Screens have become a regular part of children's lives. From online classes and educational videos to games and entertainment, children may spend several hours interacting with digital devices every day.
For parents, the challenge is not necessarily to remove screens completely. It is to create a healthy balance by giving children interesting alternatives.
This is where screen-free activities for kids can make a difference.
A good screen-free activity does not have to be complicated or expensive. Storytelling, drawing, puzzles, crafts, pretend play and simple games can keep children engaged while giving them opportunities to think, create, communicate and explore.
ChikuPiku brings together stories, activities, children's magazines and learning experiences that can help parents create more meaningful screen-free moments at home.
Here are 15 activities parents can try with children.
1. Create a Family Storytelling Session
Storytelling is one of the easiest screen-free activities for children.
Choose a short story and take turns telling it. Parents can begin the story, children can continue it and another family member can create the ending.
You can also ask your child to change the character, location or ending.
For Marathi-speaking families, reading or listening to Marathi stories for kids can also make storytelling a fun way to include language learning in everyday life.
The ChikuPiku Books collection offers children's reading content that can become part of a regular family storytelling routine.
2. Try a Drawing Challenge
Give your child a simple theme such as:
- My dream house
- A jungle adventure
- My favourite animal
- A city on another planet
- My family as superheroes
There is no need to correct the drawing.
The purpose is to let children express an idea visually.
After they finish, ask them to explain their drawing. This adds a communication element to a simple creative activity.
3. Make a DIY Craft
Craft activities give children opportunities to work with their hands.
Try making:
- Paper animals
- Greeting cards
- Bookmarks
- Paper flowers
- Puppets
- Simple decorations
Parents can provide basic materials such as paper, cardboard, crayons, glue and safe child-friendly scissors.
Let children make their own choices rather than expecting the finished craft to look perfect.
4. Build a Story From Pictures
Take three or four pictures from an old magazine, children's book or printed material.
Ask your child to arrange them in an order and create a story connecting them.
For younger children, parents can ask questions such as:
“What is happening here?”
“What do you think happens next?”
“Who is the character?”
This activity combines observation, imagination and storytelling.
5. Play a Treasure Hunt
A simple treasure hunt can turn your home into an exploration zone.
Hide a small object somewhere safe and create clues based on colour, shape, location or simple riddles.
For younger children, use easy clues.
For older children, make the clues more challenging.
The activity encourages children to listen carefully, remember information and solve problems.
6. Create Your Own Puzzle
You don't always need a store-bought puzzle.
Draw a picture on paper and cut it into a few large pieces.
Mix them up and ask your child to put the picture back together.
Older children can create puzzles for their parents or siblings.
This adds a fun element because children get to become the puzzle designer.
7. Make a Pretend Shop
Turn part of the house into a small pretend shop.
Children can decide what they want to sell and create paper labels for each item.
Give them pretend money and let them play the roles of customer and shopkeeper.
Parents can introduce simple concepts such as counting, addition, comparison and communication without making it feel like a mathematics lesson.
8. Try a “What If?” Game
Ask imaginative questions such as:
- What if animals could talk?
- What if you could fly?
- What if your school was underwater?
- What if you discovered a secret door?
- What if trees could walk?
Let your child explain what would happen.
There are no wrong answers.
The goal is to encourage imagination and creative thinking.
This can also become a storytelling exercise where the child develops an entire story around the question.
9. Have a Marathi Story Hour
Set aside a few minutes for Marathi storytelling.
You can read a book, tell a family story or listen to an audio story together.
For families looking for an easy way to add Marathi storytelling to their routine, the ChikuPiku Marathi Audio Stories Subscription can be incorporated into quiet time, travel or bedtime routines.
Children can simply listen and later discuss their favourite character or part of the story.
10. Create a Home Library Corner
You don't need a large bookshelf.
Choose one small area where your child's favourite books and magazines can be kept.
Add a cushion or comfortable mat and make it a dedicated reading space.
Let children decide which book they want to read.
A colourful children's magazine can also become part of this corner.
The ChikuPiku September 2026 issue, for example, includes stories, songs, poems and activities around the theme of Poshakh.
11. Play Memory Games
Place several familiar objects on a table.
Give the child some time to observe them.
Then cover the objects and remove one item.
Ask:
“What is missing?”
You can make the game more challenging by increasing the number of objects.
This simple activity encourages observation and memory while being easy to set up at home.
12. Start a Nature Observation Activity
You don't always need to go somewhere special.
A balcony, garden or nearby outdoor space can become a place for observation.
Ask your child to notice:
- Different leaves
- Birds
- Flowers
- Insects
- Clouds
- Sounds
- Colours
Older children can maintain a simple nature journal by drawing what they observe.
13. Make a Character Puppet
Use paper bags, old socks or cardboard to create simple puppets.
Once the puppets are ready, ask your child to create a short conversation between them.
You can even use a story from a children's magazine as inspiration and encourage your child to create a different ending.
This combines craft, storytelling and role play in one activity.
14. Create a Family Quiz
Make a simple quiz based on things your child already knows.
Questions could include:
- What is your favourite animal?
- Which fruit is yellow?
- How many days are there in a week?
- What is your favourite story?
- Name three things you see in the sky.
Let your child create questions for the family too.
This makes the activity interactive rather than a one-way test.
15. Create Your Own Mini Magazine
This can be a particularly fun weekend project.
Give your child a few sheets of paper and help them create their own magazine.
They can include:
- A story
- Drawings
- A joke
- A poem
- A puzzle
- A quiz
- A pretend advertisement
Let the child choose the name of the magazine and design its cover.
This activity can take inspiration from children's magazines while giving children the opportunity to become creators themselves.
Why Screen-Free Activities Are Valuable for Children
Screen-free activities can give children different kinds of experiences from digital entertainment.
They can encourage children to:
- Use their imagination
- Communicate ideas
- Solve problems
- Create things
- Explore their surroundings
- Practise patience
- Spend quality time with family
The key is not to make every activity educational in a formal sense.
Children also need time to play simply because it is enjoyable.
A child who spends 20 minutes creating a story, drawing a picture or building something is already using imagination and decision-making skills.
How Parents Can Make Screen-Free Time Easier
One of the biggest challenges is getting children interested.
Here are some simple strategies.
Start Small
Don't suddenly introduce a two-hour screen-free routine.
Begin with 15–20 minutes and gradually build from there.
Give Children Choices
Instead of saying, “Go and do an activity,” offer two or three options.
For example:
“Would you like to draw or make a puppet?”
Having a choice can make children more willing to participate.
Participate Occasionally
Parents don't need to supervise every activity.
But joining your child for the first few minutes can make a big difference.
Keep Materials Accessible
Keep paper, crayons, books, puzzles and craft materials where children can easily find them.
If an activity requires too much preparation, it may happen less often.
Don't Focus on Perfection
A child's drawing doesn't need to look perfect.
A craft doesn't need to look like the example.
The process of creating is often more valuable than the final result.
How ChikuPiku Can Support Screen-Free Time
ChikuPiku is designed around children's stories, magazines, activities and learning experiences that can be enjoyed away from constant screen entertainment.
Parents can explore the ChikuPiku Books collection for children's reading material and use stories as starting points for conversations, drawing activities, role play and creative projects.
The ChikuPiku Marathi Audio Stories Subscription can also provide an alternative form of storytelling for children when parents want to move away from video-based entertainment.
Monthly magazine issues can add another layer of engagement by combining stories and activities in one format.
Final Thoughts
Screen-free time doesn't have to mean boring time.
A cardboard box can become a spaceship. A piece of paper can become a storybook. A few household objects can become a treasure hunt. A children's magazine can become the starting point for an afternoon of stories, drawing and conversation.
The most important thing is to give children opportunities to create instead of only consume.
With simple ideas, supportive parents and age-appropriate resources, screen-free activities can become an enjoyable part of everyday family life.
ChikuPiku can be one of the resources parents use to bring more stories, creativity, reading and meaningful activities into children's daily routines.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are screen-free activities for kids?
Screen-free activities are activities children can enjoy without using a television, smartphone, tablet or computer. Examples include reading, drawing, crafts, puzzles, storytelling, pretend play and outdoor exploration.
How can I keep my child busy without a screen?
Offer a variety of activities such as drawing, reading, storytelling, craft projects, treasure hunts, puzzles, pretend play and nature observation. Giving children a choice between two or three activities can also make participation easier.
Are screen-free activities educational?
Many screen-free activities can support skills such as creativity, communication, observation, problem-solving and memory. However, activities do not always need to have a formal educational objective to be valuable.
Can storytelling be a screen-free activity?
Yes. Reading a physical book, telling a story or listening to an audio story can all provide alternatives to video-based entertainment.
What can ChikuPiku offer for screen-free activities?
ChikuPiku offers children's magazines, stories, books, activities and Marathi audio storytelling that parents can incorporate into reading, listening and creative routines at home.