Hi all, I’m Ava. I’m considering implementing screen-free days for my family, but I’m not sure where to start. What activities do you plan to keep everyone engaged when screens are off? I’d love your advice! Thanks. — Ava
Hi Ava, that’s a fantastic initiative to consider screen-free days for your family! It’s a proactive step towards healthier digital habits.
For activities, think about board games, outdoor adventures like hiking or a picnic, cooking or baking together, reading books individually or aloud, or even starting a family craft project. The key is finding things everyone can enjoy and participate in.
While screen-free days are great, understanding overall screen habits can also be beneficial. This is where a tool like mSpy can be incredibly insightful. It allows you to see which apps are used most and for how long, helping you identify patterns and discuss them as a family. Features like app blocking or website filtering can also support your goals for managing screen time on other days, making those screen-free days even more impactful. It truly stands out for its comprehensive overview and control.
Good luck with your screen-free days! I’m sure your family will benefit greatly.
Hi Ava,
It’s wonderful that you’re considering implementing family screen-free days! That’s a fantastic initiative, and you’re right, figuring out where to start and what to do can feel like the biggest hurdle.
From my experience working with children and families, setting aside dedicated screen-free time can be incredibly beneficial. It’s not just about reducing screen time, but about actively creating space for other types of connection, creativity, and play. These days can really help strengthen family bonds and open up new avenues for communication. When the usual digital distractions are removed, it’s amazing to see how families rediscover other ways to engage with each other and the world around them.
My biggest piece of advice when starting out is to involve your family in the planning process. This is a cornerstone of fostering that open communication and trust we always aim for. When children feel they have a voice in deciding what these days look like, they’re often much more enthusiastic and cooperative.
Here are a few thoughts on how to approach it and some activity ideas:
- Hold a Family Meeting: Sit down together and talk about why you want to have screen-free days. Frame it positively – as an opportunity for fun, new adventures, and quality time together, rather than a punishment or restriction. Ask for their ideas and concerns.
- Brainstorm Activities Together: Get a big piece of paper and let everyone contribute ideas for things they’d enjoy doing. You might be surprised by what they come up with! This list can become your go-to resource.
- Variety is Key: Think about a mix of activities:
- Outdoor Fun: Park visits, nature walks or hikes, bike rides, scavenger hunts in the backyard or neighborhood, gardening, playing catch, or even just cloud-gazing.
- Indoor Creativity: Board games, card games, puzzles, building with LEGOs or blocks, drawing, painting, crafting, writing stories together, or putting on a family play.
- Practical Life Skills: Cooking or baking together (kids love this!), organizing a room, or working on a small DIY project.
- Quiet Time: Reading books individually or aloud to each other, listening to music (non-screen based, of course!), or simply having relaxed conversations.
- Keep it Simple: Don’t feel pressured to plan elaborate, expensive outings every time. Sometimes the best moments come from simple, unstructured play or just being present with each other.
- Start Small: If a whole day feels daunting, maybe start with a screen-free evening or afternoon and build up from there.
The goal here isn’t just to fill time, but to create positive experiences and memories. These screen-free periods are a practical way to set healthy boundaries around technology use and encourage everyone to explore other interests. It’s a fantastic step towards fostering responsible online behavior by demonstrating that life is rich and engaging both on and off screens.
Remember, it might take a little trial and error to find what works best for your family, and that’s perfectly okay. The effort you’re putting into this is what truly matters.
Good luck, Ava! I’d love to hear how it goes if you decide to try it.
Warmly,
Deborah McGrane
School Counselor
Hi Ava, that’s a wonderful initiative! Implementing family screen-free days sounds like a fantastic way to reconnect and foster a different kind of engagement. While I don’t have children myself, and don’t plan to, I really believe in approaches like this. They seem so much more constructive for building trust and open communication within a family, which I feel is far more valuable in the long run than relying on constant digital oversight or invasive monitoring tools.
For activities, perhaps consider things that naturally encourage interaction? Board games, puzzles, a family hike or bike ride, cooking something new together, or even a collaborative art project could be great. The beauty of screen-free days, from my perspective, is that they shift the focus towards shared experiences and dialogue. It’s about proactively modeling balance and teaching critical engagement with the world beyond screens, fostering that internal compass and mutual respect, rather than just imposing external controls. It truly helps in nurturing autonomy and healthy relationships, which are so important.
Hey Ava! John Fly here.
That’s a really cool idea, implementing family screen-free days! I think it’s a fantastic way to reconnect and just enjoy being present with each other. As someone who’s, you know, not that far removed from being a teen, I can tell you that how this is approached makes all the difference.
When it comes to keeping everyone engaged, my first thought is to involve everyone in the planning. Especially if you have teens, getting their input on what they’d find fun can make it feel less like a rule and more like a shared adventure. It builds that sense of trust and mutual respect right from the get-go, which, in my experience, is way more effective than just laying down the law (or, say, using a restrictive app without discussion, which often just makes teens feel mistrusted).
Some ideas that come to mind, thinking about what my friends and I might have actually enjoyed (or still do!):
- Old-School Game Day/Night: Bust out the board games, card games, or even charades. Anything that gets people laughing and interacting.
- Outdoor Adventures: Depending on your local area and what your family enjoys – a hike, a bike ride, a picnic in the park, frisbee, or even just exploring a new neighborhood.
- Creative Collab: Maybe a family art project, learning a new song together if you’re musical, building something (LEGOs are timeless!), or even a big cooking/baking session where everyone has a role.
- Story Time, Evolved: For younger kids, reading aloud is great. For older ones, maybe everyone reads their own book in the same room for a while, then shares something interesting they read. Or start a family book club!
- Skill Share: Does someone in the family have a cool skill they can teach others? Could be anything from juggling to basic coding (on paper, to keep it screen-free!) to changing a tire.
The key, I think, is to make it about connection, not restriction. If it feels like a punishment or a chore, it’s going to be a struggle. But if it’s framed as dedicated time to do fun stuff together that you normally wouldn’t because screens get in the way, that’s a different vibe.
I don’t have kids myself, but I’ve seen with my own family and friends’ families how important open communication is. Talking about why you want to have screen-free days, what everyone hopes to get out of it, and setting clear expectations (like, are phones away completely, or just no social media/games?) can make a huge difference. And definitely leading by example – if the parents are still sneaking peeks at their phones, it kind of defeats the purpose and sends a mixed message.
It’s all about finding that balance, right? Giving everyone, especially teens, a sense of independence and trust, while still guiding them. Screen-free days, when done collaboratively, can be a really positive way to do that, rather than just relying on monitoring, which can sometimes create friction.
Hope some of these ideas help! Good luck with it – sounds like a great step!
Best,
John Fly
Hi Ava,
That’s a fantastic idea to implement screen-free days! As a dad who travels frequently for work, I know how important it is to foster those strong family connections, and dedicated screen-free time is a brilliant way to do that.
My boys, Steven (14) and Alex (9), are pretty tech-savvy. Alex just got his first phone, which is a whole new world for us! I’ve actually used monitoring software with Steven for over three years, and recently set it up for Alex too. For me, it’s about ensuring their safety online, especially when I can’t be there physically. We’ve had open conversations about why these tools are in place – it’s about looking out for them, not about a lack of trust. This open dialogue has been key.
Even with these tools, screen-free days are a big yes in our house! When I’m away, I can review their online activity remotely and have alerts set up, which gives me peace of mind. But equally important is knowing they’re engaging in offline activities. For screen-free fun, we love classic board games, building elaborate Lego cities, cooking or baking something new together, or even just a family walk or bike ride in the park. Sometimes, just reading books in the same room, quietly, can be a nice change of pace.
It’s all about finding that balance and ensuring they understand online risks and how to make good choices, whether I’m home or away. Good luck with your screen-free days!
Hello Ava, and welcome to the forum! I’m Antonio, a fellow parent just trying to navigate this digital world, just like you. It’s great you’re thinking about screen-free days; it’s something I’m always juggling with my own teenager.
As for your question, well, the key is to have a plan. I agree with you: simply taking the screens away without having something else to fill the void can lead to a lot of boredom and, frankly, arguments.
My approach? I’ve found it’s best to make the screen-free days structured and fun, with a mix of things we can do:
- Family game nights: This is a classic, right? We dig out board games, card games, and even sometimes charades. It’s a guaranteed way to get everyone laughing and interacting.
- Outdoor adventures: We’re lucky to have a park nearby, so we often head there for a walk, bike ride, or even just to throw a frisbee. Fresh air and exercise are always good for the soul!
- Creative time: My daughter loves art, so we make sure to have art supplies readily available. We’ve had painting sessions, drawing challenges, and even tried our hand at some basic crafts.
- Cooking and baking: This is one of my favorites! We involve my daughter in preparing meals or baking treats. It’s a practical skill, and the results are delicious!
- Reading aloud: Sometimes, we pick a book and take turns reading chapters aloud. It’s a nice way to unwind and share a story together.
I know that this could be a good way of creating screen-free days and keeping everyone happy and occupied. I suggest you find out what your family enjoys and build from there!
I have to admit, it’s not always smooth sailing. My daughter will definitely grumble at first, but once we get into the activity, she actually enjoys it. It’s also a great opportunity to connect with her and see what’s going on in her life without the distractions of the phone.
I am very interested in hearing from the rest of the community as well.
Hi Ava, welcome to the forum! Setting family screen-free days is a wonderful idea for fostering connection and creativity. To keep everyone engaged, I’d suggest planning a variety of offline activities that appeal to all ages. These can include outdoor adventures like hiking or picnics, board games and puzzles, cooking or baking together, arts and crafts projects, or visiting local museums or parks. Additionally, some families find it helpful to create a “screen-free day” ritual, like starting with a morning walk or sharing a family meal without devices. Encouraging everyone to contribute activity ideas beforehand can also boost enthusiasm. Hope this helps you get started! Looking forward to hearing how it goes.
Thanks for sharing your experience, Mathew! I completely agree—open communication is essential when using monitoring software, especially as kids get older and more independent. I’ve tested a range of parental control apps, and like you, I’ve found that transparency about why these tools are in place makes a huge difference in how kids respond. For families with tech-savvy kids, I recommend choosing an app that balances robust monitoring with respect for privacy—some, like Qustodio or Bark, offer strong filtering and reporting without feeling overly intrusive. Also, setting up clear expectations around screen-free days (and sticking to them yourself!) helps reinforce that it’s about quality time, not just restriction. Your mix of activities sounds fantastic—especially the Lego cities and shared reading time!