9 Screen Free Toys For Screen Free Week
Learning on computers and chatting with family on video calls is great, but too much screen time can affect your little one’s health and wellbeing. Spend some quality time with your children away from devices with our collection of screen-free toys for Screen Free Week 2025, and read our short guide on how to reduce screen time and go screenless for the week.
We’ve got some amazing ideas for you to try this Screen Free Week, from tech alternatives to outdoor games and mindfulness activities for kids. Have fun learning and playing away from the tablet!
How much screen time should children have?
Did you know that children in the UK from 5-16 years have an average of 6.3 hours of screen time! This is far above what is suggested for our youngsters.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that children under the age of two should have no screen time at all. Unless you’re video calling family & friends, zero screens are recommended for little ones 0-2 years of age. Here is a quick overview of the maximum time your kids should be sitting in front of devices:
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Ages 0-2: No screen time is recommended for this age group
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Ages 2-4: 1 hour maximum screen time daily
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Ages 5-12: Up to 2 hours a day
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Ages 13+: Nothing over 2 hours of screen time is recommended, even for older children!
Realistically, we can’t always reduce our kids’ screen time when they’re away at school, for example. Technology has evolved a lot in the past decade to help children learn. However, it is suggested that 2 hours should be the maximum amount of time they’re on their devices in class. This includes smartphones, computers, tablets, laptops and TVs. Check in with your child's school and ask to see their policies on screens and mobile phones.
Why should parents limit their children’s screen time?
Trying to juggle work and responsibilities at home (it would be nice if the clothes could wash themselves) and then making time for play with the kids can be exhausting- we get it, parents! Sometimes we can rely too heavily on screens to keep our little ones entertained, which can affect their overall health. Overuse of devices and screens can, in some cases:
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Lead to poor sleep: By now, you may have heard about ‘blue light’. This is the light that our screens are producing. It affects our sleep hormones, leading to a disrupted or shortened sleep time for your little one if they’re up late on their tablets. As a result, your kids may feel moody and/or lack concentration in class, which will hurt their learning.
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Affect development and learning: Research has shown that toddlers who are exposed to too much screen time develop their language skills later than those who aren’t spending so much time on their devices. Kids need to learn communication skills from their peers and adults around them, which is why playtime (without screens!) is so important. Sure, it’s important in this day and age that they learn how to use computers and other tech, but they should be able to explore the world around them and inspire their imaginations beyond the screen to prepare them for their older years.
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Worsen behaviour & attention: Unfortunately, kids can become reliant on screen time to keep them occupied. Playing on devices can release a chemical called dopamine that lets the brain know it’s having fun. Too much screen time can mean that your child will seek out screens more and may become agitated without them, leading to poor attention and concentration.
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Be linked to obesity: As you’re most likely sitting down whilst using a computer or mobile phone, you’re less likely to be getting enough exercise. If your tot is tech-mem-sired, they could gain too much weight, either because they’re not getting active or being exposed to fast food adverts online (as tempting as it can be for the adults!).
5 ways to reduce kids’ screen time
Completely getting rid of any technology may not be the best solution, but encouraging your kids to go screen-free for a week or even a day can allow you and your little one to strengthen your relationship as well as keep them happy & healthy. Read our mini guide below on how to reduce your child’s screen time this Screen Free Week.
- Set tech-free times: Introduce a day or specific times where no one is allowed to use their devices. This could mean a screen-free Sunday or a rule about no phones after 6 pm (dependent on the age of your children and their bedtimes). Instead, plan some quality family time, such as a board games night. You and your little ones will be grateful for it!
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Turn off devices & Wifi at night: The brain will stay active even after turning off devices, make sure to switch off any screens and the internet at least a couple of hours before bedtime for some quality Zs. Why not encourage your child to read a book or read them a bedtime story instead?
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Explore the outdoors: Go out on a walk together to get some fresh air and blow away the virtual cobwebs. Ask your kid about what they can spot along the walk. Alternatively, you could discover more about the natural world and teach your little one how to garden.
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Get creative and find your inner peace: Mindfulness has been shown to be very helpful for children’s wellbeing and learning. You could set aside some time away from screens to do some meditation exercises or if that’s not your family’s thing you could get crafty and do some colouring.
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The 3 Cs for healthier screen time:
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Child- No one knows your kid better than you do. Some kids may need more screen time for school than others, depending on where they are in their education. Tailor your screen-free activities to your child’s interests.
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Content- It’s important to monitor what your child is looking at on their devices as well as the amount of time they’re spending online. Allow them some freedom but make sure to have child settings activated on your tech. Your child may be spending too much time playing on their screens and not enough time learning, when they should be. This is where screen-free learning or other types of content may be helpful.
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Context- Stay engaged with your little one on what they’re watching or playing with. They may use devices for homework, and it’s important that you learn how this works to support them. If you notice that they are spending a lot of time on screens when you are with them, you could suggest another activity to do together such as playing with toys or doing a puzzle.
Our Top 9 Screen-Free Toys
Enjoy deviceless fun with our selection of nine fantastic toys to play with this Screen Free Week!
Tech Alternatives
Tech Set
Little computer whizzes can have all the fun of a laptop without the digital screen with our Tech Set. Made from wood, this screen-free computer toy comes with magnetic letters and numbers for amusing learning and a sticker sheet to customise your mini device.
This set is great to help your youngster with their number and letter recognition and inspire imaginative play. Open the set like a laptop and write & draw on the chalkboard for hours of unplugged enjoyment.
Coder Girl Lottie Doll
Inspire your future web developer whilst reducing screen time with this lovely Coder Girl Lottie Doll. This bright spark comes with a miniature laptop and headphones to encourage your little one, especially girls, to be whoever they want to be!
The Coder Girl doll is the ultimate screen-free toy, helping children develop their communication skills and imagination. For Screen Free Week, you could introduce role playing with the doll to teach your kid about internet safety and why you shouldn’t spend too much time on the computer.
Outdoor Fun
Balance Bikes
Get out and about and away from the TV with these beautiful Balance Bikes. Ideal for toddlers transitioning from trike to bike, these wheels come in green, cream and pink and feature a sticker so your kiddie can tailor their bike to their unique personality.
Go outdoors together for a bike ride and pick up treasures to put in the wicker basket. These bikes are the perfect gift to encourage your kid to spend less time glued to the screen
Picnic Set
After your walk or bike ride, settle down for some lunch with this adorable Picnic Basket Set. Inside the wicker basket, you’ll find everything you need for a tea party- teacups, plates & saucers and a wonderful little teapot. This set is wonderful for developing your little one’s social intelligence and creative thinking without the need for screens.
Gardening Starter Pack
Is your tot full of energy? Why not introduce them to gardening with this Gardening Starter Pack. This set includes 7 tools that are ideal for beginner landscapers: a Green Bucket, Watering Can, Gardening Apron and Gardening Belt.
Gardening can be a fantastic mindful activity for your kid as they take to planting vegetables and enjoy sensory play in the dirt. The ideal green-thumbed activity for a Screen Free Week, here’s to hoping the weather is nice!
Mindful Arts and Crafts
Jewellery Suitcase
Craft your way through a screenless week with the adorable Jewellery Suitcase from Fiesta Crafts. These button bags make the perfect mindfulness activities for kids as they take their time adding beads, buttons and ribbons to make bracelets and necklaces. Comes with instructions for your budding artist to get creative without feeling stuck for ideas.
Paint a Picture Set
Relax beyond the TV with this rawsome Dinosaur Paint-a-Picture Set. With a magic water brush and 16 watercolour cards, kids can colour terrific triceratops and top t-rexes to inspire their imagination and develop dexterity.
The Paint-a-Picture Sets from Fiesta Crafts also come in other designs: Unicorns, Wild Animals and Butterflies & Flowers, so you can ensure that your little one enjoys a creative playtime that is personal to them.
Music Without Machines
Guitar
Encourage your musician in the making with this gorgeous Wooden Guitar. Play an unplugged concert and strum the guitar with the plectrum. This small instrument is made from high-quality FSC-certified wood and is great for developing children’s rhythm and timing skills. With bold coloured stripes, this set of strings is perfect for a non-digital creative session.
Trumpet
Make some noise with this little Trumpet! This wooden screen free toy is ideal for small hands to hold and play along to the rhythm. Learn to play without the need for videos or simply create your own tunes in the living room. This trumpet makes a great idea for a deviceless week and helps your mini musician to develop their dexterity and coordination.
More Screen Free Ideas
Looking to go screenless for the summer? Check out our previous blog on the best Screen Free Activities For The Summer Holidays.