30 Screen-Free Activities for Children by Age
Fun, educational, and budget-friendly ideas to keep children entertained without reaching for a tablet.
Key Takeaways
- 10 activities for each age group: 0–2, 3–5, and 6–10
- Most activities cost under £5 using household items
- Indoor and outdoor options for every weather
- Each activity supports developmental milestones
The NHS recommends that children under 2 should have no screen time at all, and children aged 2–5 should be limited to one hour daily. But what do you actually do with them instead? Here are 30 tried-and-tested activities our nannies use every day with Hertfordshire families.
Ages 0–2: Sensory Discovery
Babies and toddlers learn through touch, taste, and movement. These activities stimulate brain development and motor skills.
Treasure Basket Exploration
Fill a basket with safe household objects of different textures — wooden spoon, silk scarf, metal whisk, pine cone. Let your baby explore freely.
Edible Finger Painting
Mix natural yoghurt with food colouring. Tape paper to a highchair tray and let them create. Completely safe if it ends up in their mouth.
Water Play
Fill a washing-up bowl with warm water and add cups, sponges, and floating toys. Always supervise — never leave a child unattended near water.
Cardboard Box Den
A large delivery box becomes a car, a house, or a boat. Cut a door and window. Toddlers will play with this for hours.
Sensory Bottles
Fill plastic bottles with water plus glitter, sequins, or rice. Seal tightly with glue. Babies love shaking and watching the contents move.
Kitchen Band
Wooden spoons and pans make excellent drums. Add a plastic bottle filled with pasta as a shaker.
Ball Pit at Home
Fill a paddling pool or laundry basket with ball pit balls (available from £10 for 100). Brilliant for motor skills.
Nature Walk Collection
Even a 10-minute garden walk can yield leaves, sticks, and stones for exploring. Talk about colours, textures, and sounds.
Stacking and Nesting
Tupperware containers in different sizes teach problem-solving. Stack, nest, fill, and pour.
Bubble Chasing
Blow bubbles and let your baby chase and pop them. Develops hand-eye coordination and gets them moving.
Ages 3–5: Creative Exploration
Pre-schoolers are developing imagination, language, and social skills. These activities encourage creativity and independence.
Playdough Kitchen
Make playdough with flour, salt, water, and food colouring. Add cookie cutters, rolling pins, and plastic knives for a pretend bakery.
Obstacle Course
Use cushions, chairs, blankets, and laundry baskets to create an indoor obstacle course. Time them with a stopwatch for extra excitement.
Painting with Nature
Collect leaves, twigs, and flowers from the garden. Dip them in paint and use as stamps on paper — no brushes needed.
Story Stones
Paint simple pictures on pebbles (sun, tree, house, cat). Children pick 3–4 stones and make up a story using them.
Baking Together
Simple recipes like fairy cakes or flapjacks teach maths (measuring), science (mixing), and patience (waiting for them to cool!).
Junk Modelling
Save cardboard tubes, egg boxes, and cereal boxes. Add glue, tape, and paint. Children build robots, castles, and rockets.
Colour Scavenger Hunt
Give each child a colour and set a timer. They must find 10 objects of that colour around the house. First to finish wins.
Dress-Up Theatre
Old clothes, hats, and scarves become costumes. Children create characters and perform short plays for the family.
Garden Planting
Cress seeds grow in just 5 days on wet cotton wool. Sunflower seeds teach patience over weeks. Both teach responsibility.
Puzzle & Board Games
Age-appropriate puzzles (24–48 pieces) and simple board games like Snakes & Ladders teach turn-taking, counting, and losing gracefully.
Ages 6–10: Adventure & Independence
School-age children crave challenges and social interaction. These activities build confidence, creativity, and physical skills.
Den Building
Indoor or outdoor, dens are timeless. Sheets over chairs inside, or branches and sticks in the garden. Add torches and books for a reading den.
Cooking Challenge
Set a 'Ready Steady Cook' challenge with 5 ingredients. Children plan and cook a simple meal or snack with supervision. Builds real-world skills.
Science Experiments
Vinegar and baking soda volcanoes, invisible ink (lemon juice), and growing crystals (sugar solution) are endlessly fascinating.
Nature Journal
Take a notebook on walks and draw or press plants, track wildlife, and record weather. Connects children to their local environment.
Letter Writing
Write letters to grandparents or pen pals. Practises handwriting, spelling, and teaches the joy of sending and receiving post.
Sports & Games
Football, cricket, rounders, or simply catch. Active play for at least 60 minutes daily is recommended by the NHS for this age group.
Craft Projects
Friendship bracelets, origami, knitting, or model building. Longer projects teach planning and perseverance.
Map Reading Adventures
Print a local area map and plan a walking route. Children navigate while learning about directions, scale, and their neighbourhood.
Comic Strip Creation
Fold paper into panels and create original comics. Combines writing, drawing, and storytelling skills.
Charity Car Boot Sale
Children sort old toys, price them, and sell at a car boot sale. Teaches money skills and the value of decluttering.
Keep a "rainy day box" stocked with craft supplies, puzzles, and activity books. When the weather turns, pull it out for instant entertainment. Rotate contents monthly so everything feels fresh. Our nannies always have a backup plan ready — and so should you!
27 out of 30 activities above cost nothing or use items you already have at home. The three that require a small purchase (ball pit balls, board games, craft supplies) can all be found for under £10 at supermarkets or charity shops. Quality time doesn't need to be expensive.
Need a Helping Hand?
Our experienced nannies and babysitters come prepared with activities, games, and ideas tailored to your children's ages and interests. Whether you need regular after-school care or weekend babysitting, we bring the fun while you get a well-deserved break.