Here’s a little secret lots of happy families have figured out: one day a week, they switch off ALL the screens. No TV, no tablets, no phones — just for Sunday. It might sound a tiny bit boring at first… but it turns into the most fun day of the week!
When the screens go to sleep, something magic wakes up: time. Time to play, build, giggle, and be together. Here is your toolkit of ideas for an amazing Screen-Free Sunday.
Play & Make Together
1. Build a Blanket Fort
Grab pillows, chairs, and the biggest blanket you can find. Make a cosy little cave and hide inside with a torch. It is your secret base!
2. Have a Drawing Party
Spread out paper and crayons and draw your wildest idea — a purple dinosaur, a flying house, a robot puppy. Everyone draws, then you swap and guess what each picture is.
3. Bake Something Yummy
With a grown-up’s help, mix, stir, and squish. Cookies, little sandwiches, or fruit faces on a plate — cooking together is play and a tasty treat.
🧪 Try This at Home
Make a “Sunday Jar.” Write fun ideas on little paper slips, pop them in a jar, and each Sunday pull one out. Surprise!
Get Outside & Explore
4. Go on a Nature Hunt
Walk outside and hunt for treasures: a smooth stone, a feather, a leaf shaped like a heart. Count how many different colours you can spot!
5. Have a Garden or Park Picnic
Pack a little snack, find a sunny spot, and eat outside. Food always tastes better on a picnic blanket.
6. Watch the Clouds
Lie on your back and look up. Can you find a cloud shaped like a bunny? A dragon? An ice-cream cone?
Quiet & Cosy Time
7. Read Stories Out Loud
Snuggle up with your favourite book and take turns reading or making up your own ending. Funny voices are very welcome!
8. Do a Puzzle or Build Blocks
Tip out a jigsaw or a box of bricks and build something tall, wobbly, and wonderful.
🌟 Did You Know?
Playing without screens gives your eyes a rest and gives your imagination a big workout — and your brain LOVES that!
Why a Screen Break Feels So Good
A day off screens isn’t just fun — it’s genuinely good for you, and here’s why:
- 👀 Your eyes get a rest. Staring at screens for a long time can make eyes feel tired and dry.
- 🎨 Your imagination gets a workout. Real play — building, drawing, pretending — grows creativity, words, and problem-solving.
- ❤️ Your family grows closer. Talking, giggling, and playing together face-to-face builds strong, happy bonds.
- 😴 You sleep better. Switching screens off in the evening helps your body wind down and drift off more easily.
📖 Big Word: Screen Time
Screen time is the time you spend looking at TVs, tablets, phones, and computers. A little is fine — the trick is balancing it with lots of other kinds of fun!
It’s About Balance, Not “Screens Are Bad”
Screens aren’t villains — they can teach us amazing things and help us chat with faraway family. The real goal is balance. Doctors suggest choosing screen-free times (like mealtimes and the hour before bed) and screen-free zones (like bedrooms). A whole screen-free day, such as Sunday, is one of the easiest and most fun ways to keep that balance for the whole family.
For Grown-Ups: Make Screen-Free Sunday Stick
- Everyone joins in — grown-ups too! Children copy what the adults around them do.
- Plan a fun activity so it feels like a treat, not a punishment.
- Start small. Even a screen-free morning counts as a win.
- Keep devices out of sight — out of sight really is out of mind.
- Make a simple Family Media Plan together, so everyone agrees the rules ahead of time.
🤔 Fact or Fib? — tap your guess!
A blanket fort is a great screen-free adventure.
Watching clouds needs a tablet to work.
Resting your eyes from screens is good for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is a Screen-Free Sunday?
One day a week when the whole family switches off TVs, tablets, and phones and fills the day with other kinds of fun instead.
Q: Why is taking a break from screens good?
It rests your eyes, boosts imagination and real play, strengthens family bonds, and helps you sleep better.
Q: Are screens bad for kids?
Not on their own — they can teach and connect us. The key is balance: some screen time, plus plenty of play, sleep, and family time.
Q: What are screen-free zones and times?
Places and moments with no screens — like bedrooms, mealtimes, and the hour before bed — that doctors recommend for a healthy balance.
Q: How do we start?
Pick one fun activity, get the whole family involved, keep devices out of sight, and maybe make a simple Family Media Plan together.
📚 Where we learned this (for curious grown-ups):
• HealthyChildren.org (AAP) — Helping Kids Thrive in a Digital World
• HealthyChildren.org (AAP) — Family Media Plan
• Common Sense Media — Screen Time
Your Turn!
Pick just one idea to try this Sunday with your family. You might find that the best fun of all doesn’t need a screen — it just needs you, the people you love, and a little bit of imagination. Have a wonderful Screen-Free Sunday!
