What the guidance says
Health groups have offered general guidance on screen time for young children. The World Health Organization's 2019 guidelines suggest no sedentary screen time for children under 2, and no more than one hour a day for ages 2 to 4. The American Academy of Pediatrics encourages families to make a family media plan that sets limits, keeps screens out of meals and bedtime, and leaves plenty of time for sleep, play and activity. Guidance changes over time, so check the current advice from the AAP or ask your pediatrician what suits your child.
The ideas below help you build routines where other kinds of play come first, alongside whatever screen time suits your family.
Each slate shows the age range chalked in on a ruler from 2 to 12, plus energy and mess on a scale of one to three marks. Ages are a rough guide; you know your child best.
Indoorsabout 20 min
Quiet bin
- Energy
- low
- Mess
- low
You need: A box of blocks, puzzles and picture books
Bring out the bin only at quiet time so the toys stay interesting.
Indoorsabout 30 min
Listen and build
- Energy
- low
- Mess
- low
You need: An audiobook or podcast for kids, building blocks
Play a story while kids build something from it, like the house or the ship.
Indoorsabout 30 min
Blanket fort den
- Energy
- low
- Mess
- medium
You need: Chairs, blankets, clothespins, a flashlight
Drape blankets over chairs, then use the fort for books, snacks or a quiet game.
More like thisIndoorsabout 10 min
Squiggle game
- Energy
- low
- Mess
- low
You need: Chalkboard or paper, chalk or pencils
One player draws a squiggle. The other turns it into a picture.
More like thisA simple daily rhythm
Children cope better with change when the day has a shape they can predict. You don't need a strict timetable. A rhythm of blocks that repeat most days is enough:
| Block | Ideas |
|---|---|
| Morning | Outdoor time or active play while energy is high |
| Midday | Lunch, then a quiet block: books, a quiet bin, rest |
| Afternoon | Creative play: drawing, building, pretend play |
| Before dinner | Help with simple chores, or a short game |
| Evening | Bath, books and a calm bedtime routine |
If your family uses screens, put them in a set slot, such as after the afternoon play block, rather than as the default whenever someone is bored.
Quiet bins and quiet time
A quiet bin is a box of toys that comes out only at quiet time: puzzles, blocks, picture books, a small chalkboard. Because kids don't see these toys all day, they stay interesting. Rotate the contents every week or two. For older kids, quiet time can be reading, drawing or listening to an audiobook in their room.
Listen and build
Audiobooks and kids' story podcasts give children a story without a screen. Many public libraries lend audiobooks for free through their apps. Pair a story with building blocks or a drawing pad, and ask kids to build or draw something from the story.
Swaps for the hard moments
- While you cook: a "kitchen helper" job like washing vegetables, or a bin of pots and spoons for toddlers.
- Waiting rooms: a small bag with a notebook, a pencil and a pocket game.
- Car trips: I spy, audiobooks, counting games, or "would you rather" questions.
- The after-school slump: a snack and outside time before anything else.
Let boredom happen
When kids say "I'm bored", they don't always need an adult to fix it. Short stretches of boredom often lead to their own games and ideas. Point them toward an activity slate or a box of open-ended toys, then step back and see what they come up with.