Though some people are looking forward to the carefree days of summertime, parents are finding themselves wondering if there are any actually fun (and easy) activities for kids that don't necessarily include screen time. Though plenty of us joke about binge watching our favorite TV shows, a survey conducted by Elmer's founds that kids spend on average 13 hours in front of a screen. It doesn't seem like a big deal for us, but kids' brains are still developing and it doesn't take much for them to get overstimulated.
As a mom who started noticing a shift in some of my son's behavior after introducing a tablet, I decided to conduct my own experiment by not allowing him to have it for a week. What I found is that he's interested in independent play for a time, but he also looks forward to other activities throughout the day. Why? Well, the Elmer's survey also discovered that kids get bored in 33 minutes. This can be difficult for parents whether they go to the office every day, stay at home with their kids, or any combination of the two during these developmental years.
However, this is by no means a plea for totally eliminating screen time. It's more of a suggestion to encourage fun summer activities that spark kids' imaginations. Since I'm still a first time mom who's trying to figure out a healthy balance, I feel fortunate to have spoken with amazing sources who know a thing or two about introducing play that doesn't rely on screen time:
- Fellow mom and content creator, Kate Bast
- Pediatric speech-language pathologists and founders of Wee Talkers, Carly Tulloch and Katie Sterbenz
Want to learn more about the effects prolonged screen time has on kids and how you can introduce them to play that doesn't revolve around it? Keep scrolling for all the info you need to help you decide which activities for kids will take priority at home this summer!
What are the possible side effects of prolonged screen time in children?
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As convenient as it may seem to place our little ones in front of a TV screen while we try to get work done, relying on it for prolonged hours on a daily basis can cause some side effects that Tulloch and Sterbenz want parents to be aware of.
"We encourage parents to consider what kids are missing out on if they are frequently engaging in prolonged screen time use," they said. "Children younger than 2 years need hands-on exploration and social interaction with trusted caregivers to develop their cognitive, language, motor, and social-emotional skills."
Based on their experience, a over-reliance on screen time may lead to:
- Sleep problems
- Reading fewer books
- Less time with family and friends
- Not enough outdoor or physical activity
- Weight problems
- Difficulty regulating emotions
- Less time learning other ways to relax and have fun
- Language delays
How can parents tell if their child has too much access to TV or tablets?
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Like I mentioned before, my S.O. and I noticed how frustrated my son would get when the tablet died. He'd also get upset if we would tell him it's time to take a break from it to do virtually anything else. I honestly thought I was losing my mind for feeling like the tablet was causing all this, but Carly and Katie have since confirmed my suspicion was correct.
"It’s common for toddlers and preschoolers to express frustration when a parent turns off the TV or tablets, but if your child is having significant tantrums related to transitioning away from screens, that’s one sign we would look for," they indicated. "We would also look at things like, is your child no longer wanting to do things they used to love to participate in? Coloring, playing outside, going on an errand, playing with toys, etc.?"
While my son will play with other things, my main concern was the increased temper tantrums, sleep issues, and potty training regression. However, there's one more key thing Tulloch and Sterbenz suggest paying attention to.
"Another sign that your child has too much access to screens, is related to their attention span. While it’s absolutely true that a toddler's attention span is not stellar (and that’s normal), they should be able to attend to preferred tasks and activities. If you feel like your child is just moving from toy to toy, without engaging much, it might be a good idea to look at their screen time use."
How can parents begin limiting screen time so that their kids engage in other play?
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The good news is that the side effects of screen time aren't permanent, but it does involve us as parents being willing to make pivotal changes. Tulloch and Sterbenz said, "We encourage parents to make a family media plan (knowing that they can reassess this whenever it’s not serving them anymore or as their kids grow)."
When thinking about how you want to encourage a healthier relationship with screen time and active play that features hands-on activities for kids, they suggest becoming clear about what will work best for your kids and family by using Dr. Jenny Radesky's 3Cs:
- Content: Quality screen time matters. The rest of our tips in this post will help you choose quality options.
- Child: Pick what’s right for your child. You know them better than anyone else does!
- Context: How you interact with your child around their watching experience matters, too. The more you can watch with them, the better.
What I've found that my son loves is a good routine. When he knows what to expect, we've noticed a decrease in his temper tantrums. This is actually something Tulloch and Sterbenz believe is one of the steps parents should take.
"Picking a predictable time of day can be really helpful as well. We don’t like to be too rigid, but at the same time, we notice that our kids seem to thrive when they have a predictable rhythm to their day. Pick a time of day that you will watch shows then stick to that time. Maybe that’s in the morning, while you make breakfast and get everyone ready for the day. Or maybe it’s in the evening when you’re busy making dinner and packing lunches."
The main thing is not to become super strict, or even hard on yourself, because you believe you've done something terrible by allowing your child to watch a ton of TV or spend time on their tablets. You're not a terrible parent just because life is busy and you've been trying to find some sort of balance.
"Remember that any time is okay and what works for your family doesn't have to be right for anyone else. Just remember to stick to your screen time boundary once it’s been set. It will help both you and your child get into a consistent, predictable routine and decrease the screen time struggles," Tulloch and Sterbenz said.
How can parents deal with potential backlash from their kids?
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It's time for the hard truth: It's possible that your kids will give you major pushback when you first begin limited screen time. If you can imagine how hard it is to change a habit you've developed, then think about it from your child's perspective. They've gotten used to something and now they're being told their access to it will be different. It's a lot to take in. So, what can do you to prepare for it?
"Expect it and mentally prepare so you’re not surprised when it happens. It’s very normal for kids to express their frustration around this. You can validate their experience by saying something like, “Yes, it’s so hard to turn it off.” You can even add more to it if they are older… “Screens can keep our brains wanting more and more. It’s best for our brains and bodies to have a mix of activities," Tulloch and Sterbenz said.
Do you want to know what helps my S.O. and I? Repetition and patience. By remaining firm about boundaries we're setting around screen time, we've gradually noticed our son doesn't protest as much when we tell him it's time to put the tablet away.
Tulloch and Sterbenz said, "The more confident you are in the boundary you’ve set, the better success you’ll have. Just keep at it, and know it will get easier as you consistently hold the boundary. They will eventually adjust to whatever boundaries you set if you are consistent with it."
What summer activities do you recommend parents introduce to their kids?
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Are you ready to learn more about all the fun activities for kids you can introduce? Tulloch and Sterbenz, along with Kate Bast, have tons of suggestions for you!
Specifically, Tulloch and Sterbenz said, "Words are everywhere! We really encourage parents to follow their child’s lead, and see what they seem interested in, but if you need some inspo, these are some of our favorite summer activities:
- Water play is so fun–if you have a water table, that’s great. Or just fill up a big cup of water, grab a paint brush and spray bottle and let them “paint” outside–the house, their cars, rocks, etc. with water.
- Chalk is another easy win. Lots of early-literacy skills in this one! You can label what they draw, chat about what you’re creating, write the names of people in your family in rainbow colors, or list out the letters of the alphabet for them to jump to like a hopscotch.
- Bubbles: This toy is a go-to for us when it comes to helping babies and toddlers communicate. A few reasons why bubbles are so great:
- Bubbles captivate their attention
- Many of the words said while playing with bubbles are easier for toddlers to copy, say, or sign
- Bubbles encourage imitation skills (super important if your child isn’t saying words quite yet)
- Reading books outside, or if it’s really hot where you live, build a fort indoors! Reading books with your little one is a great way to slowwww down a bit this summer. Positive experiences with books early on in life helps them to build a strong foundation for learning to read. In fact, nurturing a love for reading is one of the best things you can do for your child’s language development.
- Magna-tiles (did you know they stick to garage doors?!) or any other block-type toy are fantastic! They offer so many learning opportunities like:
- Constructive Play: An early play skill that sets the stage for pretend play. Constructive play develops problem-solving, fine motor skills, and creativity.
- Vocabulary for Basic Location Words: As your child creates, they’ll understand and (eventually) use words like: on, off, out, top, in, next to, etc. Location words are so great for starting to combine words together.
- Introduces Academic Concepts: Such as color, shape, sorting, patterns, etc. The basic Magna-tile packs consist of squares, small triangles, and larger triangles, and come in a variety of basic colors.
Here's How Kate Bast Relies on Elmer's to Have Screen-Free Fun With Her Daughter:
Image via Kate Bast For Elmer's Creations
Kate Bast
Bast knows what it's like trying to come up with activities that are fun, yet simple for little kids because she's a mom to a four year old and a four month old. She even wrote 115 Hacks and Hacktivities for Parents of Mini Humanslast year to help parents navigate life with kids, so she knows more than a few ways to make sure everyone is having fun sans a ton of screen time.
"Helping parents for the summer is just such a necessary thing," she said. This explains why her partnership with Elmer's works so well! She raved about how it feels natural to her because the brand is so well-loved and used by parents, making it accessible to anyone who's looking for fun activities for kids this summer. "It's been such an honor for me to be partnering with them [Elmer's]. They launched Elmer's Creations which is the epitome of using things you have at home to make really fun, simple, easy activities to do with you kids," she said.
She's also well aware of the challenges parents face when trying to keep their kids entertained. Her advice for parents who have a limited amount of time is to focus on activities that foster independence in kids. "A lot of these activities they can do at any age. They just require more parental involvement [the younger they are]," said Bast.
For parents who aren't sure where to start, Elmer's Creations makes it super easy to find ideas. "That's why Elmer's Creations is so amazing," said Bast. "You can go to their site and they'll have their ingredients list so you can kind of prep in advance and say, 'This week we have a whole day at home. I want to do an activity.'"
Overall she said parents can't go wrong with the activities that Elmer's Creations provides. "They'll be adding more things to do in the future so I highly recommend them. It's a free source," she exclaimed.
More Activities For Kids From Elmer's Creations
Image via Elmer's Creations
Watercolor Salt Art
If you're worried that you won't be able to have fun introducing Watercolor Salt Art to your child, think again. This is probably one of my favorite Elmer's activities for kids because it not only allows them to be creative, but they're also to engage in sensory play. It's something I've tried this with my son and it's become one of our favorite activities to do.
If this art-challenged mom can create simple shapes for her kid to pour salt on and later paint, anyone can have fun creating fun art to hang on their refrigerator.
Here's what you'll need for this activity:
- 1 bottle (4 fl oz) Elmer’s White School Glue
- Cardstock paper
- Iodized salt
- Watercolor paint
- Paint brush
- Water
Image via Elmer's Creations
Smoothing Soothing Glue Art
Already have your own little Picasso in the making at home? It sounds like you need to introduce them to Elmer's Smoothing Soothing Glue Art activity! It goes a step further than the Watercolor Salt Art's simplicity, but it's still something the entire family can enjoy!
Think of it like this: your kid will be able to use the negative space of the canvas you've given them to create their own abstract art.
Here's what you'll need for this activity:
- 1 bottle (4 fl oz) Elmer’s White School Glue
- Acrylic paint
- Canvas
- A straightedge (such as a ruler or squeegee)
Image via Elmer's Creations
Peelable Polish
This is one of the activities for kids I'm 100% sure my niece would love. She loves beauty-related things already and spends her time watching kid-friendly nail design videos when she's allowed to watch YouTube.
What makes this activity so great is that it doesn't involve drawing unless you count using your little one's nails as a blankl canvas. On second thought, that actually may be a great playtime hack! You can create an entire scenario that involves your little one going to their own personal salon!
Here's what you'll need for this activity:
- 3 tbsp Elmer's White School Glue
- 2-3 drops of acrylic paint
- Small paint brush
- Reusable plate or painter's palette
- Stir stick
- Measuring spoon
Bast's oldest daughter loves Elmer's
Peelable Polish activity! "What I tend to do is have one structured, simple, easy activity for my oldest child that's 30 minutes," Bast said. "I've found that doing this kind of changes the whole morale of the afternoon for the family."
Image via Elmer's Creations
Mellow Mallow
There's just something satisfying about having something slimy and gooey in your hands when you're a kid. The only thing I can think is that this counts as another sensory play activity.
For my parents who have older kids, this Mellow Mallow activity is great if they've got an affinity for anything that normally would give you the ick. If the thought of allowing your older kid to make their own slime gives you the creeps, assure yourself that you'll be supervising and will know that it's nothing that's going to come alive as if it's something from Goosebumps.
Here's what you'll need for this activity:
- 5 fl oz Elmer’s White School Glue
- 3 tbsp Elmer’s Magical Liquid
- 6.5 fl oz soft clay
- 1/2 cup shaving foam*
- Cookie cutter
- Food coloring (optional)
- Measuring cup
- Measuring spoons
- Bowl
*Parental supervision required
Image via Elmer's Creations
Clingies
Have you been thinking about adding a seasonal decal to a few of the windows in your home? Elmer's Creations has just the thing for you and your kids!
Get creative by literally designing your own window decals using Elmer's Glue and a few other supplies! Most of them can be found at home, which makes this one of the most inexpensive ways to create arts and crafts.
Here's what you'll need for this activity:
- 3 tbsp Elmer's White School Glue
- 8 drops food coloring
- 3-4 drops of dish soap
- Bowl
- Paint brush
- Measuring spoons
- Sheet Protectors
Whether you have a little one who may be interested in creating their own slime or they want to spend 20-30 minutes painting, Elmer's Creations has the perfect creative activities for kids you can freely take advantage of. I'll actually be stocking up on glue today!
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