Fun Kids' Activities Without Screens When It's Cold Outside

Co-authored by Priscilla Li, MD, and Eunice Y. Yuen, MD, PhD

Screen time is used to describe activities that involve devices with screens, including cellphones, televisions, and computers. With the advent of the internet in the 1980s and widespread use of electronic devices in our daily lives, the topic of screen time has entered the zeitgeist of child development research. The Pew Research Center found that internet usage by teenagers in the United States has increased since 2015, with now 96 percent of those polled reporting daily internet use. A Children’s Hospital of Chicago study found that 81 percent of children under 13 years old own a personal electronic device.

Access to electronic devices has increased in school and home settings. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, schools have increasingly utilized online learning. Although more than 17 states' schools have banned phone use in classrooms, screen time remains concerning, with 8 out of 10 teachers assigning an electronic device to students compared to 3 out of 10 teachers before the pandemic. Increased screen time at schools has created new problems, including reduced concentration and critical thinking, as children blindly trust information at face value. This might be associated with the recent new test results by the National Assessment of Educational Progress that reported 33 percent of 8th graders have “below basis” reading skills in the past 20 years.

Using screens can be helpful in forming social bonds with others, learning in a visual and audio format, and watching entertainment. However, excessive screen time and unhealthy engagement with screens can impact physical and mental health. An integrative literature review published in 2022 found that overuse of screen time (defined as 4-6 hours/day for pre-adolescents and more than 10 hours/day for adolescents) was associated with poor sleep quality, obesity, and negative self-esteem. The association of outcomes could be bidirectional, with studies finding that participants with decreased sleep quality and symptoms of depression and anxiety report increased screen time. Furthermore, when young children spend more time on screens, they have fewer chances to interact with their caregivers. This can impact normal language, social, and emotional development.

Regardless, screen time has become an integrated part of daily activities, and to face this new reality, the American Academy of Pediatrics provides recommendations for screen time use and guidelines for how caregivers can help their children engage with screens in a healthy manner.

As the weather gets colder and children spend more time indoors, identifying family activities beyond turning to electronic devices can be helpful to reduce screen time. Winter months coincide with school break, and this provides more time to bond socially.

Recommended activities:

• Reading books: Visit your local library to sign up for a library card and get in the loop with events hosted by the library. Have turns reading books with your child and ask them about their favorite parts of the book. Check in to see what events your local library is hosting for children, adolescents, and families.
• Cooking and baking: Explore the different food groups through family recipes. Sharing family stories through cooking, as well as teaching your child where food comes from, is a great way to engage them and form strong memories.
• Writing letters to loved ones: Put pen to paper and write letters to loved ones about anything! Helping your child write the letter and mail it at the post office can be a fun, hands-on way to show them another meaningful way to stay connected with loved ones.
• Drawing: All you need is paper and a pencil. You can draw together by taking turns adding to the same drawing and seeing what the finished piece looks like. For older kids, creating characters and telling stories from their drawings can be a fun activity.
• Playing games: This can be anything from charades to card games to board games that involve the whole family. What’s even more entertaining is making up a game together.
• Exercising: For adolescents, going to the gym with them or finding a workout class to take together is a great way to encourage physical activity while also spending time with each other. Indoor workouts range from rock climbing to pilates to high-intensity interval training.
• Attending performances: Attend a local play, musical, or concert with your child. It’s a fun way to experience the arts and support local artists and musicians. Especially during the holiday times, schools and performing arts centers will have holiday performances.

Conclusion

Winter months can be challenging for families as outdoor activities are limited. While screen time can be a method for children to be entertained, research notes the concerning effects of screen time on education and physical and mental health. Exploring other indoor activities that involve other family members can not only reduce screen time but also strengthen social bonds in the home.

Priscilla Li, MD, is a first-year psychiatry resident at the Medical University of South Carolina. She is interested in child and adolescent psychiatry and psychotherapy.