54 Superb Screen-Free Activities for Kids (2025)

Backyard Sleepover on a Trampoline – Your trampoline is the perfect place to camp out with friends (even for older kids/teens). Bring out your sleeping bags and enjoy a night under the stars with stories and snacks. 

Nature Scavenger Hunt – Create a list of outdoor objects for kids to find and explore in nature. 

DIY Obstacle Course – Use household items to set up a fun and challenging course to jump, crawl, and balance through. 

Play Hangman – A classic pen-and-paper game for an indoor screen-free activity for kids.  

Shadow Drawing – Place toys or objects in the sun and trace their shadows on paper for creative designs. 

Homemade Bird Feeders – Use pinecones, peanut butter, and birdseed to craft feeders and watch birds visit. 

Storytelling Circle – Take turns adding to a story, building a creative and imaginative tale together. 

Slam Dunk Contest on a Trampoline – A perfect screen-free activity for kids who love hoops.   

Rock Painting – Collect and paint rocks with colourful designs, animals, or messages. 

Cardboard Box Creations – Turn big boxes into castles, spaceships, or race cars with markers and scissors. 

Water Balloon Target Practice – Draw chalk targets on the pavement and see who can hit them with water balloons. 

Play on a Swing Set – Swing sets are synonymous with childhood and a worthy avenue for kids to make friends and improve social skills while having fun.  

Leaf Rubbing Art – Place leaves under paper and use crayons to reveal their beautiful textures and patterns. 

DIY Puppet Show – Make puppets from socks or paper bags and put on a performance! 

Treasure Hunt – Hide tiny treasures around the house or yard and create a map with clues. 

Climb – Kids love climbing, and it doubles as great exercise for muscle development. Check out our sister brand, gobaplay, for innovative backyard climbing structures for kids.    

Lemonade Stand – Teach kids about business and kindness by selling lemonade in the neighbourhood. 

Have a LEGO party – One of our favourite playdate ideas, LEGO’s are always a hit with young kids.  

Bug Safari – Need a screen-free learning activity for your kids? Have your kids use a magnifying glass to observe and take notes on insects they see in your backyard. 

Homemade Playdough – Mix flour, salt, water, and food colouring to create your own playdough. 

Marshmallow and Toothpick Structures – Build bridges, towers, or houses using marshmallows and toothpicks. 

Jump Rope Challenges – Try different jump rope tricks or see who can jump rope the longest with friends. 

Homemade Kites – Make simple kites from sticks, paper, and string, then fly them on a breezy day. 

Sidewalk Chalk Town – Draw streets, buildings, and parks to create an entire chalk city. 

Plant a Mini Garden – Let kids grow their own flowers, herbs, or vegetables in pots or a small garden space. 

Trampoline Talent Show – Use your trampoline to host a talent show with your child’s friend group. This works well as a screen-free summer activity.   

Sponge Boat Races – Cut sponges into boat shapes, add sails and race them in a tub or pool. 

Cloud Watching – Lay on a blanket outside and find shapes or animals in the clouds. 

Laundry Basket Skee-Ball – Set up laundry baskets at different distances and toss balls for points. 

Ice Block Excavation – Freeze small toys in a block of ice and let kids chip them out using warm water and tools. 

Stick Fort Building – Gather sticks and branches to build a fort in the yard or at a park. 

Make Your Own Music Band – Use pots, pans, and homemade shakers to create your own band! 

DIY Nature Bracelets – Wrap masking tape (sticky side out) around wrists and attach flowers, leaves, and feathers. 

Paper Airplane Contest – Fold different styles of paper airplanes and see which one flies the farthest. 

Glow Stick Hide-and-Seek – Play hide-and-seek at dusk using glow sticks for added fun. 

Dead Man Trampoline Game – One of the best trampoline games you’ll find; excellent at night or around Halloween time. 

Giant Bubble Making – Mix dish soap and water to create big bubbles using homemade wands. 

Swing on a Tree Swing – Have flying adventures in gobaplay’s FlyMax Saucer Tree Swing.  

Backyard Olympics – Set up mini-games like sack races, long jumps, or balancing challenges. 

Sensory Bin Play – Fill a bin with rice, beans, or sand and add small toys for digging and exploring. 

Outdoor Painting with Water – Use paintbrushes and water to "paint" on the sidewalk or fence. 

Mirror Writing Challenge – Try writing or drawing while looking at a mirror for a brain-boosting activity. 

Cup Tower Building – Stack plastic cups as high as possible before they topple over. 

Balloon Tennis – Use paper plate paddles and a balloon to play a gentle game of tennis. 

Hiking Adventure – Take a nature walk and collect interesting finds like feathers or cool rocks. 

Make a Time Capsule – Fill a box with letters, drawings, and trinkets to open in the future. 

Ice Cream in a Bag – Mix ingredients in a sealed bag and shake until it turns into delicious ice cream. 

Chalk Drawing on a Trampoline – Yes, you can chalk draw on a trampoline without damaging the mat! 

Animal Charades – Take turns acting like different animals while others guess. 

Recycled Craft Challenge – Give kids old magazines, cardboard, and containers to make their own inventions. 

Glow-in-the-Dark Bowling – Put glow sticks in water bottles for a fun nighttime bowling game. 

Clothespin Tag – Attach clothespins to players’ shirts, and the goal is to grab others' pins while protecting your own. 

Sock Puppet Theatre – Decorate old socks into puppets and create your own show. 

Secret Message with Invisible Ink – Write messages with lemon juice and reveal them with heat.