Alternative Activities to Cut Down Your Kid’s Screen Time

The amount of time kids spend looking at screens these days is a bit concerning, especially when you consider how much time previous generations would spend enjoying the great outdoors. In this post, we’ll highlight a few activities — from mini paintball to photography — to get your children more active and away from the screen.

The digital age and all the things that have come with it has been a blessing in many regards, but it’s safe to say that it’s made us a lot less active than we used to be. Thankfully, the recent rise of the health and fitness trend has counterbalanced the situation somewhat — but for parents, it’s still something to be a little bit concerned about. Spending too much time indoors or completely inactive can lead to both physical and mental health problems, with obesity being the main villain.

So what can you do? The answer is to find appealing alternatives that actually make children want to put down their iPad or gaming controller. The following activities will give you some good options to start with.

Martial Arts

Although a combat sport may not be at the top of every parent’s list when it comes to their child’s hobbies, martial arts not only provides them with an effective way to keep fit, but it also introduces a sense of discipline and motivation to succeed. With these types of activities, you have to train to get better and learn more advanced techniques, which is directly transferable to many aspects of adult life.

While these types of activities aren’t every kid’s cup of tea, for those who develop a keen interest, it can be life-changing. This isn’t to say that they will never play computer games again — in fact, it may become a welcome break from their physical activities — but having the balance of the two will be highly beneficial for the long-term health and happiness of your children. They’ll also learn a few self-defence techniques along the way, which is always a bonus!

Paintball

Paintball for kids is a classic activity that allows them to embrace their inner Rambo, rally a few friends and embark on a day of controlled chaos. But have you ever considered paintball as a regular hobby? Finding a company that provides an engaging and immersive mini paintball experience has proved to be immensely effective for getting kids out of the house and taking part in physical activity.

Due to the fun nature of paintball and the novelty of realistic combat experience, it’s easy for the health and fitness advantages to go under the radar. Firstly, the sport requires a lot of movement, so it’s fantastic for cardio, but the general movements involved (such as crouching and crawling) also give players an awesome strength workout. Who needs the gym when you can shoot your mates with paintball guns?

Photography

Now for something a little bit unique and creative. Photography has become massively popular since the introduction of the internet and social media, and today, we’re exposed to more images than ever and able to see just how influential a photo can be. This not only makes photography an appealing hobby, but it also provides young people with a sense of direction, a skillset to enhance and a reason to get outside and seek out brilliant photo opportunities.

Although this will require an initial investment to buy a camera, you’ll find that the abundance of high-quality entry-level cameras on the market will give you plenty of options to find something that suits your budget. If you’re also particularly interested in photography yourself, it will give you a way to develop a stronger bond with your kids, as well as the ideal excuse for a few scenic trips!

Did you like this post? Why not Pin it?

Featured article