5 Ways to Keep Your Kids Off Screens This Summer
As summer kicks into full swing, many parents are looking for ways to keep their kids active, engaged—and off their devices. While screens can be helpful for connection and entertainment, too much time online can open the door to safety concerns and impact kids’ emotional wellbeing.
At SafeHouse, we know that digital safety is a crucial part of healthy relationships. Over the past year, we’ve explored ways to protect kids in digital spaces, the online radicalization of young men, and the importance of talking with teens about tough topics.
The Mental Health Impact of Too Much Screen Time
Studies have shown that children and teens who spend excessive time on screens may be at greater risk for:
- Depression and anxiety
- Difficulty with focus and impulse control
- Poor sleep quality
- Decreased emotional resilience
The good news? Summer is also full of opportunities to help kids unplug and reconnect—with nature, with creativity, and with the people around them.
5 Fun, Low-Cost Ways to Keep Kids Off Screens This Summer
1. Create a Backyard or Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt
Make a list of nature-based or sensory items for your kids to find: a bird feather, something smooth, something that smells nice, a bug with wings. Invite friends or neighbors to join for a bigger adventure!
Bonus: Let older kids help create the hunt—they’ll be more invested.
2. Start a Daily Creativity Challenge
Encourage your child to spend just 10–15 minutes each day making something: a drawing, a poem, a mini comic, or even a Lego sculpture. You can hang their work on the fridge or make a “summer museum” wall in your home.
Need ideas? Search for free printable prompts or art tutorials online (then log off!).
3. Plan Weekly “Old-School” Family Picnics
Pick one night a week for a simple dinner picnic in the park or backyard—no phones allowed. Pack sandwiches, bring a ball or a frisbee, and leave the tech behind. Invite kids to help plan the menu.
4. Create a Boredom Jar
Help your kids take ownership of their downtime. Fill a jar with slips of paper that say things like:
- Build a fort
- Write a letter to a friend
- Make a new sandwich recipe
- Try a new dance move
- Interview a family member
Whenever they say, “I’m bored,” they draw from the jar. And remember, boredom can be good for your brain!
5. Sign Up for Your Library’s Summer Reading Program
Most public libraries offer free reading challenges, craft sessions, or even guest speakers and performances. SafeHouse is doing some programming at local libraries this summer as well! It’s a great way to help kids stay mentally active and socially connected—without screens.
Pro tip: Let your kids choose books that reflect their interests—even if it’s all graphic novels or animal facts.
You Don’t Have to Ban Screens—Just Create Balance
Screens will still play a role in your family’s summer, and that’s okay. The key is helping kids build a relationship with tech that’s intentional, not automatic.
Start by modeling mindful use yourself, and talk openly about why it’s important to take breaks. Together, you can shape habits that keep them mentally healthy, safe—and engaged with the real world around them.
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