How to Play with Your Kids Without Screens: A Complete Guide to Educational Family Fun.

In At Microespacio , your educational toy store, we believe that play is the foundation of learning and family connection. In an age dominated by screens, many parents are looking for alternatives to entertain their children in healthier and more creative ways, and we are committed to ensuring this is the case.

If you want to reduce the time of exposure to electronic devices and, at the same time, promote the cognitive, emotional and social development of your little ones,

This article is for you! We offer More than 20 practical ideas, organized by age and game type, to enjoy as a family without relying on screens .

Why is it important to play without screens?

Before getting into the activities, it's essential to understand the benefits of limiting tablet, mobile, and television use in childhood:

✅ Improves attention and concentration (analog games require more focus).
✅ Promotes creativity and imagination (without pre-established scripts like in video games).
✅ Strengthens the family bond (shared play builds trust and communication).
✅ Develops motor and sensory skills (manipulating objects, running, jumping, etc.).
✅ Prevents sedentary lifestyle and overexposure to blue light .

According to studies by the Spanish Association of Pediatrics , children under 5 years old should not exceed 1 hour daily screens, and children under 2 years old, avoid them completely.

Ideas for playing without screens (Organized by age)

From 1 to 3 years: Sensory stimulation and motor skills

At this stage, children explore the world through their senses. Simple games that allow them to touch, hear, and move are ideal.

🔹 Treasure basket (Montessori): Fill a basket with safe, everyday objects (wooden spoons, sponges, curtain rings) and let your child explore them.
🔹 Soft block towers : Stacking and knocking down helps with hand-eye coordination.
🔹 Yogurt and food coloring paint : A safe alternative to toxic paints.
🔹 Crawling or walking circuits : Use cushions, cardboard tunnels and soft obstacles.

At Microespacio we have the micro stamm , a trunk personalized with your little one's name where you can leave everyday objects.

From 3 to 6 years: Symbolic play and creativity

This is where role-playing games begin (parents, doctors, superheroes). It's also a good time to introduce simple rules to board games.

🔹 Wooden kitchens or market : Ideal for learning vocabulary and socializing.
🔹 Sock puppets : Making up stories improves language.
🔹 Treasure hunt with visual clues (drawings instead of text).
🔹 Memory games with themed cards (animals, professions).

We recommend our micro Haus , you can request the characters that symbolize each member of the family.

From 6 to 10 years: Mental Challenges and Cooperative Play

At this age, they enjoy challenges, experiments, and games that require strategy.

🔹 Advanced constructions (Micro Blocks, magnetic, models).
🔹 Family board games (like the Haba Frutal , cooperative).
🔹 Science at home : Making slime, salt crystals, or a baking soda volcano.
🔹 Create a nature journal : Draw insects, leaves, or clouds.

In our store you will find micro Blocs , inspired by Japanese architecture, without glue, challenging them to build.

5 Types of Screen-Free Games (and Practical Examples)

1. Educational Board Games

Not all board games are competitive. cooperatives (as "The Jungle Gang" teaches teamwork.

💡 Other options:

• "Dobble" (visual agility).

• "Secret Code" (logic and vocabulary).

2. Crafts with recycled materials

Reduce costs and teach ecology:

• Puppets with cardboard tubes .

• Musical instruments with rice and boats .

3. Free outdoor play

Even if you live in the city, take advantage of parks or balconies:

• Sack races .

• Hopscotch with chalk .

• Bird watching with children's binoculars .

4. Homemade science experiments

In this link you will find many more scientific experiments for children , we have done some at home and had a lot of fun.

🔬 Example: "Bouncing Egg"

• Soak an egg in vinegar for 24 hours.

• The shell dissolves (acid-base reaction).

• An elastic membrane remains!

5. Children's Yoga and Mindfulness

It teaches relaxation with animal postures ("the cat", "the butterfly") or balloons that we "inflate and deflate" by breathing.

Here we recommend this YouTube channel Smile and Learn

How to introduce these habits at home (stress-free)

If your children are very used to screens, make the change gradually:

1. Establish "screen-free zones" (e.g. dining room and bedrooms).

2. Offer attractive alternatives : If they want to see cartoons, suggest a shadow play.

3. Be their best example : If they see you reading or playing board games, they will imitate you.

4. Create a "play routine" : 20 minutes of family play every day makes a difference.

5. In our experience as parents, what has worked best for us has been to establish half-hour schedules twice a week. The amount depends on each family, so this decision is very personal.

Conclusion: The best toy is your time

In Micro space We know that there is no app that can replace the hug after winning a game, the laughter when seeing a failed experiment, or the pride in your eyes when finishing a puzzle.

The most valuable childhood memories are built away from screens.

Do you want to discover educational toys that encourage this type of play?

Visit microespacio.es and find tools to grow, learn and connect.