10 Ways How to Reduce Screen Time

Fun Activities to Get Your Kids Moving

With technology as the driving force behind everything we do, it’s all too easy for children to become glued to screens – for gaming, watching videos, or browsing the web. While technology can be a useful tool, but too much screen time can negatively impact kids’ physical health, social skills, and cognitive development. Finding ways to gently guide children away from their screens and toward more active, engaging alternatives that boost their health and well-being is important.

Here are ten fun and exciting activities to help you wean your kids off their screens and encourage them to get moving. These activities are designed to be enjoyable, so your children will naturally gravitate toward them, making the transition from screens to physical activity a smooth and positive experience.

Encourage Outdoor Play

One of the easiest ways to get kids away from screens is by encouraging outdoor play. Nature has an incredible way of captivating a child’s imagination, whether through the rustling of leaves, the chirping of birds, or the open space to run freely. Outdoor play allows kids to engage in physical activities like running, jumping, and climbing, all of which help strengthen their muscles and improve cardiovascular health.

Create opportunities for outdoor play by taking them to a local park, setting up backyard games, or even organizing a simple scavenger hunt. The fresh air and natural surroundings will do wonders for their mood and creativity, too. As they explore and move, they’ll naturally forget about their devices. For a rich cultural experience with other kids to play with, sign your kids up for a Fitwize field trip.

Set Up Fun Family Challenges

Kids are more likely to engage in physical activity if it feels like a fun competition. You can create friendly family challenges that motivate everyone to participate. These challenges can be as simple as “who can do the most jumping jacks” or as elaborate as an obstacle course in your backyard or living room. The key is to make it enjoyable and to celebrate everyone’s effort, not just the winner.

You can also mix up the challenges by involving different types of exercises, from hopscotch and jump rope to dance-offs or relay races. Not only will this encourage physical activity, but it also promotes family bonding, and your kids will feel more inclined to step away from their screens when they know they get to compete with mom or dad.

Plan Family Hikes or Nature Walks

Going for a family hike or a nature walk is an excellent way to combine exercise with adventure. Choose trails or parks that are appropriate for your child’s age and fitness level, and make the experience exciting by looking for interesting plants, animals, or natural features along the way.

Not only does hiking provide cardiovascular benefits, but walking on uneven terrain helps build balance and coordination. Your kids will be so focused on the exploration aspect that they won’t even notice they’re exercising. Plus, regular nature walks can help foster an appreciation for the environment and promote mental well-being, which is particularly important in today’s screen-centric world.

Organize a Weekly Sports Night

Sports are a fantastic way to wean kids off screens while providing them with the physical exercise they need. Organizing a weekly sports night at home or a local park is an easy way to get them moving.

You can also make it a social event by taking them to a kids’ gym. This adds a social element that will make the activity even more enticing for your children. Beyond the physical benefits, playing sports teaches valuable life skills such as teamwork, perseverance, and discipline.

Host Dance Parties at Home

Kids love to dance, and it’s an excellent way to burn off energy while having fun. Set aside time to crank up some lively music and have a dance party right in your living room. Dancing is not only great cardio, but it also helps improve coordination and rhythm.

For an added layer of fun, turn it into a themed dance party with costumes, props, or even glow sticks. You could also introduce them to different styles of music or dance, from hip-hop to salsa. The goal is to keep it light-hearted and full of movement, so they’re actively engaging their muscles without even realizing they’re exercising.

Create DIY Obstacle Courses

A DIY obstacle course can be as simple or as elaborate as you want, but it’s a surefire way to get kids moving and having fun. Use everyday household items like chairs, pillows, and ropes to set up a course that challenges your children’s balance, agility, and strength. You can make the course even more interesting by adding time challenges or including tasks like crawling under tables or hopping on one foot.

Obstacle courses not only improve physical fitness but also encourage problem-solving and creativity as kids figure out how to navigate the challenges. Set it up indoors or outdoors and watch how quickly they forget about their screens as they race through the course.

Invest in Active Toys

Sometimes the right toy can make all the difference in getting kids off the couch and into action. Active toys like hula hoops, jump ropes, and trampolines are great for encouraging movement in a fun, low-pressure way. Even toys like scooters or bicycles can be excellent for getting them to go outside and engage in more physical activity.

These toys also help improve coordination, balance, and cardiovascular endurance. The key is to make sure the toys are easily accessible, so when they’re tempted by screen time, they can instead grab a jump rope or hop on their bike for a few laps around the neighborhood.

Sign Up for a Local Sports League

For kids who thrive in structured environments, signing them up for a local sports league can be a great way to cut down on screen time while keeping them active. Whether it’s soccer, basketball, or gymnastics, participating in team sports teaches children the importance of regular physical activity, and the social aspect makes it fun and engaging.

Being part of a team also fosters discipline and commitment, as children learn to practice regularly and work toward a common goal. Many leagues have games and practices several times a week, which can provide a steady and consistent routine of exercise that pulls them away from screens.

Encourage Gardening Together

Gardening may not seem like a traditional form of exercise, but it can be a surprisingly active way to get kids moving. From digging holes and pulling weeds to watering plants and harvesting vegetables, gardening engages various muscle groups and can work up quite a sweat.

Gardening also provides educational benefits, teaching kids about where food comes from, the life cycle of plants, and the importance of taking care of the environment. Plus, there’s something magical about watching a seed turn into a plant, and kids love the hands-on experience. As they work on their garden, they’ll be outdoors, moving, and learning valuable life lessons.

Register with a Kids Gym

When you’re looking for a more structured way to ensure your kids are getting regular exercise, consider enrolling them in a kids’ gym. A gym designed specifically for children offers a variety of activities tailored to their age group, from strength and circuit training to cardio exercises and coordination-building programs. These gyms often include fun elements like obstacle courses, trampoline areas, or rock climbing walls, so kids feel like they’re playing rather than working out.

Kids’ gyms are also a great option for building lifelong healthy habits. The fun atmosphere encourages regular attendance, and the social aspect of meeting other kids keeps them motivated. By registering your child at a kids’ gym, you provide a safe, supportive environment where they can develop physical skills, boost their fitness, and stay active year-round, all while reducing screen time.