100 Guilt Free Screen Time Ideas for Kids
As we all worry about how much screen time is too much, and what terrible things the internet and social media are doing to your kids, it is easy to forget about how cool technology really is. It’s easy to see screen time as something ‘bad’, something scary, and something that we constantly have to battle our kids over, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
There are so many amazing, clever, interesting, positive and guilt free screen time ideas for kids!
There is a lot of information out there about how bad screen time is for our kids, and I know it can be hard to work the best way to manage technology with our kids, but being afraid, or banning all screen time is not practical, nor is it useful.
Our kids need to learn about technology, how it works, the traps and tricks that can be damaging, and how to balance screen time with other things. This post about managing video games has a lot of great information for kids and parents about how to manage gaming and screen time in a positive way.
Not everything that involves a screen or the internet will ‘rot our kids’ minds’, and we don’t have to feel guilty about letting our kids use screens. There are loads of cool, positive ways that kids can use a screens and technology.
100 Guilt Free Screen Time Ideas for Kids.
This list is jam packed with cool, creative and positive ways kids can use technology.
This list doesn’t include links to specifically educational ‘school work’ type options, although most of these ideas are educational, they just don’t look like school work. This list does include lots of fun and interesting screen time options that no one has to feel guilty about.
This is by no means and exhaustive list, there are so many awesome resources out there, but these ideas should get you started.
Most of these links are appropriate for kids aged 5+. Younger kids will need supervision and may need help with some things, and some links are better suited for tweens and teens. I’ve added an approximate age guide for each link, and ordered them from youngest to oldest, with the things suitable for any age first.
As with all thinks (and especially technology), you should check out these links first and make sure they are right for your kids and your family.
Art and Crafts
There are so many amazing online resources for learning about and creating art. And there are even more online resources for getting crafty!
These are just a few of our favourites, but a quick google and you’ll find many many more!
Google Arts and Culture
Take a virtual tour of some of the most famous galleries (and museums, and landmarks) from around the world.
Great for any age.
Red Ted Art
There are so many great crafty ideas for all ages on this Youtube channel.
Great for any age.
Fun Activities for Kids
Another youtube channel full of crafty ideas from Simple Every Day Mom.
Great for any age.
Art for Kids Hub
This family run Youtube Channel has lots and lots of drawing lessons.
Great for any age.
Amziograph.
Make amazing patterns and mandalas with this ipad app.
Great for all ages.
Scribblify
This app is little simpler than the other ones, but it still has lots of cool features.
Great for any age.
Doodle Art App.
This is a simple but fun drawing app for iOS, even little ones can have a go with this one.
Age 4+
Procreate.
This ipad app is not cheap but is fabulous, especially if you have an apple pencil.
Age 8+
Artflow
This app is similar to Procreate but for android users.
Age 8+
Krita
This an open source an art program for Windows, it’s great for tweens and teens.
Age 10+
Sketchpad
This s a really cool online drawing tool, or you can pay a small fee and download a desktop app.
Age 8+
Barley and Birch
One of our favourite crafty youtube channels with lots of ideas that are good for tweens too.
Age 8+
Origami Tree
Lots of beginner and more difficult origami creations on this Youtube channel. 8+
90 Seconds of Origami
Some of the origami on this youtube channel will really challenge your older kids.
Age 10+
Music
If you are a music lover there are so many amazingly cool musical technologies that are easy enough for everyone to have a go at! Make music, learn about music, or listen to music!
Here are a few ideas my kids love.
Garageband
Make music on any apple device! This is a firm favourite with all my kids and there are lots of tutorials online if you need help.
Great for any age, little ones will need help.
Audiotool
This is a windows or chrome alternative to Garageband.
Great for any age, little ones will need help.
Chrome Music Lab
All you need to play around with these cool musical activities is the Chrome browser.
Great for any age.
Music Videos
There are so many super cool and interesting music videos online. Here are a few of our recent favs – Cave Music, Paramour Lego Train, and the Typewriter Concerto.
Great for any age.
Classics for Kids
This site has lots of music to listen to, a great podcast, and games to play.
Great for any age.
Science is Real by They Might Be Giants.
This is a fab YouTube playlist from the band They Might Be Giants, with the best science based songs and lots of cool animations. Here Come the 123s and Here Come the ABCs are also pretty good.
Great for any age.
Toca Band.
This inexpensive app lets you explore sound and music, and is lots of fun.
Age 4+
Piano
This is a piano for your iOS devices! You can play along to a load of songs, from simple to quite hard!
Age 6+
Music Tutor
Practice sight reading music with this app.
Age 8+
30 Day Ukulele Course.
Bernadette Teaches Music teaches you how to play the ukulele (which are cheap and easy to buy online), but you can find tutorials to learn just about any instrument online!
Age 8+
Soundfly – How to Read Music Class
This is a free online class to beginners, perfect for tweens and teens.
Age 10+
Movies and Animation
Using some cool technologies, even little kid can create amazing movies or stop motion animation. Lego or modelling clay are great for making stop motion animations, or challenge your kids to make a movie about their day, or recreate a scene from a favourite book or movie. And once you’ve made a movie, rest a while and watch one, there are lots of informative and educational movies that you can watch guilt free with your kids.
Watch Some Amazing Amimations
From amazing animations, to award winning documentaries, there are so many worthwhile things to watch! Here are a few ideas – Maestro, kids books that are also great movies, top ten musicals for family movie night.
Great for all ages.
Flip Anim
Make a flipbook in your web browser!
Age 6+
ABCYA Animate
This is a really cool web based application that is an easy way to get kids started with animation.
Age 6+
Stop Motion Studio
This app (for ios, android and windows) is easy to use with lots of cool features. There is a free version, but the paid upgrade is not super expensive if you want it.
Age 8+
iMovie.
This is the standard movie making software that comes with apple devices, and it’s easy to use and creates amazing results.
Age 8+
Windows Movie Maker
This is the new version of good old Windows Movie maker. It’s easy to use with lots of basic features for free.
Age 8+
1 Second Every Day
This app is not just for us parents who want to save memories, it’s a really cool way to document a trip, or event, and it’s simple enough that kids can create all kinds of cool videos.
Age 8+
Make A Simple Animation with Printables
We shared some free printables and our process for making simple animations with kids.
Age 8+
Animaker
This web based tool lets you drag and drop lots of characters to make cool cartoons.
Age 10+
Movement and Dance
People often talk about screen time as though kids do nothing but sit motionless, like a zombie, in front of a screen, but these days that is far from the case! There are so many cool resources to get kids moving.
Just Dance.
We have several of these games and they never fail to get our whole family up and moving. They also have a youtube channel.
Great for all ages.
Cosmic Kids Yoga
This youtube channel has loads of yoga videos, with all kinds of kid approved themes and stories.
Age 3+
Kidsz Bop
There are lots and lots of dances to learn on this youtube channel. (Here is a huge list of yoga for kids videos if you are looking for more.)
Age 3+
Go Noddle
Lots of silly songs and movement activities, as well as some ‘cooler’ dance tutorials. Lots of stuff to get kids moving.
Age 3+
Kids Workouts to do at Home.
You might know this YouTube creator from PE with Joe, this is his playlist of quick and easy workouts for kids.
Age 5+
Move to Learn
Another youtube channel with lots of dance videos, with something for the little kids as well as teens.
Age 5+
The Incredible Sport of Cup Stacking
This article and video is a great introduction to cup stacking, once your kids are hooked you’ll find loads more tutorials online.
Age 6+
STEM
There are so many super cool science, engineering, technology and math resources online. There are amazing videos, cool interactive apps, and loads of games that have you working on scientific skills, maths, problem solving, and logic without you even realising it.
Nature Documentaries for Kids
This is a great list of nature docos that are appropriate for kids from Kid World Citizen.
Great for all ages.
Monterey Bay Aquarium Live Web Cam.
My favourite is the ‘Jelly Cam’… watching those jelly fish is so relaxing!
Great for all ages.
San Diego Zoo Live Cams
If you are on the other side of the world (like me) you’ll have to note the time difference, but these live animal cams are super fun.
Great for all ages.
The Smithsonian Virtual Tours.
Visit the Smithsonian natural history museum without leaving home.
Great for all ages.
International Space Station Tour.
Tour the international space station, then check out the other cool stuff at the NASA site, and NASA on youtube
Great for all ages.
Canadian Space Agency on Youtube.
This is where you’ll find Chris Hadfield answering questions and doing cool things on the international space station.
Great for all ages.
SkyView App
This stargazing iOS and android app is very cool!
Great for all ages.
Exploratorium Videos
Lots of interesting videos, some of our favourites are the ‘Science Snacks’ series.
Great for all ages.
Spangler Science TV
So many cool science experiments!
Great for all ages.
Switch Zoo
A fun online game (or app) that lets you combine various animal bits to make an entirely new animal. They have other fun animal games and info too.
Age 4+
Space Place
This NASA site for kids has games, information and videos.
Age 5+
National Geographic Kids
Nat Geo kids has videos, articles, games and all kinds of stuff on lots and lots of different topics.
Age 5+
Tynker
You can create apps, mod minecraft, learn code… all kinds of cool coding stuff.
Age 5+
What Do We Do All Day?
This YouTube channel (and blog) is full of videos about science, maths, logic puzzles and loads more fun things to try.
Age 6+
Little Alchemy 2.
There is not much real science in this game, but it’s a great thinking puzzle, but be warned, it’s kind of addicting! You can also get it as an app.
Age 6+
Where on Google Earth is Carmen Sandiego.
Do you remember this game from when you were a kid? This is the same thing but via Google earth.
age 6+
Sugar Sugar
This simple looking logic game is deceptively difficult in the higher levels! There are lots of other maths and logic games at Math Playground.
Age 6+
Sci Show
So many cool and interesting videos about so many different things!
Age 8+
It’s Ok to Be Smart.
The host of these videos, Joe Hanson, is funny, but explains all the various topics really well.
Age 8+
Monster Physics.
This inexpensive app is loads of fun, and you’ll be learning a lot without even realising it.
Age 8+
Scratch
The best coding site for kids, hands down.
Age 8+
Math Snacks
Lots of games and videos on all kinds of maths topics.
Age 10+
History, Culture, and Current Events
One of the best things about technology is that you can experience things you may otherwise never get to. You can do some virtual travel, connect with people from all different cultures, and be exposed to so many different ideas and ways of thinking.
These are just some of the games, websites, applications and videos out there, and they are all brain expanding, and super cool.
Horrible Histories
This is such a great TV show and there are loads of episodes on their youtube channel.
Great for all ages.
360 Cities
Type in a city and view 360 degree images of various places in the city! Very cool.
Age 8+
Geobeats
These videos are like taking a virtual trip to all kinds of interesting places.
Age 8+
Brain Bubble.
Their tag line is ‘be smarted in 60 seconds’ and that sums these short videos up really well.
Age 8+
Behind The News
This is an Aussie based news site aimed at kids 8-13 with lots of current affairs and interesting topics.
Age 8+
Anne Frank House.
Take a virtual tour of the Secret Annex.
Age 10+
Crash Course
Hank and John Green make cool videos about all kinds of things, including lots of history, philosophy, and loads more.
Age 10+
Snag Films
Free documentaries on a variety of topics – these are mostly for tweens and teens, and you’ll need to check the ratings of each individual film.
Age 12+
Big History
This is aimed at teens, but sign in as a ‘lifelong learner’ and there is lots of amazing content.
Age 12+
Alternative History Hub.
These vidoes ask ‘what if this event never happened?’ and are an interesting alternative to the usual history videos.
Age 12+
Language and Literacy.
With a lot of screen time including reading or communication, there are so many guilt free technology options in the language and literacy area. Get the computer to write some bad poetry for you, learn to type, or find a good book.
Communication
Send an email to a friend, face time with your grandma, join a group chat about your favourite topic. Yes, kids need to supervised and educated when it comes to communication online, but technology makes it so much easier to connect, don’t waste that opportunity!
Great for all ages.
BookBub
Check out their site or sign up for an email and they will tell you what ebooks are available free each day.
Great for all ages.
Storyline Online
This site features lots of different actors reading picture books – it’s perfect for little kids!
Age 3+
Starfall
My kids LOVED this site when they were little, lots of fun learning games for preschoolers to 8 year olds.
Age 3+
Magnetic Poetry Online.
Just like the classic fridge magnets, but you can rearrange them on the web page to make fun poems or, for younger kids, silly sentences.
Age 6+
Boggle
Good old boggle, but an online version.
Age 6+
Words With Friends
Challenge someone to a Words With Friends game!
Age 6+ (with supervision)
Kidztype
Web based typing lessons and lots of typing games.
Age 6+
Spelltower
This IOS app has a small cost but is really good and even young kids can have a go at it.
Age 6+
Online Hieroglyphics Translator
Type in whatever you want and it will translate it into ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphics!
Age 8+
Poem Generator
Write all kinds of poems with no effort at all!
Age 10+
Poem Machine
This is another fun poetry generator with lots of different styles to choose from.
Age 10+
Song Lyrics Generator.
This website writes really, really, bad songs, but it is a lot of fun.
Age 10+
Merriam Webster – Word of the Day.
Improve your vocabulary and drop some of these ‘words of the day’ into your conversations! Merriam Webster also has some fun word games and quizzes.
Age 10+
Padfoot and Prongs 07
For lovers of Harry Potter and YA fiction with lots of book reviews and other bookish stuff.
Age 12+
Puzzle Baron’s Cryptograms
These are quite hard, well I find them hard! This site is probably best for teens or older kids with more skills than I have!
Age 12+
Goodreads
Read lots of reviews, write your own reviews, find your next book to read, keep track of what you have read, and other great bookish stuff.
Age 13+
Mental Health and Well-being
There are so many great ways to relax and chill out online, plus there are lots of resources to help our kids learn about and manage some of the more tricky aspects of mental health and well-being. Mental health is important, and these resources are definitely worth checking out.
New Horizon Meditation and Sleep Stories.
Lots of guided meditation videos with something for all ages.
Age 4+
Fablefy
Animated mindfulness videos.
Age 5+
Kids Helpline
Kids of all ages (as well as young adults) can call Kids Helpline any time for any reason, and you can also email or chat online to them. This is an important resources that all kids shoudl be aware of. This is an Australian based service, if you need to find something similar where you live check out Child Helpline International.
Age 5+
Mind Yeti
Guided meditation with a cute animated yeti!
Age 5+
Smiling Mind
A free meditation app with lots of options.
Age 7+
Better Than Yesterday
Lots of videos on all kinds of mental health and personal growth issues. Some are great for kids, all are good for teens.
Age 8+
Natasha Daniels from Anxious Toddlers to Teens.
Natasha is a child therapist and her series of videos for kids who have anxiety to watch are great. She also has a series for kids who have OCD and a Kids Hleping Kids series.
Age 8+
Superbetter
Superbetter is a game that builds resilience and improves mental health.
Age 10+
Minus18
Minus18 supports LGTBIQ teens and young people and has loads of interesting articles, events and support.
Age 13+
Other Stuff
Here are a few things that don’t fit neatly into one of the categories above, but are too good to miss!
The Kids Should See This
This site collects the best videos on all kinds of amazingly interesting topics. There is something for all ages, and you absolutely have to check it out!
Great for all ages.
TED Ed.
From the same people that bring you TED Talks, this is their education website and it is full of really cool and interesting videos and articles on loads of topics for all ages.
Great for all ages.
ABC Education.
This is the Australian Broadcasting Commision education website and it has lots of videos, games and other interesting stuff for kids of all ages.
Great for all ages.
Vlog Brothers.
I’ve mentioned John and Hank Green’s crash course videos in the history section, but they also do a Vlog Brothers series (and podcast) which is full of interesting and funny videos. They cover things like mental health, current events and all kinds of random fun stuff.
Age 10+
This list started off as a few links I’d collected because I thought my kids would be interested in, and then it grew and grew! And it is my no means an exhaustive list. There are so many other fabulous screen time ideas and resources available for our kids (and us) to explore.
Sure, mindless scrolling or endless game playing may not be all that healthy for our kids, but neither is trying to ban screen time all together. Check out some of these ideas with your kids, and show them that there are lots of healthy, and positive ways to enjoy some screen time.
If you’ve got other great guilt free screen time ideas for kids, please leave a link in the comments so we can all check them out!
Thank you so much for this list!
This is an incredible resource! Thank you so much!!!
What a wonderful resource! Thank you