Let me just say it: I am not anti-screen time.
I’m also not the mom who limits iPad use to exactly 27.5 minutes and only after a kale smoothie and a 1.5-mile nature walk.
Some days? My daughter Lyric has what we call a “binge day.” She curls up with her tablet and headphones, zoning into Minecraft or a Netflix show for hours.
And I don’t feel guilty about it.
Because sometimes her brain and body just need the break. The same way we might crash on the couch with a favorite show or scroll aimlessly through social media, she needs space to rest, reset, and escape a little too. I can usually tell when she needs that kind of day—and we honor it.
Screens aren’t the enemy. They’re part of her world, and honestly, part of mine too. But when we’re ready to unplug, I like to offer something that feels fun and freeing—not like a punishment or a forced “wholesome” alternative.
Here are a few screen-free ideas I keep in my back pocket. These are low-pressure, simple things we actually enjoy doing—not a Pinterest checklist, just real-life resets.
Creative Projects
Sometimes the easiest way to unplug and break the screen cycle is to set up a space where imagination can take over.
Minecraft IRL: If your kid’s into Minecraft, try offering boxes, tape, and markers and let them build their own village. It’s messy, but totally worth it.
Nature Collages: One of our personal favorites is going outside to collect leaves, flowers, or twigs, and then pressing them onto paper with Press’n Seal. It turns into the prettiest natural art and gets us moving without any pressure.
No-Rules Art Table: I like to keep a bin of mixed supplies—stickers, glue sticks, scraps, googly eyes—and just let her go wild. No instructions, no plan, just creativity.
DIY Craft Kits: Even something simple like making pasta jewelry or a fairy garden in an old flower pot can turn into a fun little afternoon.
Simple Fun at Home
You don’t need a schedule or a theme every day—but having a few go-to ideas helps make it easier to unplug.
Chore Charts with a Twist: I ordered one from Amazon, but making one from scratch could be just as fun. Add little incentives like stickers or tokens, and suddenly it feels like a game. It gives the day some structure, and Lyric actually likes checking things off.
Themed Days: Some mornings I’ll just casually say, “Today is baking day,” or “Let’s make it fort-building day.” Giving it a title adds a little spark to an otherwise regular day.
Sticker Treasure Hunts: Hide a few stickers or tiny surprises around the house and give her clues. It’s ridiculously simple, but fun—and takes very little prep.
Puzzle and Snack Time: Sometimes we’ll put on music, spread out a big puzzle, and I’ll make a little snack plate. It feels slow, cozy, and connected.
Free (or Close to Free) Waco Adventures
When the walls start closing in, a quick local outing can make or break you ability to unplug.
Cameron Park: It’s one of our favorite places for a reset. There are trails to explore, rocks to climb, and plenty of space to pretend we’re on an adventure. Sometimes we bring a clipboard and do a scavenger hunt.
The Library: Libraries are such an underrated gem. Ours has puzzles, comfy spots to read, and sometimes a little craft table. It’s a peaceful, screen-free zone that doesn’t feel forced.
Downtown Murals: A casual mural walk has turned into a sketching session more than once. We’ll snap a photo, then try to draw it later at home. It’s a fun way to blend creativity with fresh air. 
At the end of the day, I don’t think screens are the problem. Guilt is.
Letting our kids have downtime—real downtime—on a device isn’t lazy parenting. It’s just modern parenting.
And when it’s time to unplug, we don’t need to make it a big production. Just a little intention, a little flexibility, and maybe a glue stick or two.
No perfection required. Just connection.
If you find yourself in a rut for how to unplug and put the screens down, I hope you’ll try some of the ideas listed above. And if you feel you’re relying on screens too much, check out this article by another contributor, Natalie Jones, who shares how she tackled her daughter’s iPad obsession!
