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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Lauren Gould

Pool noodles and DIY escape rooms: the best screen-free kids’ activities, recommended by teachers

Oodles of Noodles Deluxe Pool Noodles, Unifix Cubes, Piecework Dino Discotheque puzzle, Jenga, Guess Who.
“A lot of children who gravitate toward screens still crave creativity and imagination … ,” said Brandon Jenkins, a fourth-grade teacher. Photograph: Courtesy Photos

The “iPad kid” meme is popular for a reason: screens have become a near-permanent fixture in gen Alpha’s lives.

On average, kids five and older spend more than three hours a day on their devices. We know that too much screen time is linked to harmful health outcomes, but it is not easy to convince your child that reading a paperback novel is more exciting than playing Roblox or binge watching YouTube.

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