MHiPS

Limiting Screen Time in the Holidays

As the school holidays approach and children spend more time at home, many families are looking for ideas to keep children entertained. We know that too much screen time can impact young children’s mental health and wellbeing. 

By the time a child is a teenager, up to 30% of waking time is spent in front of a screen, averaging:  159 minutes of tv, 60 minutes of computers and 45 minutes of gaming.

Below are some simple, device free and engaging activities for the holidays:

• DIY Craft Studio: Use recycling materials (boxes, tubes) for building, or try painting, clay modeling, or making simple jewelry.
• Puppet Theatre: Create puppets from socks and old bags, then put on a show.
• Journaling & Drawing: Start a travel diary, drawing journal, or create a photo album using a Polaroid camera.
• Fashion Show: Use old clothes and fabric to design new outfits for a family fashion show
• Obstacle Course: Use pillows, yoga mats, and furniture inside, or buckets and balls outside.
• Nature Explorer: Go on a bug hunt, visit a local beach or trail, or collect items for a nature collage.
• Backyard Camping: Set up a tent, have a picnic lunch, or host a stargazing night.
• Garden Projects: Grow vegetables or paint rocks for a mini fairy garden.
• Kitchen Science: Perform experiments like baking soda volcanoes or sink-and-float tests.
• Baking & Cooking: Teach kids to make their own snacks, decorate cookies, or bake bread.
• Building Challenges: Use LEGO, magnets, or recycled cardboard to build the tallest tower.
• Game Tournaments: Play board games, cards, or puzzles.
• Dance Party: create a playlist of the families favourite songs and have a dance off.