How to get kids off their screens during lockdown

Confined within four walls for the forseeable future, countless children are becoming even more dependent on screens to stave off the boredom of lockdown.

And while many parents will welcome the social interaction their children get from gaming, the internet and social media during this time, few will want their children to spend every waking moment staring at a screen.

But to prise them away from their beloved tablets and phones, alternative pursuits are necessary – and that’s where 101 Things for Kids to do Screen-Free could come in handy.

“We’re living through some really strange times right now,” says Dawn Isaac, the book’s author. “Our kids are having to go online to complete school work or do lessons, so it’s more important than ever to give them a bit of screen-free time.”

She suggests designating two or three hours a day as screen-free time, and making this is a regular occurrence so everyone expects it, and it doesn’t cause a daily argument with the kids.

“But it does need to be the whole family,” she adds. “Kids can sniff out hypocrisy from a mile away, so it does mean parents need to put away phones too.”

Here are two of the ideas in the book to get children aged between about eight and 12 off screens.

1. Create cardboard costumes

Cut some cardboard strips the width of a ruler. These are used as the basis of any costume. For example, a strip around the head for any headpiece like a helmet or two strips made into loops and attached to a straight cardboard section as wide as your back makes armholes so you can put on a back-mounted costume like fairy wings or a dinosaur’s spines. Use PVA glue to hold the parts together and paint your costume when finished.

2. Make a tape town

Use a roll of masking tape, which is easy to lift off carpets and floors, and lay out your town with a road system and train tracks and include buildings made from boxes.

• 101 Things for Kids to do Screen-Free by Dawn Isaac is published by Kyle Books, £10.99.

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