When Suzzane was little and we had our own home we only had one tv and no, cell phone and we didn’t even know what a computer was. For her I never had the opportunity for her to use a computer when she was bored. Which give me another opportunity to introduce you to Suzzane and Charlie.
This is why I wanted to share screen-free way ways to keep kids entertained: and to share a story of Suzzane-and-Charlie which is the story that started it all for my family. When my children were little there was a time when children didn’t have a screen in their hands every time they said, “I’m bored.” I know because I lived through that time which could be hard at times but also nice. .
When Suzzane and Charlie were growing up, keeping children entertained didn’t mean handing them a tablet, turning on another television show, or finding the newest video game. Sometimes it meant opening the kitchen cabinet and seeing what they could create. Sometimes it meant going outside. Sometimes it meant finding something to do with whatever happened to be lying around the house.
And sometimes, yes, it meant hearing those famous words: “I’m bored.” As a parent, you learn pretty quickly that “I’m bored” doesn’t necessarily mean a child has nothing to do. It can mean they don’t know what they want to do. It can mean they’re used to being entertained. It can mean they want Mom or Dad to stop what they’re doing and come up with something. And sometimes it simply means they haven’t learned yet that boredom can be the beginning of something wonderful.
When my children were young, we didn’t have today’s constant stream of entertainment. There wasn’t a smartphone sitting nearby with thousands of videos. There wasn’t a tablet automatically ready with a game. There wasn’t an endless supply of children’s programming available at the touch of a button.
So children had to figure things out. They played and they imagined. They built things and they made messes. They went outside and they found toys they had forgotten about. They turned ordinary things into extraordinary adventures. And that’s something I think we sometimes forget today. Children don’t always need more entertainment. Sometimes they need permission to be creative.
If you’ve ever been around children for very long, you already know that boredom can arrive at the most inconvenient time. You’re trying to cook dinner or your folding laundry. You’re answering an email or you’re cleaning the house. You’re trying to make a phone call .and suddenly you hear: “Mom, I’m bored.”
You give them an idea. “No.” You give them another idea. “I don’t want to do that.” Then you give them a third idea. “I don’t know.” Before long, Mom or Dad has somehow become the entertainment committee. But here’s what I’ve learned: Parents don’t have to be the entertainment committee.
Children can learn how to find something to do without a parents help. That doesn’t mean we never play with our children. Of course we do. It means we don’t have to feel guilty every time they experience boredom. We can continue what we was doing while they fend for themselves.
What Can Kids Do Without a Screen?– The answer is probably closer than you think. Sometimes it’s as simple as giving children permission to look around the house and figure something out.
They can:
- Color.
- Draw.
- Build with blocks.
- Play with dolls or action figures.
- Make a fort.
- Read a book.
- Look through old family photographs.
- Help bake something.
- Make a pretend restaurant.
- Organize their toys.
- Write a story.
- Make a card for Grandma or Grandpa.
- Go outside and look for bugs, rocks, leaves, or flowers.
- Play a board game.
- Create their own game.
And sometimes they can simply sit there for a few minutes and be bored. That’s okay too.
One of the biggest things I want parents to remember is that boredom isn’t necessarily something we need to fix immediately. Boredom gives children an opportunity to think. It gives them a chance to use their imagination. It encourages them to make choices and it can even teach responsibility.
When a child learns, “If I’m bored, I can find something to do,” that’s a skill they can carry with them for the rest of their life. We don’t have to fill every quiet moment and we don’t have to schedule every minute. And we certainly don’t have to spend money every time a child says they’re bored. Sometimes the best activity is the one they create themselves.
Before buying another activity kit, craft box, or new toy, look around your home. What do you already have? A cardboard box can become a castle. A blanket can become a fort. A stack of paper can become a drawing station. Old magazines can become a collage. Plastic cups can become a building challenge.
A kitchen table can become a place to play cards or board games and a pile of books can become an afternoon adventure. And a little imagination can turn almost anything into an activity. That’s one of the reasons I love screen-free activities. They don’t have to be expensive to be memorable.
As parents, we spend a lot of time teaching children how to do things. We teach them how to tie their shoes and we teach them how to clean their rooms. We teach them how to make their beds and we teach them how to help around the house. We teach them how to be responsible. Learning how to entertain yourself belongs on that list.
A child who can find something productive, creative, or enjoyable to do without someone else constantly providing the activity is learning independence. And that lesson doesn’t stop being useful when childhood ends. Adults get bored too and adults have unexpected afternoons. Adults have rainy days and adults sometimes have to figure out what to do with an empty hour. Learning how to use that time is something we can begin teaching when our children are young.
The Suzzane-and-Charlie story is where this series begins, but it certainly isn’t where it ends. Because there are so many times when parents need ideas. What do you do when the kids suddenly have a day off from school? What about a rainy weekend? How do you survive a long holiday break?
What can children do when Mom and Dad are busy? And what if you don’t have money to spend on a new activity? Those are the questions we’re going to tackle together. We’re going to look at simple, realistic, screen-free ways for children to stay busy, use their imaginations, help around the house, and learn to enjoy their own creativity.
Because sometimes the best childhood memories don’t come from the newest technology. Sometimes they come from a cardboard box, a blanket fort, a rainy afternoon, a kitchen table, or two children trying to figure out what to do next. And sometimes, years later, those ordinary moments become the stories Mom remembers most.
That’s what this series is really about. Not keeping children constantly entertained. Not eliminating boredom. But giving kids the opportunity to discover that they are capable of creating their own fun. Be watching for more Screen-Free Fun! This is just the beginning! We’ll be sharing more ideas to help families discover ways to keep children entertained without always reaching for a screen.
Coming up in this series:
- Screen-Free Activities for Rainy Days
- Things Kids Can Do When They’re Bored
- Old-Fashioned Games Kids Still Love
- Creative Activities Using Things You Already Have at Home
- Screen-Free Holiday Break Activities
- Keeping Kids Busy While Mom and Dad Get Things Done
- Family Game Night Ideas
- Teaching Children to Play Independently
We’ll share simple ideas, inexpensive activities, old-fashioned fun, and ways to encourage children to use their imaginations. And Moms and Dads, I want you to remember something. You do not have to feel guilty because you cannot stop everything you’re doing to entertain your children. You have a life, too!
You have meals to prepare, laundry to fold, work to finish, errands to run, responsibilities to take care of, and sometimes you simply need a few minutes to yourself. Being a good parent doesn’t mean being available to entertain your children every minute of every day. That doesn’t mean you don’t love spending time with your children. It means you’re human, too!
Children need opportunities to play independently, explore their interests, make decisions, and discover what they enjoy doing. And parents deserve a little breathing room without feeling like they’ve done something wrong. Childhood doesn’t have to be expensive, perfectly scheduled, or constantly entertained.
Sometimes the best memories begin with a cardboard box, a blanket fort, a rainy afternoon, or two children figuring out what to do next. And sometimes the best thing Mom or Dad can say is: “I love you. Now go find something to do!” Because raising children isn’t about keeping them entertained every minute.
It’s about giving them the tools, confidence, and freedom to discover the wonderful things they can do all by themselves. And that’s a childhood worth remembering. Welcome to our Screen-Free Fun series at Greatful Moments! Because childhood is meant to be lived, imagined, explored, and remembered.
This is just the beginning! Be watching for more articles in our Screen-Free Fun series, where we’ll share simple, affordable ways to keep children busy, encourage imagination, and make family memories without relying on screens.
Coming up next:
- Screen-Free Activities for Rainy Days
- Things Kids Can Do When They’re Bored
- Old-Fashioned Games Kids Still Love
- Creative Activities Using Things You Already Have at Home
- Screen-Free Holiday Break Activities
- Keeping Kids Busy While Mom and Dad Get Things Done
- Family Game Night Ideas
- Teaching Children to Play Independently
We’ll have ideas for moms, dads, grandparents, and caregivers because keeping childhood fun is a family affair! And remember, childhood doesn’t have to be expensive, perfectly scheduled, or constantly entertained. Sometimes the best memories begin when Mom or Dad says, “I love you. Now go find something to do!” You shouldn’t have to feel guilty for being busy. You have a life, too! Keep watching Greatful Moments for more Screen-Free Fun!
Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed.
GreatfulMoments.com
Thank you, Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
