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Screen-Free Kiddos: Engaging Toys & Activities That Keep Kids Busy!
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items Trying to cut back on screen time without constant boredom complaints? These engaging screen-free toys and activities keep kids busy, creative, and happily occupied. Perfect for independent play, rainy days, quiet time, and travel… all parent-approve...
Sections
6
Independent Play Toys
Creative & Craft Activities
Quiet Time & Calm Down
Travel & On-the-Go
Montessori-Inspired
Family Games
Independent Play Toys
Toys that actually keep kids busy on their own. These independent play favorites encourage building, problem-solving, and imaginative thinking without constant help from you.
This is one of those toys that actually lives up to the hype. The magnets are strong (so towers don’t constantly fall apart), and the set comes with enough pieces to build real structures. I love that it includes the little cars, because kids can bui...
138PCS Magnetic Building Tiles Set with 2 Cars
This is such a great quiet-time activity, especially for younger kids who love hands-on puzzles. The wooden pieces feel sturdy and well-made, and there are enough shapes to create tons of different designs. I love that it comes with example cards… th...
155 Pcs Wooden Pattern Blocks Set
These are such a simple toy, but they’re surprisingly engaging for all ages. The different shapes and unique edges make stacking more challenging (and more fun), so it’s not just basic blocks… kids really have to think about balance and placement. Ev...
36 Pcs Wooden Stacking Blocks
I got this for my 3-year-old son because he’s really into puzzles right now, and it’s honestly been such a good buy. The pieces are thick and sturdy, which I love because he’s not exactly gentle yet. They’re big enough for his little hands to grab ea...
World Map Jigsaw Puzzle for Kids
My 3-year-old is in his animal phase right now, so this set has been on repeat in our house. The animals are the perfect size for his little hands, big enough that he can really see the details, but not too small to worry about. I was honestly impres...
31 Pcs Safari Animals Figures
This has been such a hit in our house. My 3-year-old loves building “big towers” and then watching the marbles race all the way down. It actually keeps him entertained for a long stretch of time because once he builds one version, he immediately want...
110pcs Marble Maze Kit
My child loves using the little electric screwdriver, it makes him feel so capable and “grown up.” It’s been amazing for building fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination without it feeling like practice.
244 Pieces Electric Screwdriver DIY Building Toys
If you have an active kid (especially one who’s constantly climbing the couch 🙃), these are amazing. My favorite part is that kids don’t even realize they’re “working on skills”, they just think they’re hopping across lava.
5-Pack Stepping Stones for Kids with Sound Effects
Creative & Craft Activities
If your kids love to create but you don’t love constant chaos, these are the crafts that are actually manageable. Simple, engaging, and age-appropriate activities that keep kids happily busy and proud of what they make!
These dot markers have been such a fun addition to our craft time. My 3-year-old loves anything colorful, and the bright, bold colors on these really stand out on paper. They dry quickly, which I appreciate, and they’ve washed off hands and surfaces ...
40 Colors Dot Markers for Toddlers + Book
These have been a lifesaver for keeping my 3-year-old busy without making a huge mess. He loves “painting,” and I love that it’s just water… no markers on the walls, no stained clothes. The colors show up bright and vibrant as soon as the water hits ...
Reusable Water Painting Books for Kids
This one is such a great step up for slightly older kids who love crafts but are ready for more of a challenge. While my 3-year-old is still too young for it, I’ve seen how engaging it is for kids around 6 and up. It keeps them focused for a long str...
In the Wild Sticker Puzzle
This has been such a fun, low-effort activity for the preschool stage. It’s especially great for 4–5 year olds who love stickers but also enjoy a little “mission.” My son loves searching for the hidden spots and matching the stickers… it keeps him fo...
Melissa & Doug Seek and Find Sticker Pad
These reusable sticker books have been such a go-to for us, especially when we’re out of the house. I keep one in the car and one in my bag for restaurants, and they’ve saved us more than once. My 3-year-old loves moving the stickers around and creat...
Reusable Sticker Book Set (3-Pack): Farm, Pizza, Weather
This roll has been so versatile for us. I love unrolling a big section on the table (or taping it to the wall) and just letting my 3-year-old go to town with markers, crayons, or paint. It’s perfect for everything from simple coloring to bigger craft...
17.5" x 1,200" White Kraft Easel Paper for Kids
If you’re in the preschool stage and working on cutting skills, this book is such a great tool. I love that it’s designed to build scissor skills step-by-step. It doesn’t feel overwhelming, which is so important for little ones just learning. The act...
Scissor Skills Activity Book: 25 Fun Cuts
This craft kit is honestly one of my favorite “pull it out and let them create” boxes. When we first opened it, my child’s eyes lit up… there are so many colors and little pieces to explore. It immediately turned into an afternoon of “Mom, look what ...
Kid Made Modern Arts and Craft Kit
Quiet Time & Calm Down
When everyone needs a minute (including you), these are the activities I pull out. They keep little hands busy in a calm, focused way!
Kinetic sand has honestly been one of our most-used sensory activities. My 3-year-old can sit and play with this for a long time… building, squishing, cutting, and using all the molds. This set comes with plenty of sand and a good variety of tools, w...
Kinetic Sand Sandisfying Set with 10 Tools & Molds
This has been one of the best screen-free swaps we’ve made. My 3-year-old loves being able to put the little character on top and instantly hear a story or songs. The sound quality is great for a kids’ speaker, and it feels durable enough to handle t...
Toniebox 2 Audio Player Disney Bundle for Kids 3+
This has been such a sweet little quiet-time book for my 3-year-old. He loves sitting and scanning each page to find the hidden items, and the scenes are colorful and full of little details that keep him interested. It’s perfect for the 3–4 year old ...
Search & Find: Around the Neighborhood
My Calm Down Book is such a beautiful way to help little ones navigate big feelings. The story walks children through what it feels like when emotions start to bubble up… and then shows them comforting ways to calm down. It’s especially helpful for t...
My Calm Down Book
Travel & On-the-Go
Screen-free activities that actually work outside the house. These are my go-to picks for car rides, restaurants, appointments, and travel days… compact, easy to pack, and engaging enough to hold attention without a tablet!
This has been such a great addition to our learning time at home. I love that it’s educational, and my 3-year-old enjoys flipping through the different activities.
My Big Activity Workbook
These magnetic tiles have been amazing for travel. We brought them on a road trip recently, and they kept my 3-year-old entertained way longer than I expected!
Travel Mini Magnetic Tiles with Case
I keep it in the car, and it’s amazing for keeping my 3-year-old busy during longer drives or while we’re waiting somewhere. It’s super easy for him to use… just draw with the attached pen and press the button to erase. No mess, no paper, no markers ...
12 Inch LCD Writing Tablet
I originally got it for car rides, but we’ve also used it at restaurants. It keeps my 3-year-old focused way longer than I expected because there are so many different little activities inside. I love that it actually helps with fine motor skills, ma... It’s especially great for toddlers around 2 and up who need something interactive.
Learning Educational Toddler Travel Busy Book
This little memory game has been such a great car activity for us. It’s simple enough for younger kids to understand, but still challenging enough to actually work their memory.
Matching Memory Game for Kids
These scavenger hunt cards have made outdoor time so much more fun. We brought them on a family walk and even camping once, and my 3-year-old loved having a “mission” while we were outside. It keeps little ones busy and engaged instead of asking to b...
Children's Scavenger Hunt Cards
This little art kit has been such a lifesaver for travel days. We brought it on a car ride recently, and it kept my kid busy way longer than I expected. Everything you need is included, which makes it so easy to grab and toss in a carry-on without pa...
Art on The Go Collage Fun Jungle Theme Travel Kit
Montessori-Inspired
These are the kinds of toys that encourage independent play, longer focus spans, and confidence. Open-ended materials, natural textures, and child-led activities allow little ones to explore, repeat, and master skills at their own pace.
As a mom, I love toys that are simple, and actually get played with… and this wooden play food set checks all the boxes! The fruits and vegetables are beautifully made with bright, realistic colors, and there’s such a great variety that my toddler ne...
Wooden Play Food Set
This wooden alphabet tracing board is one of those simple but incredibly effective learning tools! The quality is beautiful. It feels like something that will last for years (and even multiple kids)!
Portable Wooden Alphabet Letter Tracing Pad
These counting bears are such a fun and hands-on way to introduce early math. It turns learning into a game, which is always a win in our house. The only thing to keep in mind is the size… they’re perfect for supervised preschoolers, but may feel sma...
Counting Bears with Matching Sorting Cups
My little one is completely entertained by it, especially the gentle rattling sound when the blocks drop inside. It’s simple, but it keeps them engaged. It’s also great for working on fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, and it naturally intr...
Wooden Sorter Cube with 8pcs
As a mom, I love anything that makes learning feel natural and fun and these Bilingual English & Spanish Talking Flash Cards truly do that! They’ve been such a sweet way to introduce new words, letters, and everyday vocabulary without it feeling ...
Bilingual English and Spanish Talking Flash Cards
Family Games
This is for the nights when you want everyone off their devices and actually laughing together at the table. I love games that are easy enough for little ones to understand but still entertaining for adults (because if we’re bored, it’s not happening again 😅).
This card game set is such a sweet throwback to the classics we all grew up playing. It includes all the good old-fashioned favorites (like Go Fish, Old Maid, Crazy 8s, and more), which makes it perfect for family game nights with a wide age range.
Card Games for Kids (6 Set)
This is such a special game for family nights, especially if you love the idea of learning while you play. What makes this one different is that it’s cooperative, so everyone works together instead of competing. I love that it naturally encourages te...
Wildcraft! Herbal Adventure Cooperative Board Game
This has been such a fun way to make learning feel like a game instead of “school.” My little one loves playing bingo, and I love that he’s actually practicing letters, phonics, and sight words without even realizing it!
Alphabet & Phonics Bingo Game
The colors are bright and beautiful, and the wooden pieces feel sturdy and well-made. We’ve used it for everything from classic domino runs to building creative patterns and little obstacle setups.
1000 PCS Dominoes Set for Kids