Screen Free Fun

Ollie has a big imagination and big plans for summer. But no one in his family wants to go outside and play. Dad is sending emails, Mom is watching TV, Ollie’s siblings are playing video games and texting—even Gram and Gramps are too busy downloading photos. Too much screen time! How can Ollie get his family to shut off their gadgets and play together? In our technology-focused world, more kids than ever turn to screens for information and entertainment—just like their parents. By the time children are eight, they spend seven or more hours a day with screens and electronics. Ollie Outside invites kids and parents to read together, get outdoors, and focus on family fun. Tips at the end of the book reinforce this message.

Fight back against boredom and keep your kids busy and entertained—without staring at a screen—with this handy collection of family activities ranging from DIY projects to outdoor adventures to easy daytrips. While technology often offers a quick and easy parenting solution to keep children entertained, too much screen time can negatively affect developmental and social skills, and even lead back to the original problem—boredom. Screen-Free Fun offers over 400 ideas to disconnect from tech devices and reconnect with our families in a healthier way. You and your child can pick from DIY activities to games to weekend outings. Since many of the activities work well for kids at various ages, your family will be able to grow along with the different projects and make plans for both younger and older siblings alike. You can try indoor projects like homemade slime, outdoor activities like building a fort, or learn more about your favorite destinations with activities like a scavenger hunt in your neighborhood or an i-spy game at the zoo. There is also space for your family to add your own favorite activities so you never forget a great idea or memory! From summer vacation to holiday breaks and every rainy day in between, with this book you and your family will always have something fun to do together—without ever having to resort to a tablet, phone, or computer.

Bring back playtime, all the time! Dive into a Bubbling Swamp World. Drum on an Outdoor Sound Wall. Explore the gooeyness of Glowing Slime. With the one-of-a-kind projects in 150+ Screen-Free Activities for Kids, your family will rediscover the spirit of imaginative play! These fun activities help develop your child's creativity and skills--all without a screen in sight. Featuring step-by-step instructions and beautiful photographs, each budget-friendly project will keep your child entertained, engaged, and learning all day long. Best of all, no one will complain about turning off the TV or computer with such entertaining activities as: Natural Dye Fingerpaints Taste-Safe, Gluten-Free Playdough Erupting Volcano Dinosaur World Fizzy Rainbow Slush Taste-Safe Glow Water Complete with dozens of exercises for babies, toddlers, and school-aged children, 150+ Screen-Free Activities for Kids will help your family step away from your devices and step into endless afternoons of playtime fun!

Fun and creative activities to stimulate your toddler every day of the year The Toddler's Busy Book contains 365 screen-free activities for one-and-a-half- to three-year-olds using things found around the home. It shows parents and daycare providers how to: Prevent boredom during the longest stretches of rainy days with ideas for indoor play, kitchen activities, and arts and crafts projects. Stimulate your child's natural curiosity with entertaining math, language, and motor-skills activities. Encourage your child's physical, mental, and emotional growth with fun music, food, water, and outdoor activities. Celebrate holidays and other occasions with special projects and activities. Keep toddlers occupied during long car trips or crosstown errands. The Toddler's Busy Book is written with warmth and sprinkled with humor and insight. It should be required reading for anyone raising or teaching toddlers.

Presents learning games and activities for every day of the year designed to help toddlers stay active and build their creativity.

Screen- Free Activites for Children: is a book to help parents with fun and exciting activites.Not all apps, online games or programs are created equal. To ensure quality screen time, consider these tips:Preview programs, games and apps before allowing your child to view or play with them.Seek out interactive options that engage your child, rather than those that just require pushing and swiping or staring at the screen.Use parental controls to block or filter internet content.Make sure your child is close by during screen time so that you can supervise his or her activities.Ask your child regularly what programs, games and apps he or she has played with during the day.Play a video game or explore a new app with your child.When watching programming with your child, discuss what you're watching and educate him or her about advertising and commercials.Seek out information from organizations such as Common Sense Media to help you determine if a program, game or app is appropriate.Remember that at some point your child will be exposed to content that you haven't approved beforehand and devices without internet filters. Talk to your child about the possible situations that could come up and the behavior you expect.Setting screen time limits for older childrenSet reasonable limits for your child's screen time, especially if your child's use of screens is hindering his or her involvement in other activities. Consider these tips:Prioritize unplugged, unstructured playtime.Create tech-free zones or times, such as during mealtime or one night a week.Discourage use of media entertainment during homework.Set and enforce daily or weekly screen time limits and curfews, such as no exposure to devices or screens 1 hour before bedtime.Consider using apps that control the length of time a child can use a device.Require your children to charge their devices outside of their bedrooms at night.Keep screens out of your child's bedroom.Limit your own screen time.Eliminate background TV.Teaching appropriate behaviorOnline relationships and social media have become a major part of adolescent life. Experts suggest that it's OK for your teen to be a part of these worlds -- as long as he or she understands appropriate behavior. Explain to your teen what's OK and what's not OK, such as sexting, cyberbullying and sharing personal information online. Teach your child not to send or share anything online that he or she would not want the entire world to see for eternity. No matter how smart or mature you feel your child is, monitor his or her online and social media behavior.Your child is bound to make mistakes using media. Talk to your child and help him or her learn from them. Also, model positive online etiquette yourself.Managing your child's use of screens and media will be an ongoing challenge. But by developing household rules-- and revisiting them as your child grows -- you can help ensure a safe and fun experience.

Yesterday, our kids were dressing up in princess costumes and tracking mud in the house. Today, they are lost in a virtual world, obsessed with video games, social media, and smartphones. As a result, kids are getting hurt. They have become more stressed, anxious, and depressed. And families are being pulled apart. But it's not too late to win back your kids. In "The Screen Strong Solution," you will learn how to free your child from screen addiction and obsession. Based on scientific research and authentic experiences, Melanie Hempe, RN by trade and mother of four, lays out the step-by-step game plan you'll need to reclaim your kids and reconnect your family. You'll learn why your child craves screen time, what building blocks are necessary for healthy development, how to nurture the most important relationships in your child's life, and how to replace the digital world with the real one. Today is the day to rethink the screens in your home, reclaim your kids, and reconnect your family.