by Valando Demetriou
20 Screen-Free Alternatives
Twenty easy things to do instead of a screen, for ages 3 to 6.
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20 Screen-Free Alternatives
Twenty easy things to do instead of a screen, for ages 3 to 6.
- The Australian guidelines say children aged 3 to 5 should have no more than one hour of sedentary screen time a day, and less is better.
- Give a five minute warning before the screen goes off.
- Keep a "yes list" on the fridge.
- Pick one idea tonight.
From Valando
Twenty ideas, and the iPad still wins at 4pm?
The Kitchen Table Method shows you how to make art time something they ask for, in short sessions that fit a real day.
Start here
Twenty things to say yes to
You're not a bad parent if your child uses a screen. This guide is for the moments when you'd like another option and you don't have the energy to think of one.
Everything here takes two minutes or less to set up, and almost everything uses things you already have.
What it looks like
What this looks like
Hands busy
Make something
Tape road
Stick washi tape or masking tape on the floor as roads. Add small cars.
Playdough cafe
Playdough, a few cutters and a tray. Take their order.
Paper plate faces
Draw faces on paper plates, then add wool or paper for hair.
Box robot
Stack boxes, tape them, draw buttons and eyes.
Water painting
A brush and a cup of water, on the fence or the footpath.
Big energy
Move your body
Cushion obstacle course
Climb over, crawl under, jump off the last one.
Balloon keepy-uppy
Don't let the balloon touch the floor. Count together.
Freeze dance
Music on, everyone dances, music stops, everyone freezes.
Sock-ball toss
Roll socks into balls and toss them into a basket.
Backyard hunt
Find something red, something soft, something that crunches.
Pretend and story
Pretend and imagine
Teddy picnic
Spread a blanket, set a place for each toy and serve pretend food.
Pebble stories
Draw small pictures on pebbles with a marker, then tell a story with them.
Sock puppet show
Draw faces on socks and put on a show.
Build a cubby
Blankets, chairs and a torch.
Scribble story
Draw a big scribble, find a creature in it, then give it a name and a story.
Real jobs
Help in the house
Bake together
Something simple, like pikelets or muffins. Let them stir and tip.
Water play washing up
A bowl of water and plastic cups on a towel.
Sock match
Tip out a basket of clean socks and find the pairs.
Plant something
Seeds in a cup, or herbs in a pot. Water every day.
Sort the pantry
Group tins, packets and jars. Count them.
Stay close with small objects, hot things and water. Everything here is for ages 3 to 6 with an adult nearby.
What the guidelines say
The Australian guidelines in plain words
For children aged 3 to 5, the Australian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines recommend at least 180 minutes of physical activity a day (at least 60 of it energetic play), 10 to 13 hours of sleep including naps, and no more than one hour of sedentary screen time, with less being better.
They also encourage reading, singing, puzzles and storytelling with an adult. That's what this guide is full of. It's not about being perfect. It's about having something else to reach for.
Make it easy
How to make the swap work
Warn first
"Five more minutes, then it goes off." Say it twice.
Have the next thing ready
Set out the paper or the dough before the screen goes off.
Make a yes list
Write or draw five things they can do instead and stick it on the fridge.
Join in for the first five minutes
Starting is the hard part. Once they're absorbed, you can step back.
Tips by age
What works at each age
Age 3
- Short, hands-on activities
- Water play and playdough
- Stay close
Age 4
- Pretend play and building
- Simple jobs in the kitchen
- A yes list with pictures
Age 5 to 6
- Longer projects
- Board games and cards
- Let them plan the activity
Troubleshooting
If your child says...
Pick one tonight
You don't need to do all twenty. Try one, and see which your child asks for again.
From Valando
Twenty ideas, and the iPad still wins at 4pm?
The Kitchen Table Method shows you how to make art time something they ask for, in short sessions that fit a real day.
Sources and further reading
Where this comes from
- Australian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines, birth to 5 years (fact sheet) Australian Government Department of Health
- Raising Children Network: the Australian parenting website Raising Children Network
Take the next step
Ready for the whole thing?
This guide gives you the ideas. The courses teach you how to run them, step by step, so it works on a real Tuesday.
The Kitchen Table Method
$139 once, yours for life
- Short audio lessons in my voice, to listen to while dinner cooks
- A ready-to-go activity and printable card for every session
- The exact words to say when it gets hard
The Method
$999 or $1,499 for your whole site
- Calm, confident art with three to six year olds
- Set-up, materials and the words to use, taught step by step
- 7-day money-back guarantee