25 Screen-Free Ways to Connect: Free Family Activity Printable

Sometimes we’re all technically spending time together…but we’re also staring at completely different screens.

Been there. Done that. Don’t necessarily want to do that again.

Taking a break from screens gives families a change to actually talk, laugh, play, make something, and create memories together. And, it doesn’t have to involve an elaborate family night that takes three hours to plan!

That’s exactly why I put together these 25 Screen-Free Ways to Connect. They’re simple ideas families can use to spend more intentional time together – and, of course, I’ve created a free printable checklist to go along with them!

Why Make Time for Screen-Free Connection?

Quality family time doesn’t have to be complicated. You can cook dinner together. Pull out a board game to play at the kitchen table. Take a walk! Ask each other ridiculous questions. Look through old photos (LOVE!) and tell stories about the people and places in them.

It’s less about what you’re doing and more about giving everyone an opportunity to slow down and enjoy being together. Those conversations and seemingly ordinary moments can end up creating some of our favorite family memories!

In fact, that’s exactly why I created my Family Conversation Cards – 155 prompts designed to get families talking, sharing stories, and learning more about each other.

25 Screen-Free Ways to Connect

Read for some quality time together? Try these 25 ideas:

1. Play a family board game
2. Cook a meal together
3. Bake a favorite treat
4. Look through old family photos
5. Write a letter to someone
6. Have a family picnic
7. Tell stories about favorite memories
8. Have a family game night
9. Make a family bucket list
10. Interview a family member
11. Work on a puzzle together
12. Have a family talent show
13. Teach someone something you know
14. Learn a new skill from someone else
15. Make a family time capsule
16. Volunteer Together
17. Have a family storytelling night
18. Take a walk together
19. Make a meal for someone else
20. Have a joke-telling contest
21. Create a family trivia game
22. Start a new family tradition
23. Give everyone a turn choosing a family activity
24. Share three things you’re grateful for
25. Choose a Family Learning Adventure do to together

Don’t feel like you need to work through the list in order. Let everyone take turns choosing – or close your eyes, point to the printable, and see what you land on! The goal isn’t really to complete the checklist anyways. It’s to spend time together!

If your family likes adding a little friendly competition to that time, you can also browse the Printable Playground for free printable games and activities along with the educational printables.

Grab the Free 25 Screen-Free Ways to Connect Printable

I’ve turned all 25 ideas into a colorful printable checklist that you can keep somewhere the whole family can see it. Use it as your family’s go-to list whenever you’re looking for an easy way to spend some screen-free time together. You could even make it a family challenge and see how many activities you can complete together.

How many of the 25 can your family check off?

Keep the Screen-Free Fun Going!

You’ve found one part of my 100 Screen-Free Things to Do collection!

Don’t miss:

• 25 Screen-Free Ways to Play
• 25 Screen-Free Ways to Create
• 25 Screen-Free Ways to Explore

Put all four together and you’ll have 100 screen-free ideas for those days when your family needs something to do that doesn’t involve another device.

And…we’re not stopping at 100!

My Family Learning Adventures are all about finding simple ways for families to learn, explore, try new things, and make memories together. Each adventure includes ideas for extending the experience plus a free printable resource to help make it even more meaningful, memorable, and fun.

Because sometimes the best family memories happy when we put the screens down and actually do something together.

Until next time, stay safe, & enjoy quality time together,