7 Activities Kids Love More Than Phones

Even adults struggle to put their phones down sometimes. For children, who are still learning to manage their attention, it’s even harder.

But screen time can be gradually replaced with other activities. Here are seven ideas that make the shift gentle, engaging, and pressure-free.

1. Brain-boosting games

Chess, checkers, backgammon, Scrabble, board games, quest games, and family quizzes help children practice focus and strengthen thinking skills.

There are dozens of versions for younger kids — from animal-themed games to adaptations based on popular cartoons and creative imagination games.

It can help to keep a couple of board games at home: one for family evenings and one for playdates with friends.

2. Robotics

Robotics classes can fascinate both boys and girls who enjoy building, experimenting, and inventing. While working on a project, kids develop focus, patience, logical thinking, and creativity.

Many programs include team projects or competitions, which also build teamwork skills. At the same time, children are introduced to basic programming in a playful way — knowledge that will definitely be useful in the future.

3. Creative activities

Drawing, sculpting, knitting, making jewelry, or simple paper crafts allow children to express themselves. These activities develop imagination, concentration, and a sense of beauty — and they offer a calming break from the screen.

Try out different creative classes, from painting studios to pottery workshops, and let your child choose what inspires them.

4. Music and singing

Music helps children process emotions and express themselves freely. Singing or learning instruments like guitar, drums, or ukulele builds focus, rhythm, and confidence.

You don’t need to buy expensive instruments right away — let your child try things out, feel the rhythm, and enjoy the process.

5. Sports and active play

Soccer, dance, gymnastics, swimming, rock climbing — there are many options, and every child can find something they genuinely enjoy. The key is not to push. Give them a chance to explore different activities and choose what feels right.

Sports help release energy, strengthen the body, and build discipline. Team sports add friendship, support, and the joy of shared victories.

6. Photography and video

A phone isn’t the enemy when used thoughtfully. Photography and video can become a real hobby: kids observe the world more closely, experiment with angles, and learn to tell stories through images.

The goal isn’t posting — it’s the process. You can look through photos together, learn simple editing, and enjoy the results. This builds creative thinking and helps children notice beauty in everyday life.

7. Cooking and kitchen experiments

The kitchen is a great space for creativity. Pizza, smoothies, homemade cookies — all perfect starting points.

Add some fun: a “restaurant night” at home or a “cupcake challenge.” When a child chooses the recipe, mixes ingredients, decorates dishes, and tries new things, they feel grown-up.

And most importantly — you’re spending time together: talking, laughing, and building little family traditions.

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Phones will always be part of your child’s life — and that’s okay. The key is to fill their days with activities that capture their attention even more than a screen does.

Explore these ideas together, try new things, share your impressions. This helps your child learn more about themselves — and gives both of you more opportunities for connection, laughter, and warm moments side by side.

References

• Old-Fashioned ’Grandma’ Hobbies Are Boosting Teen Mental Health—Here’s How, Parents, 2025
• The Childhood Hobby Shared by 69% of Women Leaders, Parents, 2024
• Neural Dynamics of Improved Bimodal Attention and Working Memory in Musically Trained Children, Frontiers in Neuroscience, 2020