Enjoying screenless entertainment

Waiting in public with the kids can be quite stressful. After all, they might start fighting under the table before the food comes at a restaurant, or they might be spinning endlessly in the chair when the doctor finally walks into the exam room. Whenever there is a lull in the activity, it doesn’t take long for chaos to ensue.

In these types of situations, the easiest way to prevent a disaster is to simply give the kids a screen to keep them still, calm and preoccupied. With some planning, though, you can keep kids entertained and engaged while waiting without pulling out the phone and turning to technology.

Start developing your low-tech entertainment options by preparing a wide variety of busy bags for various occasions. Make sure the bags are ready to grab and go when it’s time to head out the door. There is really no limit to what you can put in them—crayons, coloring sheets, Legos, notebooks and puzzles are only the start of what is possible. While you are at it, consider themed bags. A bag with superhero puzzles and mini notebooks might be interesting to the child one day, but another day he might find a nature explorer bag more captivating.  

Once you have your stash of busy bags, brainstorm simple games that don’t require any materials to play. “I Spy” is typically the first game that comes to mind in this category, but there are plenty others, including “Would You Rather” and “I’m Going on a Picnic.” Rhythmic singing and clapping games are always fun as well.

These downtimes are also prime opportunities for kids to develop their imaginations and their storytelling abilities. Prepare several prompts for possible storylines, and have the kids brainstorm and share their stories. They could even work together to come up with a story and write it down later.

Simple and easy-to-carry art supplies and coloring books are another must-have that will also engage their imaginations.

Mad Libs are a favorite word and story game bound to make everyone laugh. Writing your own can be especially fun, so have the kids write their own simple stories and then remove various key words for everyone else to finish in their own way. Not only will hilarity ensue, but it can also teach the kids parts of speech and grammar.

Card games provide endless entertainment opportunities. From Go Fish on up to Rummy, the complexity of the games depends on kids’ age level, and engaging in these games can help boost reasoning and logic skills.

Working to keep the kids caught up on their academic progress is an especially productive use of downtime, too. To this end, bring flash cards for math facts or anything else they are learning. Having short, simple and themed educational workbooks to complete are another fun way of learning.

Of course, the most classic form of low-tech entertainment is simply reading an old-fashioned physical book. Find a specific series of books your child loves and designate these periods of downtime specifically for reading their chosen series. This will not only improve their reading, but it will help them look forward to these times so they can escape into the world of their favorite books. 

Perhaps most importantly, these downtimes can also be the perfect opportunity to reflect and connect as a family. Everyone can share about a favorite family memory or something they would like to do together in the future. You could also have the kids share about their favorite activities, interests and hobbies, and you might be surprised by what you learn about them. No need to always be serious, as some light-hearted discussion about the funniest or silliest thing that has happened to them is bound to bring laughs and fun conversation.

Remember, it’s good medicine for kids to find imaginative ways to entertain themselves. Creative thinking is an important skill that will serve them well as they get older.

Allison Gibeson is a Lee’s Summit writer and mom.