We are constantly bombarded by our screens. Whether it is to keep up-to-date with emails, answering calls or texts, posting to social media, relaxing with games or reading blogs. Our screens play a prominent role in our day-to-day lives. Screen time becomes just as time consuming to the younger members of our family as they turn to online viewing, gaming, and chatting and sharing with friends.

Although technology is great we should all take breaks away from it to spend quality time together. But what activities can you do as a family that ditch the screens and keep everyone engaged?

Here are some great screen free ideas to enhance your time spent with family.

Gardening: Gardening, whether planting flowers or a vegetable garden, provide active time spent outdoors where you can learn about different plant species and how they interact with the world around them. By planting a vegetable garden, you can spend additional family time creating dinners around the foods you’ve grown.

Create your own board game: create your own family board game. You can build a board for it, make cards, or draw it out with sidewalk chalk. This is a fun activity to get your kids creativity flowing.

Volunteering: Get your family together and volunteer for a charity that you are passionate about.

Scavenger Hunts: Create a list and go out into the neighbourhood on a scavenger hunt. Take turns thinking of items to find and then go out on a walk or bike ride to find your list of items.

Outdoor Dining: Take advantage of the warm weather and bring your mealtimes outdoors. It’s fun for the whole family to enjoy their outdoor space. Set up a decorative table and think of a delicious menu to make your outdoor dining extra special. For some extra fun you can have a campfire cookout complete with hot dogs, corn on the cob, and s’mores!

Constellation Creation: Next time you’re stargazing, encourage your kids to find images in the stars and make up constellation names and back stories. You will be so surprised by the depths of their imaginations.

Community Exploration: explore your neighbourhood. Is there a park nearby, library, a hiking trail or museum? Discover what your community has to offer and take some time to explore.