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Tired of basing all your activities around the television? I totally get the appeal of television. It can relax you after a long day, it can entertain you in ways you didn’t think possible, it can teach you something about something you never knew about.

But….we also know that the ideals and morals that exist on the majority of television shows are not so healthy or wonderful. Especially for my children, who are all under 3 at the moment. Too many things of yuck exist that they do not need to be seeing, at least not without me there to explain.

Ever since I wrote my Ultimate Guide to Catholic Kids’ Shows, I have been convicted about how much time I actually spend in front of the television. So much that I created some criteria with how to discern whether or not I should be watching television.

While this is a great place to start when trying to keep the screens off, I also must give some alternative activities, right? I am right there with you when watching TV is just easy and you have to make a little more effort in order to do something different.

Trust me, it is going to be better for you and your children in the long haul. Not convinced? This article on TV for Infants and Toddlers is enough to scare you. If that doesn’t do it, check out this study from the University of Michigan.

21 Alternative Activities to TV

Some of these are meant for adults, but most of them can be adapted to include your kids as well. All of these activities teach something and help parts of us, whether it be mentally, spiritually, emotionally, or physically. Some of them affect more than one aspect of our lives, and many of them can be turned into lifelong hobbies that you and your children can enjoy for decades!

In any case, here are 21 things we can all do instead of watch TV.

Reading Activities

You knew it was coming, didn’t you? Even those who don’t like to read can certainly find something that interests them. If you find that the books in your house have been overread, it’s time to find your nearest library. This site can help if you have no idea where to start!

Libraries are amazing in that they house thousands upon thousands of books, places to sit and read, and other activities for kids that they can participate in.

Plus, there is no denying the cognitive benefits of reading. It also helps foster the imagination and expand vocabulary.

Drawing Activities

“I can’t draw”, they say. Well, there is no time like the present to learn. It doesn’t really even matter if you or your children are “good” at it. It helps them express themselves and find ways to make drawings that they might not have known before.

My toddlers really like using crayons to draw. Every once in a while they will get a pencil or pen if I can supervise them closer than usual. They ask me to draw certain things that I didn’t think they even knew about, so that part is quite fun to do together.

Plus, you can’t really use the “can’t draw” as an excuse. There are many books that teach you how to draw certain animals or objects with just shapes and a little shading. I’m sure your local library has something like that. Refer to the previous section on reading (wink, wink!)

Can you tell I love books?

Cleaning Activities

Whaaaaat???? I know, shame on me. Cleaning is a chore, not an activity.

Not really. Think about it; you could use it as an activity of teaching and learning a new skill.

• Does your child really know how she wants you to sweep the floor?
• Could they use some practice at folding the clothes neater?
• Would they like to know how to unload or load the dishwasher safely?
• What harm could dusting with a sock do?

Have you ever seen a chart where it describes some age-appropriate chores? Check this one out on Pinterest; you can even customize and purchase to put around your house as reminders.

• Play some upbeat or motivational music while doing this activity to make it fun.
• Or create your own “clean-up” song.

Cleaning can most definitely be a worthwhile and educational activity.

Play Board Games

This had to be one of my favorite times as a child. Playing board games. We had everything from Herd Your Horses to Old Maid and Uno to Mad Gab. Of course, most of those games we couldn’t play until we were older, but boy were family game nights the tops.

• Playing board games with your family and children is one of the best ways to get to know each other, laugh together, and learn something together.
• Just be careful not to foster a super competitive environment.
• Oftentimes that takes the fun out of the games, especially for those that lose.

Check on the products to see what the age suggestions are. If you have young children, perhaps you would like something like Hungry Hungry Hippo. As they get older, they might benefit from playing Scattergories, Balderdash, or Checkers.

Really, there is a board game out there for everyone. If you ask me for recommendations, I really mostly like them all!

Praying Activities

Praying as a family is another activity that I deem to be super important and necessary. It can have massive benefits to the spiritual life of you and your kids.

Here are some ways to make it an inclusive activity:

• Ask your children what or who they think needs prayers.
• Ask them how God is working in their lives.
• Pick out prayers to pray with each other.
• Read Scripture as a form of prayer.
• Draw Bible verses on papers to hang in their rooms.
• Talk to them about guardian angels and how they can talk to them as a form of prayer.

The list is endless, but a priceless activity to replace hours of television. Check out my Faith page and Resources page for some additional resources. Or read my post about Ways to Implement Prayers Into Your Child’s Nighttime Routine.

Organization Activities

You might be a little (or a lot) OCD about organizing. Many of us who relate with the Type A personality have those tendencies. I like to think of myself in the middle of the pack. Some things I want in a particular place in a perfect fashion, while others I am much more lenient about.

Wherever you fall in that range of organized bliss, it is important to teach your children how to keep things organized.

• Teach them how to keep their toys neatly stacked or in bins
• Educate them on where their folded clothes should be stored
• Show them how to fold up blankets and make their beds
• Have a set place for their shoes

Here are some more easy ways to add organization to your house, or in this case, create some activities for you to do.

Rearrange Pictures

I love rearranging things. It might be the type of change that I like since it adds a touch of new to our lives. And it’s something I can control without too much stress or prior planning.

This might be a more adult activity, though you certainly could ask the kids to hold the pictures or create a new layout of ways to put them on the wall.

Don’t want their input?

• Find some pictures or decor they would like in their room.
• Then they can design and arrange them any way they like, and you can help them put them up.

Photo by Milly Eaton from Pexels

Rearrange Furniture

Same goes for furniture. There is something so satisfying about changing up a room and making it feel and look different. I remember moving my super heavy dresser and queen sized bed my myself as a teenager because I was desperate for a change. My mom never minded, as long as cleaned before and after moving.

Again, this might be a project you take on with your partner, but the kids can certainly have input on where to move the furniture if they are old enough. I’m sure they would enjoy helping rearrange their room as well.

Who knows, this might become one of your new favorite activities.

DIY Pinterest Activities

DIYing and Pinterest go hand in hand. I love to create anything, so Pinterest is my go-to when it comes to finding do-it-yourself activities. It generally ends up on a trip to the shed or Hobby Lobby.

These are some of my favorite DIYs that I have saved on Pinterest. Some of them I have yet to try but am still dying to.

Find the tutorial here!

Don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest for more fun ideas on DIYing!

Make a Video Teaching Somebody Something

One of the great things about the Internet and phones is that it gives us the ability to create something that we could not have before! Get with your kids, or decide on your own, something that you already know about. Encourage the children to teach it to somebody else.

• Make it a series of videos
• Or just one video if it’s something short and simple.
• It’s a great way to really showcase what they know, it could possibly help somebody else (if you post it somewhere like YouTube), and it gets them used to teaching others how to do things.I think that is always a great skill to have!

It might just be that I come from a family of teachers (which I do) and was trained as a teacher myself, but teaching your children to teach others is just a way to give back. And giving back is something we all need to do more of.

Dream About Possibilities

I think we have forgotten how to dream. Maybe not, but we have forgotten how to think about all the possibilities that might be. All the things that inspire us, the things that give us goosebumps when we think about them.

When we dream, we find ways to explore who we are and what we were made to do. Inspired by Matthew Kelly’s book, The Biggest Lie in the History of Christianity, I bought myself a blank journal and labeled it as my “Dream Notebook”. When I need inspiration or a reminder of the things I am working towards or would love to see in my lifetime, I simply go back and read. Or I add to it.

• This could be an activity that you employ with your kids once a week or once a month.
• Visit and revisit things they would like to do, and get them a notebook to keep and write things down on your own.

I may have always been caught daydreaming as a kid, but I know for a fact that all things are possible, and it all starts with dreaming sometimes.

Budget and Then Budget Some More

While this activity is meant more for adults, you can most definitely teach your kids about money and how to budget. Be an example and also teach them what it means to budget.

We currently use the You Need a Budget app* (referral link) to record our expenses and make sure we don’t go overboard on certain entertainment thing we might want to do. It helps us keep in check and balances. We have it installed on both our phones as well, so we can see what category can be spent from.

• A cool way your kid could use this as an activity is to count their money and record it in a small notebook.
• Then decide if they have something they need or want to buy.
• They can budget their money accordingly or work for more money to buy that object (if you compensate for chores or whatnot).
• You can also teach them to tithe and give 10% of their earnings to the Church or a project or charity that is worthwhile.

Build Something

I’m not just talking with Legos, though I am extremely fond of them. Legos are amazing in that they can provide hours of entertainment and building.

Maybe you could build some furniture for indoors or outdoors if you are a skilled craftsman. Pinterest is loaded with ideas for all levels of handymen and women.

• Create origami from paper
• Make houses from cardboard boxes
• Construct tents with fabric.
• Build toothpick or playing card towers
• Get the craft sticks out and go crazy with whatever ideas you come up with

I am all about using the creative mind and thinking outside the box when trying to avoid watching TV.

Bake Some Cookies or Brownies

Baking in the kitchen is always something that the kids are keen on doing. At least, I always loved baking. And my mom let us do it, too, which was fun for everybody.

To make it easy, grab the mixes that require just a few ingredients. But as they get older, introduce them to more complicated recipes. It will be a great way to teach about measurements, how to add and subtract and let their kinesthetic learning side shine.

No-guilt plug: If you do want to get the TV involved, you could find a cooking show to watch and cook together with.

Outside Activities

This is something my family and I need to work on. The outside exists as a wonderful playground and exploration for kids. Of course, when the outside is unsafe, you might need to stick to the indoor activities. One of the reasons I love living in the country is the opportunity to have big spaces, fresh air, and sunshine to play in. My kids love going outside.

It’s usually me as the mom who denies them from that privilege if there is something to be done in the house or if it’s too hot, too cold, etc.

And the mud and all that they can get into? They are only young once, let them enjoy it! And seriously a better alternative to watching TV.

Photo by David Bartus from Pexels

Plant a Garden

To plant a full-on garden has been a dream of mine for a while. I know it takes a lot of work, but it is the kind of work that older kids could help with as a summer activity. Shoot, you could even create a small indoor garden to work on during the winter. Herbs and flowers are also great starter plants for kids to learn on.

Planting a garden will require teaching them how to plant, water, and weed the plant to keep it healthy and growing.

Write/Create a Story

As much as reading has impacted my life, writing and creating have also led me down many fun paths. Teaching your kids to express themselves with reading and creating stories can be super positive. And fun!

• Try giving them writing prompts to get them started
• Encourage them to illustrate what they are writing
• Start small, then help them make longer stories if they are interested

Invest in a Course or Watch a Video to Learn Something New

I am all for using technology to expand your horizons and learning something new! There are many possibilities, and people are making online courses for just about everything!

Just go to any search engine and search for things like:

• Online Art Courses
• Free Online Courses
• How to Speak Spanish
• Learn How to Bake Bread
• How to Make a Picnic Table

Or literally, anything that you are interested in. If you are a real tech guru and like to help others with your skills, you may be able to make some money online doing that very thing

Take Up Knittin

I must confess, this is one hobby I wish I knew how to do. Some cool ways you or your kids can use knitting as a tool:

• Knit hats or scarves for the homeless in the winter time
• Make baby hats for hospitals
• Knit sweaters for the elderly in nursing homes
• Find some fun patterns and just make things for anybody

Someday I will learn, but for now, I trust that someone else will pick up the slack for me!

Stretch/Exercise

This is towards the bottom of the list, but alas, it is not the least. Fueling our bodies with exercise is so important, and something I really need to work on!

But I find that if I start stretching/exercising while my toddlers are around, they want to copy me. A super easy way to show them how to keep themselves healthy and also have fun while getting their heart rate up.

There are so many exercise-type activities that you can do with your kids

• Biking
• Hiking
• Dancing
• Gardening
• Cleaning
• Walking

Which leads me to my next activity and point.

Go for a Walk/Walk Outside

Evenings, where the weather cools down a bit, are perfect times to enjoy a walk. By yourself, with your spouse, or as a family. You don’t have to go far, but try to walk a mile or so to get some blood flowing. I think you’ll find that it’s not only a good activity, but it is one that everyone can enjoy.

There are many ways in which you can turn a walk into something extra as well.

• Go geocaching and let the kids find the hidden treasures in your neighborhood
• Pick up aluminum cans and trash along the side of the road. You can get money for the cans, and feel good about keeping your planet clean
• Pick wildflowers if you live where they are abundant and create a bouquet
• Play “I Spy” with objects outside

I’m sure you can come up with some creative ideas to turn a walk into a much more exciting activity.

Activities for Everyone to Enjoy Less TV

In reality, do we really need to base our life activities around the TV? Probably not, but it’s also super easy to rely on the entertainment to help us get through the day, especially with young children.

Use these activities to find something different to do next time you think about turning the Television on. You never know, you might discover a hidden passion for cooking or a child who is a brilliant artist. Or, you know, you could make a little money here and there (and teach your kids how to spend it).

When are you going to put down the remote and start doing a better activity for yourself or your children? I think the time to start is right now! Have fun with these activities, and have a list of your favorites so it’s easy to recreate next time you are looking for something to do!

Hint: If you are going to watch TV, you better be finding some good influences for your kids!