A little less scrolling, a little more playing, creating and discovering.
I had three children across ten years, which meant I experienced quite a few different stages of the digital revolution as a mother.
Back in the early 2000s, I thought keeping children away from screens and computer games was already a challenge. It was the Pokémon era. We even had the kids chasing Pokémon around parks! Little did I know what was coming.
By the time my third child came along, it didn’t take me long to realise that games and apps were becoming increasingly clever at keeping children hooked. Roadblocks? A red flag. No, trust me (a story for another time) Could I eliminate screens completely? Probably not. And realistically, that’s not what I’m suggesting. Screens are part of the world our children are growing up in. But I do think we can be a little more intentional about what fills the rest of their day. Over the years, I’ve discovered that there are so many wonderful ways to inspire children to put the devices down and find joy in doing something else. Sometimes it’s a new activity. Sometimes it’s an old-fashioned game. And sometimes it’s simply giving them something interesting to do and letting their imaginations take over.
Here are a few things I love.
1. Build something. Then draw it.
One of my favourite ways to get children thinking creatively is to give them a building challenge.
Wooden architectural blocks, like the beautiful Polish-made Bajo blocks, are wonderful for this.Rather than simply building a tower, challenge them to create a house, a bridge, a city or something completely imaginary.
Once they’ve built their masterpiece, ask them to draw it.
Or try this little trick: tell them they have to create something for you, and you’ll draw it.
I suspect it won’t be long before they’re telling you that they’d like a turn with the pencil! It’s a lovely way to combine construction, imagination, spatial awareness and drawing. And there’s no right or wrong way to do it.
2. Play catch. Yes, really!
This is such a simple one, but I think it’s surprisingly underrated.
Find a ball and start throwing it to each other.
A balloon ball is a particularly good option. They’re incredibly light, travel well, actually bounce and are gentle enough to play with indoors.
You can bounce one around on your own, play catch across the living room or take one outside.
Most children love it. And here’s something I’ve noticed: plenty of children don’t seem to get many opportunities to simply play catch anymore. No instructions, no complicated rules, no winner or loser. Just throw, catch, miss, laugh and try again. Sometimes the simplest activities are the ones that bring the most joy.
3. Take a trip around the world without leaving the couch.
This is one of my favourites. Get comfortable, grab a globe and start exploring. Our Hugg a Planet globes are particularly lovely for this because they’re soft, tactile and wonderfully huggable. The classic size is my pick for cuddling up on the couch and exploring the world together. Find countries, discover oceans, look for somewhere you’ve visited or somewhere you’d love to go.
Ask questions. Where do kangaroos live? Where is Greece? How far away is Japan? Which country would you like to visit? You don’t need to turn it into a geography lesson. Just follow the conversation wherever it takes you. And if you have the space, the Super Size Hugg a Planet makes quite a statement. It’s big enough to double as a rather fabulous floor cushion. A little bit of learning, a little bit of dreaming and absolutely no charging required!
4. Bring back the memory game.
I’m a big fan of games that don’t require hours of commitment. Memory games are perfect because you can pull them out for a quick 15-minute session. They’re great for concentration, observation and developing memory skills, and they’re easy enough for different ages to enjoy together. We particularly love the wooden Bajo memory games. There’s another little bonus with these: the wooden discs can be used for building, stacking and all sorts of imaginative pretend play once the game is finished. I love products that offer more than one way to play. And don’t underestimate the competitive spirit of a child who is determined to beat you!
5. Give them permission to be bored.
This might actually be the most important one.
As parents, we can sometimes feel that we need to constantly provide activities, entertainment and stimulation. But children don’t always need us to organise their fun. Some of the best play happens when they’re left to work things out for themselves. A few building blocks, some paper and pencils, a cardboard box, a collection of little toys or a pile of cushions can become an entire afternoon of entertainment.
Boredom can be the beginning of imagination.Give them a little time, resist the temptation to immediately hand over a device and see where their minds take them.
You might be surprised. It’s not about banning screens. It’s about making room for more. I’m certainly not here to suggest that we’ve all got to throw away our tablets, televisions and phones. That would be a little unrealistic!
But I do think there’s value in reminding ourselves that children don’t need an endless supply of digital entertainment to be happy. They need opportunities to create, explore, move, imagine, make mistakes and connect with the people around them. They need time to play. And sometimes all it takes is a few wooden blocks, a ball, a globe or a simple game to get things started. After nearly two decades in the world of children’s toys and play, I’ve become increasingly convinced that the best toys aren’t necessarily the ones that do the most.They’re the ones that inspire children to do more themselves. A little less screen time. A little more real-world magic.
Happy playing!
Mary
Big Dreams Emporium