Reclaim Family Time: Enjoy Screen-Free Downtime with Loved Ones
(Inside: A fantastic list of screen-free family time ideas that will help your family unwind, connect, and refuel. You will love this list.)
I love everyone being home, hanging out in the living room, all on screens. Sometimes, we are so busy bouncing from one activity to the next that mindless scrolling or watching funny videos is exactly what our family needs.
But, other times, every bone in my mom-body tells me that my family needs the exact opposite.
Moms and dads, do you know the feeling?
When you long to bring together your people in a meaningful way. You want to lock up all the screens a mile away, look your family members in the eyes, invite quality conversation, and let connection ribbon its way through your family like it’s tying up a sacred gift. A parent’s heart longs for moments like that.
Yet, that’s hard to do.
Our world’s gotten so technology-heavy that the screen-dopamine desire will reach its tentacles into my brain and make me grab like a zombie for my phone when I’m bored. I can struggle to put the screens away, and I grew up without phones. I remember the joy I got from roaming the neighborhood and drinking from the outdoor hose. So, for our kids who were never in a world without digital life, it can be even harder.
Maybe your family is different, but I’ve found that we’ve had to work to find meaningful ways to spend our downtime. As parents, we’ve had to ask our kids what activities they’d enjoy and then plan some decompressing-type fun for us to try out. It’s been worth it. We’ve found some games, music, and outdoor activities we all enjoy. I’ve loved the conversation and laughter it all promotes.
So, I put together some family activities to consider. What would your loved ones enjoy or like to learn? Here are some ideas.
**This blog post contains Amazon Affiliate links.**
Card Games
I had the best memories of playing card games at my grandparent’s house. We’d pile into their small home, pull out cards, and play and play and play. Because of those around-the-table conversations, I got to know my extended family.
Now, that I’m the mom, I’ve tried to recreate that kind of bonding with the extended family. Lately, my family has been into playing Texas Hold ‘Em with my inlaws, and we pull out all our best strategies playing Hand and Foot with my parents.
This type of connection extends into my high school classroom. I have a group of students in my advisory class who will get a game of Uno going. There’s another group that stays after school for a board game club.
Games aren’t out of style, but, sometimes, we need to reintroduce our people to them. What games do you think your family will like? Here are some ideas to start…
- FAMILY CARD GAME: It’s a unique twist on the classic rummy card game. A fifth suit of stars makes Five Crowns even more exciting than other family card games
- UNO card game provides classic play, where players match colors or numbers in a race to get rid of all their cards!
- TRUSTED BICYCLE QUALITY: Experience the superior feel and durability of Bicycle playing cards, trusted by professionals and casual players alike for over 140 years. These classic Bicycle cards are built to last through every shuffle.
- How to Play: Prepare for a party game like no other! Deal out cards, collect three of a kind to score points, and play Burrito Cards to trigger an epic battle. Duck, dodge, and dive as you and your friends hurl squishy burritos at each other. Accumulate points, avoid Burrito Bruises, and duel to determine the ultimate champion!a
- Offers big blind, little blind, and dealer buttons
- Also includes two decks of playing cards
- Poker chip set housed in a silver aluminum case
Puzzles
Set up a card table in your family room, and keep a puzzle out. Your family will meander back to you as they come and go. It’s a great activity to decompress with. As you piece the picture together, the mindless purpose and shoulder-to-shoulder activity create a setting for your big kids to open up and share.
- PICKFOU 1000 piece puzzle for adults National park: 27.5*19.7 in / 70*50 cm. USA National park puzzle with exquisite packing box and a double-sided poster. The front of poster helps you complete the Vintage nature puzzle 1000 pieces
- Tip:This puzzle features a unique mosaic design style, showcasing rich colors and intricate textures. Please note that it is not a true stained glass mosaic but is designed to create a visually artistic effect for an enjoyable puzzling experience
- Aurora Cabin Retreat: Piece together a tranquil après-ski scene with cozy cabins, steaming hot tubs, and shimmering northern lights painted by artist Nancy Wernersbach – perfect for fans of winter escapes, scenic night skies.
- Vivid Puzzle Poster: Experience Buffalo Games’ Aimee Stewart – “Merry Mushroom Village Picnic” 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle with a full-color poster included. This handy reference enriches your assembly process, enhancing your focus and relaxation with adult jigsaw puzzles
- Foldable design: Just pull and push the open light to unfold and fold the table and chairs. When not in use, they can be easily folded and stored, saving valuable space. Portable folding chairs are designed so that you can easily transport them wherever you need them.
- FOLDS FLAT – Folds up tight and compact for easy storage
Adult Coloring Books
Big kids and adults can find it relaxing to color in these adult coloring books. It’s fun to pick a book with the pictures that you want and the type of pencil, marker, or pens you want to use. These are some great options.
- Features 100 intricate and relaxing pattern designs for adult coloring enthusiasts
- Wander the World in Every Hue: Grab your pencils and get ready to explore! ZICOTOs’ set of 2 adult coloring books is your gateway to wanderlust, filled with stunning travel destinations & dreamy adventures. A relaxing, creative journey for travelers and daydreamers alike
- Whimsical coloring pages fill this book – from forest scenes, to hedgehogs, to mushrooms and flowers, each page holds an imaginative coloring experience. Enjoy every moment as you enter the forest!
- Complete 120-Piece Gel Pens Set for Adult Coloring Books – Includes 60 colored gel pens (17 metallic, 10 glitter, 11 pastel, 12 neon, 6 rainbow, 4 classic), 60 matching refills, 4 coloring sheets (8 pages with 8 designs), DIY color card, black PU carrying case. Art supplies for adults, kids, beginners interested in drawing, coloring, sketching, journaling
- This Pentonic multicolor glitter gel pen set comes with 10 glitter pens in 10 different colors: black, red, green, blue, light blue, orange, purple, pink, gold, silver
- 【Professional Colored Pencils】The Yagol 72 colored Pencils, colored pencils for artists and colored pencils for adult coloring enthusiasts. Each pencil features a unique name and number for easy identification. Ideal for doodling, drawing, painting, shading, sketching, and perfect for adult coloring books, our colored pencils help unlock your creative potential. Satisfy all your coloring needs with our versatile drawing supplies, catering to artists of all levels and preferences.
- 36 Dual-Tip brush Markers Pens, artists gifts stuff, high-quality vibrant ink design. Premium Coloring Markers art supplies set for adult coloring Books, preppy stuff, preppy supplies, teacher supplies, drawing Pens, drawing supplies, gift for artist includes a variety of drawing and painting supplies, sketching, doodling, writing and looking to unleash their creativity
Conversation Starters
We’ve all gotten comfortable in the living room and passed around conversation starters. Each person chooses two questions. It’s been fun to see what questions are chosen and hear everyone’s answers.
- CONVERSATIONS WITH PURPOSE – Tired of the same old “how was your day?” Talking Point Cards Family Edition helps you ask great questions and draw every age into warm, easy conversation. This family conversation deck holds 200 thoughtful questions and topics that kids, teens, and parents will love sharing together
- JUMPSTART NOSTALGIC MEMORIES: This cute, compact tin is filled with 50 thoughtful and playful questions to inspire great family conversations.
- INSPIRE QUALITY TIME: Every question in this set is a chance to learn something new about the people in your life, whether they are a friend, family member, coworker, or roommate.
- [400 Question Cards & Conversation Starters]: Make family game night, road trips, and dinner table talks better with 400 engaging questions to ask kids. Children spell love T-I-M-E, so use these conversation cards to spend more of it together connecting and laughing.
- Real Conversations, Less Awkward: The best icebreakers don’t feel forced, they just open doors. Whether you’re meeting coworkers, sharing a meal with family, on a first date, or breaking the ice with new neighbors, grab a Small Talk card to spark something genuine. Open-ended questions turn a quiet moment into a conversation worth having. 200 prompts across 8 topic categories keep things fresh, every time you pull a card.
Reading
Light a candle, start the indoor fire, grab warm drinks, and read with your family for an hour. Or put on an audio book for the whole family to listen to the story roll out. What a great way for everyone to exhale. I have a complete list of books for middle schoolers and another for high schoolers. But, below is also a great place to start.
- 8 Gb de Memoria
- Doble ventilador
- Audible Audiobook
- Effortless Room Heating: Our electric fireplace quickly heats up your entire room with 1400W of power, providing cozy and consistent warmth for your living space during colder winter months or chilly summer evenings.
- 6 Pack Scented Candles Gift Set – This value candle set includes 6 popular scents: Lavender, Jasmine, Vanilla, Sage, Sandalwood Rose, and Eucalyptus Mint, designed for everyday home fragrance and relaxation.
- Stylish & Reversible Softness: Designed with 1.5″ shaggy plush on one side and extremely soft Sherpa on the other, this double-sided blanket is furry, plush, and ultra-cozy for stylish comfort all year round.
Warm Drinks, Great Snacks, and Hang Out
Grab some warm drinks, pick up some fun snacks, create a cozy environment, and simply hang out in the living room. See where the conversation leads you.
- Includes 10 Packets – Contains 10 individually portioned 0.85 oz packets of Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix for quick, convenient single servings. Not in manufacturer’s packaging
- Warm yourself with the richest and creamiest hot cocoa in a variety of flavors.
- HOT CINNAMON SPICE BLACK TEA – Black tea blended with three types of cinnamon, orange peel, and sweet cloves for a bold, spiced flavor.
- Ceramic Coffee Mug: This funny coffee mug is fired at high temperature and the ceramic is very resistant to high temperature, the cup with spoon will not break or crumble with hot or cold ice, durable design for your safety.
- AN INDULGENT SELECTION OF OUR 15 BEST SELLING CHOCOLATES: Gift baskets arrive with more than a pound of assorted milk, dark and white truffles. Flavors include: Milk Butter Pecan Patties, Cashew Clusters, Pretzel Clouds, Pecan Snappers, Sea Salt Caramels, English Toffee, Peppermint Patties, Bavarian Pretzels, Double Silk Truffles, Coconut Haystacks, and Peanut Clusters.
- 1 case of 4 Packs, 4 Count Total
- GOOD MATERIAL– Womens Super Soft Warm Microfiber Stretchy Fluffy Winter Socks are made of 95% Polyester & 5% Spandex. The Plush Fuzzy Slipper Socks will provide the coziness you ache for.
- ✈HIGH QUALITY SUPER SOFT : Womens winter slipper socks are made of 95% Polyester, 5% Spandex.Soft cloud-like fluffy material will keep your feet and toes warm on cold weather!
Walk or Hike
Find a pretty place to walk or hike. Or just meador around the neighborhood. Stop and chat with the people you live by but don’t make time for enough. Enjoy the sunshine and fresh air.
- ABZORB HEEL CUSHIONING – ABZORB heel crash pad absorbs impact on every step, paired with a molded PU insert for underfoot comfort that lasts from morning to night
- Lightweight and Breathable : The upper of running shoes is made of highly elastic flying woven fabric, which is light and breathable. The densely woven net builds a three-dimensional upper surface that comfortably wraps the ankle. The soft fabric will expand and expand with the feet, maximizing the breathability and keeping the feet dry
- Comfortable & Cushy: Elevate your walking experience with these women’s walking shoes, featuring a cushioned EVA midsole that absorbs shock and relieves pressure on my joints. Plus, the high-density foam insole adds an extra layer of arch support.
- SUPERIOR COMFORT AND SUPPORT: Cushioned comfort insole and shock-absorbing supportive midsole deliver all-day comfort for running shoes for men
- Sweat Profusely: Hotsuit Sauna Suit for Men is designed to trap heat around your body and generate more sweat than working out in regular gear. Wearing sweat suit accelerates loss in body weight, detoxification through sweating and boost your metabolism
- Premium Comfort and Warmth: Crafted from soft fleece-lined fabric that keeps you warm, dry, and comfortable during workouts or daily wear.
- Soft Brushed Fleece: 50% Cotton 50% Polyester fleece delivers soft warmth without bulk. Midweight fabric drapes clean with gentle stretch for easy movement.
- Fabric: Our 2 Piece loungewear sweatsuits sets are made of skin-friendly and high quality fabric, super soft and stretchy. Soft material that easily keep its shape with no shrinkage or fading.
Dog Park
Take your dog to your local dog park. It’s so fun to see them run around. Or go outside in the backyard and throw around a ball, or take your dog on a walk, just enjoy your fur baby.
- 1.Simple, practical and comfortable. A ergonomic and anti-slip rubberized handle fits in your hand well for those long walks.
- 3300ft Remote & Through-Wall Antenna: Our dog training collar is delivered with a 1100yards (3300ft) control range, making it be freedom train indoors or in backyards without any delay to receive a signal, no more shouting and chasing to have a good boy!
- UPGRADED HEAVY DUTY ALLOY: Features a solid black metal D-ring, not plastic! This durable nylon dog collar handles pulls, providing a secure leash attachment for energetic small, medium, or large dogs
- Easy to Wear: Features 3 buckles, our harness can be easily put on and taken off. No need to slip over the head or readjust each time. Quick, simple and stress-free, enjoying wearing
- HIGH SENSITIVE TOUCHSCREEN: Featuring high sensitive conductive material on thumbs, forefingers and middle fingers, you can wear the gloves to touch screen of your smartphone, tablet, iPhone or other touch screen devices
- Dog Toys for Large Dogs: This 13-inch octopus plush toy is easy for puppies and small to large dogs to carry, cuddle, toss, and play with. A fun everyday companion for indoor play, crate time, and bonding time
- Enhance Your Pet’s Playtime: The CheerHP Pet Toy Flying Saucer Ball is a fun and interactive herding toy that keeps your dog entertained with its light and playful design, providing hours of rolling fun.
- FETCH DAY AND NIGHT: Take fetch to new heights with our glow-in-the-dark flying disc, designed for long-distance flight. The buoyant design floats on water for play at the beach, lake, and pool.
Music
My husband shared his love of playing guitar with one of our sons. After years of practicing, our son just joined the praise and worship team at our church. They also go to concerts together. And when we’re just hanging out at home, they’ll control the music while we’re playing cards or just chatting, and that’s really fun.
- 61 key keyboard piano kit: complete beginner set with stand, bench, headphones and note stickers.
- DREADNOUGHT BODY SHAPE: The Fender FA Series features a classic dreadnought body shape, renowned for its powerful projection and full-bodied tone, making it perfect for strumming and a wide range of musical styles
- We’re changing the way you discover and play the music you love.
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- Or, get unlimited access with Amazon Music Unlimited and play any song, anytime, anywhere.
Drawing
Go find a pretty place to draw or sit together around the dining room table and be creative with creating picture.
- Professional Complete Artist Drawing Supplies Sketching Kit: Professional and Complete drawing set comes with a 100 Sheets 3-Color sketch pad, you can start drawing and sketching as soon as you open this deluxe drawing kit! This is All-in-one 176-piece drawing and sketch supplies kit for artists of all skill levels. The art set has 76-piece art tools and accessories plus a 100 sheets 3-color sketchbook, total 176 pieces!
- [Unbeatable Value Sketchbooks] 100 Sheets drawing papers at a reasonable price. Great size 9×12 inches for all levels of artists. Great quality acrid-free & PH neutral paper with high roughness can prevent your creations from yellowing over time, allowing your drawing to last long on the drawing paper of sketch book. This wonderful large sketchbook is great for adult and kids, drawing enthusiasts, art students and professional artists creating artwork and practicing their skills.
- Looking for vibrant colored pencils that blend smoothly? Our 72 pre-sharpened pencils with soft, break-resistant cores deliver rich pigments and seamless blending. Each pencil numbered and named for easy identification and color accuracy. Professional artist colored pencils for Smooth blending and exceptional layering capability without waxy buildup, consistent color application. Ideal gift case for arts and crafts Supplies, graduation gift, teacher appreciation supplies.
Bead Crafts
Create bracelets, key chains, or necklaces. Just enjoy being creative with beads.
- ALL YOU NEED INCLUDED – A must for jewelry making lover. A box of about 5520pcs flat polymer clay beads in 24 colors and 550pcs charms kit( contains random letter beads, smile beads, colorful heart beads, shells, pendants, jump rings, lobster clasp, etc.), 2 roll of 5 meters elastic strings, a scissors, to meet all your needs for bracelets making & jewelry making
- Package Contains: Each pack contains 4 boxes of rainbow beads, 4 bags of letter beads, 2 bags of heart beads, 1 bag of star beads and 20m elastic thread. Rainbow kandi beads are available in 96 colors and 7 styles: solid color, pearl color, clear color, glitter color, AB color, frosted color, metallic color.
Crochet or Knitting
Bring back sitting in a shared space and crocheting or knitting. Our grandparents and great-grandparents loved this activity for a reason.
- Everything You Need to Start Crocheting: Aeelike crochet kits for beginners includes ergonomic crochet hooks, lace steel hooks, colorful yarn, stitch markers, sewing needles, pompom makers, measuring tools, scissors, and a zip storage bag. Plus, you get a printed step-by-step instruction book and easy video tutorials to learn basic techniques at your own pace.
- All‑inclusive 74 Piece Set – This complete crochet set includes 15 colorful yarn skeins (100 yds each), 21 crochet hooks (2 mm–8 mm), 10 split ring stitch markers, 10 locking stitch markers, 6 yarn needles, stitch counter, row counter, tape measure, scissors, thimble, 4 point protectors, crochet supplies organizer and crochet tote bag. Everything you need to begin crocheting.
- Complete Set Includes: 13 pairs of 4 inch (10cm) aluminum circular knitting needles and 4 cables of different lengths (12.6 inches, 15 inches, 16.7 inches, 21.6 inches), 4 needle holders, 2 cable keys, 2 couplers, 1 non-slip pad, 15 marks (random color) buckle, and 1 leather bag
Crafts
Bring back the family crafts. What would your people like to create together?
- Unleash & Spark Your Creativity: The ultimate gift for any child who loves art, creativity, and a little bit of magic. With this fun and educational kit, kids can unleash their creativity and create truly unique and eye-catching ‘glowing’ rock designs.
- VERSATILE DUAL TIP: Our acrylic paint markers come with a unique dual-tip design. One end features a 1mm fine tip for outlining and detailing intricate designs, while the other end has a 0.5-5mm broad tip for large areas of painting and coloring, allowing you to create different strokes by changing the brush pressure, saving the trouble of changing nibs, and bringing more convenience to your creation, meet the different needs of professionals and amateurs.
- Make your own felt food with fabulous faces. Includes instructions, patterns, and materials for more than 18 cheerful, itty-bitty food items as well as tips and tricks to customize your own designs. It’s an instant recipe for fun!
- Ideal for christmas stocking stuffers:Our build a snowman kit is an educational DIY gift idea.Packaged in a beautiful box,this snowman modeling clay set is great for birthday gift,Christmas gift or christmas stocking stuffers for kids ages 3+
- The Complete Woodburning Kit for Beginners: Includes everything needed to turn into a woodburning champion! Follow the step-by-step instructions, sketch, burn, and paint and produce 8 beautiful art projects.
- JEWELRY GETS YOUR STAMP OF APPROVAL: Make pieces that are truly your own — because only you can rock your own style best! Each necklace, keychain, or charm is customized by you to say whatever you want — spell your name, monogram, or a meaningful phrase. Each piece is so cute and adds a pop to your outfit!
- 【10 Unique Clings & 8 Colors】These specialty arts and crafts kits for adults and teens include 10 Blank Window Cling Vinyls for you to color (with 10 Unique Designs), 8 Upgraded Specialty Markers (with 8 Different Colors) and a Manual with Coloring Guides for inspiration. We have included everything you need in these DIY kits to enjoy a calming, stress-relieving coloring experience and create a stunning stained glass style end product to boot!
- String Art Craft For Kids : Unleash creativity with the Hapinest string art kit for kids. This complete craft set includes three delightful 3D designs: a unicorn, cat, and flower. Perfect for arts and crafts for girls 10-12 who love hands-on projects.
- Stitch and stuff an assortment of fuzzy animals from felt! These mini plushies are full-sized fun, and everything you need to make up to 14 animals is included.
- DIY WALL COLLAGE KIT: The ultimate kit for personalizing your living space and unleashing creativity. With over 1000 pieces, including 150+ artworks, 750+ stickers, foam blocks, wall-safe tape, and an instruction booklet, you’ll have everything you need to create a beautiful collage that’s uniquely yours.
Bake
I have some of the best memories of baking with my grandma. I love that my mom has my sons in the kitchen with her making cookies, bread, and pies. What a gift bonding over food is.
- These black and brown striped aprons for women with pockets are made of high-density polyester-cotton color woven fabric, which is thicker and more durable than ordinary polyester-cotton, in addition to that it has strong color fastness, you don’t have to worry about fading after a few washes. Soft and breathable, refreshing and sweat-absorbent.
- Features Santa hat, reindeer, snowflake, star, stocking, candy cane, snowman, mitten, tree, angel, and more for endless holiday fun.
- SIZE – Cookie cutters measure approx. 2.5 to 3.5 inches, different shape has different sizes.
Journal
Enjoy writing together in journals or memory books.
- 【Vintage Leather Journal Notebook】The perfect rule notebook is perfect for travelers,business…
- Guided Grandparents Story Journal: This get to know grandma book captures meaningful memories featuring 60 thoughtfully designed prompts; this grandpa tell me your story journal includes space for photos and notes to help document life experiences
- Our guided legacy journal with prompts is a perfect gift idea for a grandma. There are more than 250 fun questions to fill out, and these questions are carefully designed to help a grandma share her memories and tell her life story in her own way.
Tabletop Games
Pick a game to go in your basement. My dad plays pool with our boys. My husband gets our big kids going on ping pong. And when their friends are over, I hear them swishing the basketball game. What tabletop-style games would your family like?
- COMPLETE SET: Includes a mid-size billiards table with 15 regulation balls and cue ball, ball rack, 2 57 inch cue sticks, 2 chalk and felt brush
- 6 x 3 FT TABLE: Midsize table is large enough for fun competitive games, but compact and foldable to store anywhere; Perfect for game rooms, apartments, offices, or anyone who does not want to deal with a full size table
- 【Retractable Ping Pong Net】Our ping pong paddle set retractable net post boasts lightweight mesh, which is resistant to any impacts. NOTICE: It can be extended up to 5.25 feet (63 inch) wide, attach to the table below 4.5cm thickness
- Arcade Basketball Game: Kids will love trying to out-shoot each other in this foldable indoor home basketball arcade game with a convenient design for easy storage
- ARCADE-STYLE GAME: Enjoy intense striking and endless fun with a mini arcade classic that brings the joy of friendly competition to any table!
Your Turn
Your turn. What did I miss? What kinds of family activities do you like?
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Cheryl is a mom of 3 boys, wife, speaker, high school teacher, and author of Empowered Moms & Kids. She has a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and is passionate about learning and teaching. On www.empoweredmomsandkids.com you’ll find inspiration and encouragement for moms raising tweens and/or teens. Read more in the “about” section of this page.
