30 Screen-Free Activities for your Tweens and Teens

I know I can’t be the only parent who has to repeatedly remind her middle schoolers to get off their devices between school and dinner. 

At this age, some kids struggle with filling their downtime. Here’s a list of screen-free, after-school activities to suggest to your tweens and teens when boredom arises.

1. Teach them to cut and chop ingredients for dinner.
2.  Have them meet up with a friend for ice cream.
3. Teach them how to do laundry.
4. Head to library for new book series.
5. Have them walk the dog or have playtime with other pets.
6. Get out long-forgotten art supplies. (Remember watercolors or Perler beads?)
7.  Make a single-serving dessert. See mug cake recipe below!
8. Take a bike ride around the neighborhood.
9. Have them mow, rake or shovel —depending on the season.
10. Get supplies to create friendship bracelets.
11. Have them roll loose change.
12. Have them cheer on a friend at local sporting event.
13. Start a workout challenge, like a pushup or sit-up streak.
14. Learn the latest viral dance — or choreograph your own.
15. Bust out a classic board game.
16. Shoot hoops in the driveway or at the park.
17. Write a letter to a long-distance family member.
18. Find a volunteer opportunity for them.
19. Give them chalk for your front walkway.
20. Have them try yoga.
21. Start a puzzle.
22. Have them practice or learn an instrument.
23. Clean out everyone’s closets and start a donation bin.
24. Write a trivia quiz to do over dinner.
25. Test out a new hairdo or makeup style.
26. Have a cartoon/anime drawing contest.
27. Have them challenge a sibling to hangman or tic tac toe.
28. Have them empty out their backpack or gym bag.
29. Unearth their old Legos.
30. Get out the Play-Doh, Sculpey Clay or make salt dough.

Microwave Vanilla Mug Cake

Ingredients 

1/4 cup and 1 ½ teaspoons all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons sugar

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

Dash of salt

2 tablespoon melted butter or oil

3 tablespoon milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon sprinkles (optional)

Instructions: 

Stir together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a microwave-safe mug. Stir in milk, melted butter or oil and vanilla extract. Add sprinkles and stir. Cook times vary due to microwave differences. Start by microwaving the mug cake for 70 seconds. Wait 1 minute to see if it is set. Cook for an additional 10-20 seconds if needed, allowing it to rest 1 minute before consuming. Enjoy!