Tech Free Activities to Get Kids Moving

Kids learn through play and fun activities, but adults can find it difficult to “remember” how to play. Trying simple activities that can be fun for kids and adults is a great way to limit tech time and encourage age appropriate development. Below are some ideas to get you started!

Bowling with empty bottles or cans

• • Set up a few bottles or cans and have your child knock them down with a ball
  • See how many they can knock down at each turn
  • Count them, talk about the colors/designs if they decorated them
  • Can be done inside if weather does not permit going outside, but can be tons of fun outside
  • A little extra—
    • Can be done at night with a little water and glow sticks in each bottle for added fun
    • You can decorate or paint the bottles or cans with a theme like superheroes or summer—sun, flowers, swimming

Obstacle course/Fort

• • Can be inside or outside
  • Use furniture or items that you have in the house
  • Get some chairs, pillows, blankets and build a little course/fort around the house—crawl under the table, up over the chair, hop on the pillows
  • Use the environment—for example, hop on the dandelions, walk like a balance beam on a long stick, hop over the cracks in the sidewalk
  • A little extra—
    • You can add a little extra with sidewalk chalk—jump to each number, follow a curvy line, identify shapes by naming them when he/she jumps on them, make a hopscotch board
    • Talk about your fort/tent—have a picnic in it and if you are feeling really adventurous, sleep in it

Dancing/Freeze dance/Musical chairs

• • Turn on some music and just have fun!
    • Great for all ages, but easy enough for really young kids
  • Sing along—if it’s kids music that’s even better because the words are typically easier for kids
  • If your child is older, play Freeze dance—say “freeze” or stop the music and freeze
  • Musical chairs—place a few chairs out for you and your child(ren), play the music then stop it and find a seat, take away one chair each round until only one chair is left and only one player is left
    • This will focus his/her attention to listening, following directions, understanding rules, accepting winning and losing

Animal walks/noises

• • Practice making noises of common animals (dog, cat, lion, monkey, etc.)
  • If you have books that have pictures of the animals, look at the pictures to associate the picture with the noises
    • Talk about the features of each animal—a turtle has a shell on his back, tigers have stripes
    • Talk about what type of environment they live in—frogs can live in water and on land, etc
  • Walk around the room making the noises and walking/moving like each animal (stomp like an elephant, arch your back like a cat, swing your arms like a monkey
  • Make the noises of different animals and have your child name the animals and then do the actions of that animal
  • A little extra-
    • Go to the library, check out some books with different animals, and read about animals in different countries, habitats, foods they eat
    • Walk around the neighborhood or park to see if you can spot any animals like squirrels, rabbits, worms