As summer holidays commence, experts recommend engaging children in creative, physical, and interactive activities to reduce screen dependence and promote healthier development, backed by recent health and academic research.
With the summer holidays under way, many parents are looking for ways to keep children occupied without defaulting to phones and tablets. Child-health guidance from the Mayo Clinic says screen time can affect sleep, behaviour and weight, while other public-health advice stresses that children benefit from clear limits and regular breaks from devices. That makes the home a useful place to build simpler routines that are both entertaining and constructive.
One of the most effective options is to invite children to create their own mini book: they can write a short story, draw the characters and bind the pages into a homemade volume. Family board games and card games are another easy choice, bringing relatives together while encouraging patience, rule-following and teamwork. Writing thank-you notes or postcards to relatives, friends or teachers can also strengthen literacy and emotional expression, especially when children decorate the cards themselves.
Movement and calm can be added too. Short yoga sessions and breathing exercises are widely recommended as gentle ways to improve focus and reduce tension, particularly during long periods indoors. Word games, crosswords and puzzles offer another screen-free route to sharpening vocabulary and problem-solving. Some specialists also advise parents to try treasure hunts around the house and interactive reading, in which adults vary their voices, act out scenes and ask children to imagine an alternative ending.
The broader case for reducing screen dependence is supported by health guidance beyond the home. The Israeli Ministry of Health recommends keeping leisure screen time to under two hours a day for younger schoolchildren and up to three hours for those aged 10 to 12, while the Mayo Clinic advises parents to steer children towards reading, physical play and shared viewing. Research cited in recent academic work has also linked heavier daily screen use with a higher risk of mental-health and behavioural problems, underlining why balanced summer routines matter.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
