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My Slightly Chaotic Life

Balancing Life, Children and Chaos

Parenting

15 Screen Free Activities

February 8, 2020 Comments : 22

I don’t know about you but our winter’s here in New England can be pretty brutal. Snow storms and temperatures into the single digits sometimes make getting outside difficult. This is especially taxing when you have kids. I for one am trying to encourage less screen time which we all know is difficult when the kids are stuck inside for hours on end.

So if your struggling to come up with things for your kids to do, here are 15 screen free activities to get you through those long winter days.

Board Games

Board games are one easy screen fee activity to end boredom and get a little friendly competition going. If you really want to get the competition grab a game of Monopoly. Other fun games to play with the family are  Exploding Kilttens, Clue, and Scrabble.

Puzzles

Puzzles are a great way to keep kids busy when you are looking for screen free activities. The one down side of puzzles is you need the space to put them together.

Sledding

We have lots of snow right now so sledding is on our list of things to do when we are looking for screen free activities. Sleds or tubes just make sure that you are dressed for the weather!

Baking

My son loves to bake. Me, not so much. But since Hayden loves it, I find easy baking recipes that we can take on together.

Card Games

Uno, Phase 10 and Go Fish are our favorite card games for screen free activities. Teach your child how to play solitaire and keep them busy for hours.

Build a Snowman

Again, Dress appropriately for this activity but it is one that can keep kids busy during those long winter days. Recently my son and his two friends that live next door got out and built a snowman which kept them busy for most of the day.

Looking to reduce your child's screen time but not sure where to start? Here are 15 screen free activities for kids. | Kid's activities | Screen free | Kid Life |

Coloring

Avery loves to color so when I am looking fro screen free activities for her, I turn to coloring. Especially the Crayola Mess Free Coloring so she doesn’t color all over the house.

Reading

We are big on reading in this family. If your child blows through books the way my 8 year old does then you understand that the cost of books can add up. Hit up the library and book sales to stock up to have books on hand for those screen free activities.

Build a Fort

Gather blankets, pillows, random chairs and build a fort. Add in a flashlight, books, whatever to make it more fun. Kids love building things and then subsequently destroying things.

Create a science Experiment

There are so many DIY science experiments out there for kids. Making slime however was a hug fail in our household and I will not take that on again.

Get Crafty

Create something together as a family. Around Halloween time we made little ghost cut outs and strung them together to hang in the house since my son insisted on decorating. Little art projects like that are great screen free activities to try out with your kids.

Go on an adventure

Get out and take an adventure. Even in the winter you can find so many things to do. One year we ventured to the Ice Castles in New Hampshire. You can check out my post about it HEREand another we went to Great Wolf Lodge. You can read all about that experience HERE! 

Looking to reduce your child's screen time but not sure where to start? Here are 15 screen free activities for kids. | Kid's activities | Screen free | Kid Life |

Trampoline Park

Head to a local trampoline park and jump for a couple hours. They even have areas for littler children too play in. A great way to burn some energy for a couple of hours.

Scavenger Hunt

Plan and create a scavenger hunt for your kids. Then have them plan one for you! It’s a fun way to keep busy and off those screens.

Write letters/cards

One thing that I love teaching my son how to do is have nice penmanship. Writing is not something that a lot of people do anymore. Spend some time making cards for family, friends or classmates. With Valentine’s Day coming up you can create Valentine’s for your classmates. Have your kids write them out instead of doing them yourself.

Looking to reduce your child's screen time but not sure where to start? Here are 15 screen free activities for kids. | Kid's activities | Screen free | Kid Life |

What screen free activities do you love to do with your kids? Let me know in the comments!

 

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Comments

  1. Cyndi Buchanan says

    February 10, 2020 at 2:59 pm

    I love doing science experiments and puzzles with my kiddos. We have also taught the kids how to play chess.

    Reply
  2. shelby says

    February 10, 2020 at 9:25 pm

    Baking is always my favorite thing to do during any season, but especially the winter <3

    Reply
  3. Luna S says

    February 11, 2020 at 9:50 am

    My family loves playing board games together! We have a ton of them. Puzzles and crafts are fun too.

    Reply
  4. aisasami says

    February 11, 2020 at 10:19 am

    I wish we could build a snowman, we got no snow this year. ;( But thee are great activities with your kids for the winter season!

    Reply
  5. Megan says

    February 11, 2020 at 12:54 pm

    Great ideas – Reading, coloring, board games, and puzzles are our favorites!

    Reply
  6. Joanna says

    February 12, 2020 at 9:32 am

    I used to love playing board games with my family, in winter. We used to play Monopoly, or rummy, whilst having snacks and hot chocolate. It was so nice.

    Reply
  7. Vasundhra says

    February 12, 2020 at 1:15 pm

    As an adult, I need to do these too! I’ve been planning to buy some family board games and puzzles. Thanks for the reminder!

    Reply
  8. Alessia Marciano says

    February 12, 2020 at 4:21 pm

    amazing Ideas to keep family busy during the cold days! <3 Love it

    Reply
  9. Neil Alvin says

    February 12, 2020 at 11:02 pm

    Nice! This is a very interesting article
    Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  10. Crickette, The Things I Have to Say says

    February 13, 2020 at 10:28 pm

    Reading… most definitely. The best screen free activity for me is grabbing a book, and lying in bed until I finish it.

    Reply
  11. bee says

    February 14, 2020 at 5:16 am

    My son loved drawing, painting and colouring. We don’t have a TV and he doesn’t own his own iPad so he keeps himself busy with other activities after an hour of screen time every day.

    Reply
  12. Adventures with Shelby says

    February 15, 2020 at 11:57 pm

    These are such great indoor activities! Inspired me to go play a boardgame!

    Reply
  13. GiGi Eats says

    March 27, 2020 at 12:15 pm

    I wanna whip out cards against humanity!

    Reply
  14. Rachel Loza says

    March 27, 2020 at 9:46 pm

    We’ve been doing so many of these things while our school is shut down! It’s been great.

    Reply
  15. Sawyer says

    March 27, 2020 at 11:47 pm

    These are really good activities

    Reply
  16. World In Eyes says

    March 28, 2020 at 11:06 am

    All these screen free games are awesome, thanks for sharing such great indoor activities!

    Reply
  17. Jon Maldia says

    March 28, 2020 at 1:05 pm

    We’ve been doing a lot of arts and crafts at home. Would like to do some science projects.

    Reply
  18. Kathy Kenny Ngo says

    March 28, 2020 at 3:37 pm

    My son is into diamond painting though he does watch KPOP dances while he’s doing his arts at the same time. Does that still count?

    Reply
  19. Celebrate Woman Today says

    March 28, 2020 at 6:56 pm

    Great ways to celebrate connections with the human beings you love and care about. We are doing so much more walking and playing board games. I cook and kids help, too.

    Reply
  20. Jackline A says

    March 28, 2020 at 8:27 pm

    These are such great ideas. Very useful during the quarantine.

    Reply
  21. Kiwi says

    April 1, 2020 at 1:31 am

    Some of these are really great for this quarantine. My 12 year old niece need to do some of these.

    Reply
  22. Bindu Thomas says

    April 2, 2020 at 2:15 am

    Nice ideas for the family time. thank you for sharing

    Reply

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Taking a much needed break while the toddler naps Taking a much needed break while the toddler naps to just breathe. Chasing her around all day can be absolutely exhausting which means by the time I get to sit for a minute I am starving! 

@dunkin has me covered with a little afternoon pick me up with their delicious coffee and a new Snackin’ Menu. You can choose from stuffed croissants, stuffed bagel minis, a gluten-free brownie and Snackin’ Bacon available for a limited time at select locations! 
Pair these with your favorite coffee, my current fav is the Explorer Blend, for the perfect combination. So whether you are on the go or taking a mini afternoon break, make sure to grab something from the @dunkin Snackin’ Menu! 

Any guesses on how long my toddler break will last? I’ll give you a hint; not long! #toddlermomlife 
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Growing as a person, a mom, a friend, a wife, and growing in my own personal goals. My life is pretty damn good and I am loving every second of growing older with the amazing people around me. So cheers to another year around the sun! 

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The extra strength and softness as well as the beautiful prints and patterns help this mama keep the sniffles at pay. Especially with this little one of mine who is constantly trying to wipe her nose on just about everything.
 
Looking to prepare you and your family for the cold and flu season? Check out my latest blog post (link in bio) on tips to do just that!

Double tap if your toddler does the same thing! I can’t have the only one 😆
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Sharing this space of my home because soon this dining room table will be replaced by what I think is the perfect new addition. But I want to remember the imperfections and memories this old one holds. Anyone else feel a sense of nostalgia about their home furniture or is it just me?

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Looking to visit one near you? Here are my tips to make your visit fun and exciting.

1. Dress for the weather. Snow pants, hats, boots and warm clothing are a must. We spent over an hour there and the children only complained once they were cold.

2. Mask up. Masks are required. We took ours off briefly for the photo, making sure there was plenty of distance between us and others.

3. Book ahead. You can book your reservation online and it is highly suggested. Times sell out quickly during vacation weeks and on weekends. The day we went was sold out. 

4. Bringing a really small child? Make sure to bring a sled to pull them on or put them in a carrier. Strollers will not move through the snow and ice. 

5. Visit at night if you can. We didn’t this year but in years past we have gone at night  when the Ice Castles are lit up with lights making it that more magical. 

Lastly, have fun and stop by the little fire pits set up throughout to warm up.

Have you been to the @icecastles_ this year? What did you think?!
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My favorites; sweet roots and vanilla cashew! ⁣
Delivered right to your door with no mess , use the code DANIELLE15 to get 15% off and grab the link in my bio to shop. ⁣
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Taking a much needed break while the toddler naps Taking a much needed break while the toddler naps to just breathe. Chasing her around all day can be absolutely exhausting which means by the time I get to sit for a minute I am starving! 

@dunkin has me covered with a little afternoon pick me up with their delicious coffee and a new Snackin’ Menu. You can choose from stuffed croissants, stuffed bagel minis, a gluten-free brownie and Snackin’ Bacon available for a limited time at select locations! 
Pair these with your favorite coffee, my current fav is the Explorer Blend, for the perfect combination. So whether you are on the go or taking a mini afternoon break, make sure to grab something from the @dunkin Snackin’ Menu! 

Any guesses on how long my toddler break will last? I’ll give you a hint; not long! #toddlermomlife 
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#dunkinmaine 
#dunkinpartner 
#dunkin
Happy thirty-something birthday to me!! Birthdays Happy thirty-something birthday to me!!

Birthdays used to be a big deal to me, now not so much. Getting older was scary but as the years have gone on, I look at another year older means another year of growth. 

Growing as a person, a mom, a friend, a wife, and growing in my own personal goals. My life is pretty damn good and I am loving every second of growing older with the amazing people around me. So cheers to another year around the sun! 

Also, getting a photo with balloons is about as hard as getting a photo with your children just in case anyone was wondering! ❤️
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#birthdaycelebrations 
#thirtysomething 
#thirtyflirtyandthriving 
#itsamomthing
Anyone else hate when their toddler uses their clo Anyone else hate when their toddler uses their clothing to blow their nose?! Fully prepared for cold and flu season over here with the help of @scottiestissues. (ad)

The extra strength and softness as well as the beautiful prints and patterns help this mama keep the sniffles at pay. Especially with this little one of mine who is constantly trying to wipe her nose on just about everything.
 
Looking to prepare you and your family for the cold and flu season? Check out my latest blog post (link in bio) on tips to do just that!

Double tap if your toddler does the same thing! I can’t have the only one 😆
 .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#TripleSoftProtectionSquad
#healthykids
#motherhoodmoments 
#raisingtinyhumans 
#toddlerhood
Sunday’s are for being lazy, well as lazy as you Sunday’s are for being lazy, well as lazy as you can be when your solo parenting two kids all day and night. 

Sharing this space of my home because soon this dining room table will be replaced by what I think is the perfect new addition. But I want to remember the imperfections and memories this old one holds. Anyone else feel a sense of nostalgia about their home furniture or is it just me?

And to note the vase and fake stems are from @walmart and cost less then $10 for it all! 
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#homedecorinspo 
#diningroomideas 
#simplehomestyle 
#cornerofmyhouse 
#walmartfinds
#squaresofmeandmine
Our @icecastles_ adventure was a success! The kids Our @icecastles_ adventure was a success! The kids loved all the fun ice slides, hidden pathways and thousands upon thousands of icicles frozen together to create this winter escape.
Looking to visit one near you? Here are my tips to make your visit fun and exciting.

1. Dress for the weather. Snow pants, hats, boots and warm clothing are a must. We spent over an hour there and the children only complained once they were cold.

2. Mask up. Masks are required. We took ours off briefly for the photo, making sure there was plenty of distance between us and others.

3. Book ahead. You can book your reservation online and it is highly suggested. Times sell out quickly during vacation weeks and on weekends. The day we went was sold out. 

4. Bringing a really small child? Make sure to bring a sled to pull them on or put them in a carrier. Strollers will not move through the snow and ice. 

5. Visit at night if you can. We didn’t this year but in years past we have gone at night  when the Ice Castles are lit up with lights making it that more magical. 

Lastly, have fun and stop by the little fire pits set up throughout to warm up.

Have you been to the @icecastles_ this year? What did you think?!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#newenglandliving 
#icecastles 
#lifewithatoddler 
#adventureswithkids 
#newengland_igers
#mylittlestolove
Living this mantra more and more. Picking and choo Living this mantra more and more. Picking and choosing what to spend my energy on in order to stay sane these days. 
Focusing on the good versus the bad and the things that I can control. Applying this daily to my relationships, parenting and work life. 
Choosing the right things to spend my energy on in my day to day life has made all the difference in my own personal happiness. 

So how are you choosing to spend your energy in your own life? 
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

#motivationalwords 
#motherhoodgoals 
#dailyliving 
#quotestoinspire 
#inspirationalpost
Happy love day from my cutest little Valentine’s Happy love day from my cutest little Valentine’s. 
I love how much they love each other and want to spend time together despite their age gap (almost 7 years). 
And they remind me often to celebrate our love for each other every day! ❤️

Do you celebrate Valentine’s Day? What are your plans? Swipe to see some extra cuteness from my littles! 
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

#lifewithkids 
#raisinglittles 
#raisethemkind 
#motherhoodmoments 
#mynameismama
I love all the benefits that raw juice provides bu I love all the benefits that raw juice provides but not the mess of making it myself! (ad) @raw_generation_juices  is helping me hit the reset button this year with their raw juice cleanses. You don’t have to be doing a juice cleanse to benefit from cold pressed juices. These juices can help you jumpstart a healthier diet, increase your fruit and veggies intake, and improve your digestion. ⁣
⁣
My favorites; sweet roots and vanilla cashew! ⁣
Delivered right to your door with no mess , use the code DANIELLE15 to get 15% off and grab the link in my bio to shop. ⁣
⁣
⁣
⁣
⁣
⁣
⁣
⁣
#rawgenerationjuices 
#healthymommy ⁣
#busymoms ⁣
#momlifestyle
Follow Me on Instagram
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