If your kids start saying “I’m boooored” five minutes into a school break or weekend — you’re not alone. 😅As a Salt Lake City family photographer (and mom myself), I know that sometimes it feels easier to hand them a screen.
But here’s the truth: boredom isn’t a bad thing. In fact, it’s the spark for creativity, independence, and imagination — all the things that make childhood magical.
So instead of fighting boredom, let’s use it.
These 10 screen-free activities for kids are fun, simple, and actually work — no fancy supplies required.
1. Make a Boredom Jar
Grab a jar and fill it with folded slips of paper, each with a fun idea: “Make a card for Grandma,” “Build a Lego castle,” or “Draw a comic.” When your kids say, “I’m bored,” they pull an idea and get started!
💡 Tip: Let older kids write some of the ideas — they’ll be much more likely to do them.
2. Backyard Photo Challenge
Give your kids a camera (or an old phone in airplane mode) and tell them to take ten creative photos outside.Try themes like “tiny things,” “shadows,” or “stuff that looks like a face.”
This one’s a favorite of mine, of course — it’s a great way to help kids notice details and see the beauty in their own backyard.
👉 Related post: How to Get In the Frame With Your Kids (Without Feeling Awkward)
3. DIY Obstacle Course
Use pillows, chairs, and buckets to create an obstacle course inside or outside. Let big kids time each other and younger ones help decorate it. It burns energy and sparks teamwork.
4. Neighborhood Mystery Walk
Turn your walk into an adventure! Start with a story — “A squirrel lost his golden acorn…” — and have your kids hunt for clues like shiny rocks or keys.
💡 Tip: Let older kids design the mystery for younger siblings.
5. Mini Makerspace
Fill a box with cardboard, tape, string, and buttons. Then give your kids a challenge: build a robot, spaceship, or a shoe of the future!
Just remember to set a time limit (like 72 hours) before the “masterpiece” moves on.
6. Build a Backyard Café
Turn your porch or playroom into a mini café. Kids can write a menu, decorate, and serve snacks. It’s pretend play, creative writing, and confidence-building all in one.
7. Ice Cube Excavation Challenge
Freeze small toys in a bowl of water overnight. Then give kids spoons or warm water to “excavate” the treasures. Add food coloring to make it even more fun!
8. Cook Without Recipes
Challenge your kids to create a snack using five ingredients or less. Whether it’s crackers, raisins, or peanut butter, they’ll love inventing something new.
💡 Tip: Keep it safe — you handle the heat, they handle the creativity.
9. Design Your Own Board Game
Give your kids paper, dice, and markers to design a new game from scratch.They create the rules, the board, and the game pieces. It’s creativity and critical thinking rolled into one.
10. Invent-a-Holiday Day
Let each child create their own holiday — complete with a name, decorations, and special snacks. Maybe it’s “Pancake Pajama Day” or “Family Movie Marathon.”
Celebrate it for one day and make it your new family tradition.
Why Screen-Free Time Matters
These small, unplugged moments remind kids that fun doesn’t always live behind a screen.They help build imagination, resilience, and connection — the same kind of connection I love capturing during in-home family sessions in Salt Lake City.
Because those small, ordinary days?They’re the ones that make childhood feel like home. 💛
📸 Want to learn more about capturing your family’s real-life moments? Visit Hōm Photography on Instagram or get in touch here.
