Activities To Do With Your Toddler That Aren’t Screen Time

We live in a day and age where there is more technology available to us than ever. It seems there are screens everywhere, with TVs, phones, iPads, Kindles, and more being available for you to play and watch media with your kids. While this can be a nice thing to do, research shows that technology can do more harm than good to our children. Kids are becoming addicted to screen time, with shows that are highly stimulating such as Cocomelon becoming addictive and potentially causing behavior issues with little ones who can’t process the bright colors and sounds yet.

If you’re looking for activities to do with your little ones that aren’t screen time, it can be tricky trying to come up with something new. In this article, we look at some ideas you can implement to help spend quality time together and get them doing something that doesn’t involve watching TV. Keep on reading to find out more and get inspired. 

Find a local sport they can do 

One of the best things you can do with your little one that doesn’t involve a screen is get them into a local sports club. There are so many to choose from and while you might think that they’re too young to get into sports, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

Think about what your child enjoys doing and get them into a club such as gymnastics for preschoolers, they could try out tennis, or perhaps football would be more their thing. Not only can this help get them moving, but can also increase their confidence, help them to meet other little children, and get them ready for when they start school in a couple of years. It’s a win-win scenario!

Get artsy at home

There is nothing a toddler loves more than getting messy and crafts, and art is a great way to do this while also being productive! There are a myriad of art and craft ideas you can do from home; why not check out places like Pinterest, TikTok, or parenting blogs to get some ideas? You could do painting or get some stickers for them to make a picture out of.

You could make something out of salt dough and then once it is dry, paint them together. Another idea is to go out and collect leaves and other outside items and make a collage from them or glue shells onto a jewelry box to make a beautiful display. These are all fun to do together and get their eyes away from a screen at the same time. 

Get out into nature

This seems like an obvious one, but sometimes we can forget just how much is available to us when we walk outside the door. Get their wellies on and some old clothes you don’t mind getting a bit dirty and head to the forest or the beach. Let them play in the mud or the sand and just enjoy being outside in the fresh air. You could bring a ball to have a kick around, or bring a pot to collect interesting things they find such as shells. You can then use these in future art and craft projects! 

Do some baking

Baking is another fun one to do together. Find something simple they can help with, such as cornflake cakes or little cupcakes. They can measure out the ingredients and help you stir. Plus, toddlers find fun in things such as the washing up! You can then ice your creations and have a sit down with a drink while you enjoy them afterward.

These are just a few activities you can do with your toddler that aren’t screen time. By getting involved in different activities such as the above, you can help your toddler to learn things, to get out in nature, and become a more well-rounded human being. Of course, we’re not saying don’t do screen time at all, as particularly in today’s world, it is hard to avoid and sometimes you just want to sit with a hot cup of tea!

These activities can help you find a diverse range of things to do as well as watch a film together. What are some top activities you like to do with a toddler that don’t involve screen time? Let us know in the comments below, we’d love to find out and get inspired too!