I remember before having kids, I made the judge-y comment “I will not be the parent that lets my baby have screens.” Oh my naive childless self… I will say we are pretty good at managing our kids’ screen time as it’s very minimal, but there have been days where I just need a minute to myself, so the TV goes on. I don’t believe there’s anything bad with a little screen time here and there, especially when the content can be somewhat educational. However, I do try to find other alternatives when I can.
Right now, Noah is obsessed with Paw Patrol! I try to utilize this obsession and find other ways to incorporate it other than our TV. We started by buying Paw Patrol books and a set of Paw Patrol figurines which have done the trick so far. Obviously, I will not be buying everything Noah becomes enamored with in the future, but this has really helped his imagination.
Depending where you live, try to utilize your town’s resources. We are lucky to live in Chicago where there is always something to do, and a lot of it is either free or inexpensive.
Local Libraries
I’ve found that local libraries often do Story Time for free. The sessions are interactive and allow for children to use their imagination. This is also an amazing way to meet other mamas out there. I’ve found that this activity is perfect for winter time when outside fun is limited.
Zoo and Museums
The zoo and museums are a favorite in our house! They both provide a fun and educational experience, and my littles are ready to pass out for a good nap when we get home! We are lucky that our zoo is free, but our museums can be pretty pricey to enter. I try to look at the websites in advance to see if they have any promos coming up! Being a stay at home mom, I can take advantage of the discounted days that usually fall during the week.
Other ideas to look for in your community:
- Park District – this is such an undervalued opportunity! I didn’t realize how many activities were offered and how inexpensive they were.
- Playgrounds
- Nature trails or hikes
- Local McDonald’s Playplace or indoor playgrounds in winter
- Family walks or bike rides
There are also plenty of activities to do with your kids that don’t involve leaving your house. This was me last winter when I had a one year old and a newborn. Getting out of the house was SO hard at that stage of life. Sometimes, you just want to stay home and have a low-key day while also entertaining your kids so they and you don’t go crazy 😉
Baking
Get your kids involved with making a recipe you’ve been wanting to try. This can also scratch an itch for mamas to get their creative juices flowing! Let your kids sit on the counter or table (safely) and get a little messy. Kids love to feel like they’re helping, so let them stir the batter or dump in some chocolate chips.
Build a Fort
This is such a nostalgic activity, and I absolutely love seeing how excited my kids get when we make forts. We have the Sam’s Club version of the Nugget sofa, so this has been fun for us! You don’t need a special kit though to do this – We did this in the 90’s with our couch, blankets and some pillows! Adding those extra fun touches can make it special too, like putting their stuffed animals in there or letting them eat a snack in their “house.”
Other activities that you can do at home:
- Puzzles
- Finger painting
- Nature crafts- find some leaves or flowers in the backyard and glue/tape to paper
- Dance parties – this is a fun time in our house! Pink Pony Club on repeat.
- Make homemade playdough
- Sensory DIY – I one time filled a Ziplock bag with Dawn dish soap and water and Noah loved the bubbles!
- Playdate with a friend – bonus points if their mom comes too for some girl chat!
There are so many activities to do with our littles to get them engaged and thinking without using a screen. However, when that time comes when mama just needs a break and nothing seems to be doing the trick for your kiddos, you turn that TV on girl and don’t feel guilty about it.
I’d love to hear any ideas or tips that have worked for you and your kids!
XO,
Kassie
