For many parents, summer brings a familiar challenge: how do you keep kids entertained without relying on screens?
Between tablets, smartphones, gaming consoles, and streaming services, screens can easily become the default activity when boredom strikes. While technology certainly has its place, summer offers a valuable opportunity to help children reconnect with the world around them, build relationships, develop new skills, and create lasting memories.
The goal isn’t to eliminate screens entirely. It’s to create a summer filled with experiences that are more engaging than what’s happening on a device.
Boredom Isn’t the Enemy
When children say, “I’m bored,” many parents feel pressure to immediately provide entertainment. But boredom can actually be beneficial. Boredom encourages creativity, problem-solving, and imagination. It gives children the opportunity to create their own fun, explore new interests, and learn how to occupy themselves without constant digital stimulation.
Before handing over a screen, encourage your child to come up with three things they could do instead. You might be surprised by what they create.
Create a Summer Adventure List
Sit down as a family and make a list of activities everyone wants to try before summer ends.
Some ideas include:
- Visiting a new park or beach
- Hiking a local trail
- Having a backyard campout
- Building a fort
- Going fishing
- Exploring a nearby town
- Hosting a family game night
- Watching a sunset together
- Having a picnic dinner
When children help create the list, they’re often more excited to participate.
Get Outside Whenever Possible
Nature offers endless opportunities for exploration and learning.
Simple outdoor activities can include:
- Nature scavenger hunts
- Bike rides
- Gardening
- Sidewalk chalk art
- Water balloon games
- Photography walks
Research consistently shows that spending time outdoors can improve mental health, reduce stress, and increase overall well-being for both children and adults.
Encourage Reading for Fun
Summer reading doesn’t have to feel like homework. Visit your local library and allow children to choose books that genuinely interest them. Whether it’s graphic novels, mysteries, sports stories, or books about animals, reading helps strengthen literacy skills while reducing screen time. You can also create family reading challenges or dedicate quiet time each day for everyone to enjoy a book.
Learn Something New Together
Summer is the perfect time to explore new hobbies and interests.
Consider trying:
- Baking or cooking
- Painting or drawing
- Sewing, knitting or crocheting
- Gardening
- Photography
- Learning an instrument
- Volunteering
- Learning basic first aid
These activities help build confidence and provide children with skills they can carry into adulthood.
Make Family Time a Priority
One of the greatest benefits of reducing screen time is creating more opportunities for connection. Children don’t always remember the videos they watched or the games they played. They remember the experiences they shared with people they love.
Some simple ways to connect include:
- Family game nights – pictionary, charades, croquet, or other yard games to name a few!
- Evening walks
- Campfires
- Cooking meals together
- Day trips
- Volunteering as a family
- Conversations around the dinner table about what to do together next
These moments help strengthen relationships and create memories that last long after summer ends.
Why This Matters
Reducing screen time isn’t just about keeping children busy. Children who are connected to trusted adults, engaged in their communities, and involved in healthy activities are often more resilient and better equipped to navigate challenges both online and offline. Strong relationships, open communication, and meaningful experiences can act as protective factors against many of the risks young people face today.
When children feel connected, they are more likely to seek help when they need it, share concerns, and make healthy decisions.
A Summer Worth Remembering
At the end of the summer, your children probably won’t remember every show they watched or every hour they spent online.
They will remember catching fireflies in the backyard. They will remember laughing during family game night. They will remember the road trip, the campfire, the bike ride, or the rainy afternoon spent building a fort in the living room.
The best summer memories are rarely found on a screen. This summer, challenge your family to spend a little less time looking down and a little more time looking around. You may discover that the moments your children remember most are the ones spent together.