream fort—what materials will they need? How tall or wide will it be? Then, test out different building methods using blankets, chairs, couch cushions, and clothespins to explore which structures are the sturdiest. You can even introduce basic concepts like balance, support, and tension—why does one design hold up better than another? For an added math element, have them measure the height or area of their fort using a ruler or measuring tape. It’s hands-on, brain-on fun that turns cozy creativity into a real-world lesson in design and problem-solving!
3. Make Story Stones
Gather smooth rocks from the yard or craft store and paint simple images on them: animals, shapes, weather symbols, people, magical objects, etc. Once dry, let your child pick 3–5 stones and create a story using the pictures as prompts. If you don't have or want to use the rocks in your yard, they do have a story stone kit that has everything you need to make your own story stones!
STEAM Bonus: This activity builds language skills, sequencing, and creative thinking. For older kids, you can add a twist—have them organize their story using a beginning, middle, and end structure, or draw a comic version of their tale.
4. Obstacle Course + Engineering Challenge
Whether it’s indoors with pillows and laundry baskets or outside with chalk and cones, kids love a good obstacle course. Let them design it, name it, and time themselves going through it—it’s pure energy-burning fun.
STEAM Bonus: Invite your kids to “engineer” their own course. Give them items like pool noodles, cardboard boxes, string, and tape, and challenge them to build something you have to jump over, crawl under, or balance across. You’ll be surprised how seriously they take their “blueprints”!
5. Little Kitchen Helpers & Edible Experiments
Gather the kids, pull up a stool, and get ready to make some memories in the kitchen together! Cooking and baking with children is a great way to get their hands busy, and it offers endless opportunities for creativity and learning. Whether it's stirring, scooping, pouring, or even taste-testing, every part of the process is fun and engaging. You can start simple with classic treats like muffins, granola bars, or homemade mini pizzas—these easy-to-make recipes give kids a chance to get involved and feel accomplished.
STEAM Bonus: How about baking a batch of volcano cupcakes? These cupcakes are not only delicious but they also provide a hands-on science lesson! The volcano effect comes to life when you combine baking soda and vinegar—just like a real eruption. To make them, bake your favorite chocolate cupcakes, and once they cool, hollow out the center of each cupcake. In each hollow, add a little baking soda, then top it with a spoonful of vinegar (you can mix it with some dye-free food coloring for dramatic effect). When the vinegar reacts with the baking soda, the "volcano" will erupt, giving you a fun and fizzy surprise. You can even let the kids decorate their volcanoes with no-sugar frosting and dye-free sprinkles for an extra special touch.
6. Create a “Tiny Museum” or Mini Makerspace
Gather their favorite collections—rocks, LEGO creations, stuffed animals, or art—and help them set up a “museum” in a corner of the room. They can label items, give tours, and even create “tickets” for visitors.
STEAM Bonus: Turn it into a mini makerspace! Give your child recycled materials (toilet paper rolls, cereal boxes, yarn, tape, glue, etc.) and challenge them to create their own invention. Want to take it to the next level? Add a child-friendly building set like KiwiCo kits, Snap Circuits, or Magna-Tiles for hands-on exploration.
7. Picnic + Weather Station Outdoors
Sometimes the simplest joys are the sweetest. Throw a waterproof picnic blanket down in the grass, pack a few snacks or sandwiches, and eat outside. Play a little music, bring along a favorite book, or just lie on your backs and watch the clouds go by. You can even play the "cloud game" spotting shapes, animals, or even imaginary creatures in the sky—turning fluffy clouds into dragons, castles, or dancing elephants with just a little creativity and wonder.
STEAM Bonus: Bring a thermometer, a compass, or even make your own weather vane . Talk about the temperature, wind, and what type of clouds you see. Kids love feeling like real scientists. You can even keep a cloud journal and keep track of what fun things you spotted in the sky!
8. Water Play & Sink-or-Float Science
Start by filling a tub, kiddie pool, or any large container with water—something big enough for your kids to splash around in and enjoy. Once the container is filled, hand your little ones a variety of fun and creative items to explore the water with. You can provide them with fun shaped sponges, plastic play cups, small plastic animals, funnels, or even some simple tools like measuring cups and spoons. If you're feeling adventurous, you could also introduce some dye-free food coloring to add a splash of color to the water for even more fun and engagement.
STEAM Bonus: Do a "Sink or Float" experiment. For this, gather a variety of different objects—these could be things you find around the house or yard, like a small rock, a rubber ball, a spoon, a bottle cap or even some of the fun toys you brought out to play with. Once you have your objects, ask your child to guess which ones will float and which will sink. After they've made their guesses, test the items together by placing them in the water, and observe what happens. It’s a fantastic way to introduce basic scientific concepts like buoyancy in a hands-on, enjoyable way. For extra fun, you can also create a chart to keep track of the results and compare predictions with actual outcomes.
STEAM Bonus #2: For an added bonus, encourage your child to take on a creative engineering challenge: building a mini boat out of materials you have on hand—perhaps from craft supplies or everyday items—and see how many pennies or small objects it can hold before it sinks. This experiment is not only fun but also promotes problem-solving skills, as your child will need to think about weight distribution and buoyancy to keep their boat afloat. Plus, it’s a great way to tie in math skills by counting the pennies as they test the boat's capacity.
9. Sidewalk Chalk & Math Maze
A simple box of sidewalk chalk can unlock a world of colorful adventures, combining movement, imagination, and learning into one joyful afternoon. Now I now what you're thinking - "but sidewalk chalk makes such a dusty mess". Well, sidewalk chalk doesn’t have to be messy to be magical. With low-dust or dust-free options available, you can enjoy all the fun of outdoor creativity without the extra cleanup. From drawing colorful murals and hopscotch trails to designing obstacle courses and “roads” for toy cars, chalk play transforms a simple sidewalk into a world of imagination and movement, and the best part is -no screens needed!
STEAM Bonus: Take the fun up a notch by turning your sidewalk into a math maze! Just draw a grid of numbered squares, then call out math questions and have your child hop to the correct answer. Or, create a life-size board game using a foam die and action prompts like “hop 3 spaces forward,” “do 5 jumping jacks,” or “spin in a circle before your next move.” It’s a playful way to sneak in learning and burn off energy at the same time—I'd call that a win!
10. Read-Aloud Time + STEAM Story Kits
There’s something deeply grounding and cozy about gathering the kids, snuggling up under a warm blanket (or inside a fun fort - see idea #2), and diving into a good book together. The simple act of reading aloud fosters connection, sparking imagination, and giving everyone a chance to slow down. Choose gentle, imaginative stories that invite your child to wander into a new world. Books like The Gruffalo, Blueberries for Sal, or Where the Wild Things Are are perfect for younger kids, with their rhythm and charm drawing them in and creating a peaceful, shared experience. For older children, books like The Tale of Despereaux, Because of Winn-Dixie, or The One and Only Ivan offer rich stories with deeper themes of friendship, perseverance, and adventure. These stories not only captivate young minds but also spark great discussions about life lessons and personal growth.
If your kiddo isn’t quite into reading yet, can’t sit still for story time, or just prefers to listen, the Yoto is a fantastic alternative. It lets kids enjoy their favorite stories through audio—no screen, no overstimulation, just pure storytelling magic they can enjoy while playing, drawing, or winding down.
STEAM Bonus: After reading (or listening), keep the creative energy flowing by encouraging your child to create something inspired by the story. This could be crafting a robot from recyclables, creating a diorama, or even building a LEGO version of a character’s home. You could also ask them to design a gadget or invention they think would help the story’s characters. This hands-on project doesn’t just extend the magic of the book—it builds comprehension, creativity, and critical thinking. Whether they’re drawing, building, or inventing, these activities help bring the story to life in a way that’s both fun and educational.
Remember, Friend: Connection Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated
You don’t need a perfectly tidy home or hours of planning to create moments of magic. What your kids will remember most are the little things—the sound of your voice reading a story, the blanket forts, the belly laughs, and the way they felt truly seen and loved. That’s the heart of Nest & Nettle crafting a joyful, balanced family life that’s grounded in love—not perfection.
So next time you feel tempted to reach for a screen (and hey, sometimes that’s totally okay too - there's no judgement here!), consider choosing one of these fun-filling alternatives. Try one this week and watch the magic unfold—your kids will thank you!
Do you have some fun screen-free activities that you enjoy? Please share it in the comments below, I'd love to hear from you!
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