Canadian high school students spend up to seven hours a day on screens on average, over three and a half times the recommended limit of two hours a day. Excessive screen time is linked to inadequate sleep, poorer communication skills, and mental health issues. Fortunately, when you need a break from screens, there’s plenty of fun activities to keep kids engaged and entertained.
Play paintball
Paintball is a fun activity for kids and parents alike. It’s also surprisingly physically demanding – in addition to running, you’ll end up doing plenty of ducking and crawling, which means you’ll get a great full-body workout without anyone even realising. Paintball will also help develop your kids’ reflexes – something that comes in handy in many aspects of life. So, when you’re ready for a game, Paintball Action Games in Edmonton is the place to head (paintball here is suitable for ages 10+).
Build your own fort at-home
Building your own fort can provide endless entertainment at home – and it’s totally free. Blanket forts, in particular, are easy to build – all you need is some blankets, tablecloths, or towels, and laundry clips. To build your fort, start by hanging lighter sheets to sturdy fixtures high-up in the room (think: shelving, light fixtures, floor lamps, and curtain rods). Next, use clips to connect them with other sheets. Secure the ends of the sheets under furniture legs around the room to make it larger. Once your fort’s ready, you can decorate the interior with comfy pillows and blankets – this makes it the perfect spot to read your favourite books, or your kids may even want to hang out there alone in their own special secret spot. You can also use this time to listen to the radio. DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) radios, in particular, are a nice option – they don’t require tuning, while also providing a clear sound quality. Some DAB radios also include handy features like Bluetooth connectivity and USB charging ports.
Go skateboarding
Skateboarding is another fun way to get your kids up out of the house and moving. It also offers a host of key health benefits, such as, improved fitness, coordination, balance, and flexibility. Working to stay upright and stable on a moving skateboard engages multiple muscle groups (including the core, legs, and arms), and kids need to learn to make precise micro-movements to skate smoothly and minimise fear of falling. Moreover, the skills they develop skateboarding will stand them in good stead in numerous other spots, including, gymnastics, skiing, and yoga. House of Wheels Indoor Skateboard Park in Edmonton, in particular, is a great local skateboard park. While you can drop in for one-off sessions, they also offer lessons at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. Non-member pricing starts at $15 for one hour on weekdays.
Separating kids from their devices doesn’t have to be difficult. Playing paintball, building a blanket fort, and skateboarding are just some of the fun screen-free activities to try out next with your kids.