Switch on to off-screen entertainment

Screen-Free Week (2-8 May) is the ideal opportunity to explore 

all the fun activities the family can enjoy when we say  ‘bye-bye to wi-fi’.

Screen-Free Week is an annual event that encourages people to play, explore, and rediscover the joys of life beyond digital screens. 

This year it’s hoped that thousands of families, schools, and communities around the world will put down their entertainment* screens for seven days of fun, connection, and discovery.

Even though it’s about turning off screens, Screen-Free Week isn’t about going without completely – it’s about doing what you can!

An hour once glued to YouTube becomes an hour spent outside; ten minutes whiled away on social media turn into ten minutes spent doodling; a movie on a rainy afternoon is replaced by time spent reading, chatting, or playing pretend!

(*not an excuse for not doing homework or your job!)

Laura Steele, former primary school teacher and education resource expert at PlanBee has some great ideas

          •                   Every household has plenty of recycling, but have you made anything out of it? Why not lay out your recycling on a table and as a family, create your own art using different materials?

          •                   Rainy day? Why not turn your front room into a fort! Use sofa cushions to create a structure – add in cushions and sheets to make it feel cosy and find a good book to share or game to play?

          •                   Grab a container and go hunting in the garden or an outside space for minibeasts! Where do little insects live? What can you find? Go exploring as a family!

          •                   Show off your moves by creating your own family dance routine – each member of the family could suggest one or two of their signature moves, put them all together and – voila! A dance routine you can be proud of!

          •                   Have a rummage in the garage or look in the garden for objects which would make tricky obstacles. Build your own obstacle course in the garden and challenge each other to a race! Who can complete the course in the fastest time? Ready, steady, go!

          •                   Missing a family member or friend? Why not write them a letter or a postcardrather than an email or a text! Let them know what you have been up to as a family and check in to see how they are!

          •                   Challenge each member of the family to create their own menu, including starter, main course and dessert! Take it in turns to ‘host’ your own dinner party

          •                   Choose a book to read together as a family. Take turns in reading pages/chapters out aloud. Talk about what has happened so far and discuss your opinions of characters and events. Predict what you each think will happen next, and see who is closest!

          •                   Have a board-game night! Provide nibbles and drinks, and if you’re feeling competitive, a score board!

          •                   Organise a treasure hunt – the ‘treasure’ could be a new book or board game that you can then enjoy together.

If you are looking for some printable activities, you might be interested in FREE puzzles and games from PlanBee https://planbee.com/collections/free-teaching-resources/freebee-category_puzzles-games.

Whatever activities you decide to do, we hope you enjoy the time away from the screen! After this week, why not challenge yourselves to have at least one day a week screen-free?