Things to do these holidays without technology. Surely we don’t need a list? Well of course you don’t. However. I do hear over and over again that parents are complaining about the amount of time their kids are spending inside glued to the screens. I hear them lament years gone by when kids went outside and made their own fun. I hear them longing for days when kids never got bored. So I thought I’d provide a little reminder for all of us about the many, many other ways our kids can be entertained on the holidays. Or anytime really.

I want to say firstly that I love technology and the benefits it affords both myself and my kids. And my kids love technology too. And they will continue to use technology over the holidays. BUT. They need to have other ways to fill the days and the hours and the minutes. They need all the different elements of their little and increasingly bigger bodies and brains to keep developing.

Sometimes we need to push a little. Sometimes we need to push a lot. Sometimes we need to show the way and provide opportunities to steer them away from the technology for a while. It’s easy to see why kids don’t bother sometimes. Screens are easy, portable, require little effort but still provide enormous amounts of joy and entertainment. But kids also still love to play. They still love to get outside, be active, connect with real people and explore and create. We just need to give them a little nudge and remind them of the many ways to ensure a balanced life that is not ruled by the screens, the games and the technology.

These are not new or groundbreaking. They are just some examples of things you can have up your sleeve when the screens get put away for a while and the “I’m bored” starts to set in.

1. Build a cubby house
2. Make a billie cart
3. Have some running races and handicap the runners based on ability to make for a closer race
4. Bake something you’ve never made before
5. Have a treasure hunt
6. Perform a play or a scene from a favourite story
7. Get out the craft box
8. Create a chalkboard mural on a wall, fence  or driveway
9. Take bikes to a park and have a picnic
10. Go horseriding
11. Find some fruit to pick
12. Find a walking track you’ve never been on
13. Take out a ‘proper’ camera and photograph nature
14. Start a game of cricket with friends in the neighbourhood
15. Find some rocks and paint some rock people
16. Make mud pies
17. Get some beads, shells, noodles and string and make some jewellery
18. Kick a footy, soccer ball, backyard tennis, downball, shoot baskets
19. Make a fairy garden
20. Climb a tree (yes we can still do that stuff)
21. Make a kite and fly it
22. Go to a beach and collect shells or build a sandcastle
23. Learn how to knit
24. Ask an elderly neighbour if they have any chores they need doing
25. Make a sock puppet (I have a million spare socks if you need some!)
26. Play elastics (children of the 80’2
27. Do a great big jigsaw
28. Grab an instrument, write a song or learn your favourite tune
29. Paper plane races
30. Pick flowers, make a daisy chain, a flower crown or press flowers between books
31. Write a poem
32. Volunteer at an animal shelter or community service
33. Learn to sew
34. Plant a herb garden
35. Play your favourite board game
36. Choreograph a dance routine
37. Make a terrarium
38. Learn to surf or boogey board
39. Grab wood, nails and hammer something
40. Set up a beauty salon and give your mum a pedicure and foot massage
41. Make pom poms
42. Go fishing, real or with paper and magnets and paperclips
43. Take the dog for a walk, or offer to walk a neighbours dog
44. Write a letter to someone and post it
45. Camp out in the back yard …..or the lounge room if weather not kind
46. Learn to juggle
47. Practise some card tricks
48. Tie dye some clothing
49. Clean your room….I know! crazy fun but super productive! 
50. Clean the family car…..who said chores can’t be boredom busters!

Now of course some of these things require more effort than others. Some are suitable for different ages and some may not be entirely possible. But we need to remember that our kids only know what they know. And unless we help them find that balance and fill up their days with all sorts of different experiences, then we risk them moving in to territory where they rely on screens and technology to keep themselves occupied. And whilst we love our screens and our tech….we owe our kids the exposure and experience to many many more ways to beat the boredom.

What do you think your child would choose if you showed them this list and asked them to pick some things to fill in the time?