Unplug and play: it's un-bore-lievably good
Dens, daft games, kitchen science and treasure hunts for the hours between the school bell and bedtime. Clear instructions for grown-ups, plenty of fun for everyone else.
Pick a theme, any theme
Den-tastic Den Building
Blanket forts, garden hideaways and cosy den games, all built from things you already have at home.
Indoors · ages 4 to 11Puddle-Proof Indoor Games
Lively and calm indoor games for a soggy afternoon, using socks, cushions and a bit of imagination.
Outdoors · ages 4 to 11Grass Act: Garden and Park Games
Tag, hopscotch, Mr Wolf, rounders and summer water play: the outdoor classics with clear, simple rules.
Indoors · ages 4 to 11Bin There, Made That
Turn cereal boxes, tubes, bottle tops and paper plates into rockets, robots, masks and more.
Indoors or out · ages 4 to 11Clued-Up Treasure Hunts
Write clues for every age, hide treasure indoors or out, and draw a map worthy of a pirate captain.
Indoors · ages 4 to 11Kitchen Science: Get a Reaction
Fizzing volcanoes, dancing raisins and secret lemon ink, all made with things already in your cupboards.
Outdoors · ages 4 to 11Nature Detectives on the Case
Bug hunts, bird spotting, leaf rubbings and cloud watching for young detectives in the garden or park.
Indoors or out · ages 4 to 11Games That Are Totally Cards On
Snap, pairs, dots and boxes and more, with only a pack of cards, some dice or a pencil and paper.
Indoors or out · ages 4 to 11Party On: Birthday Fun at Home
Classic party games, a craft table, a treasure hunt and a simple 2-hour plan for a birthday at home.
🎲 The Boredom Buster
Tell it who's bored, where and for how long. It does the thinking, you do the fun.
Your idea will pop up here. No screens were harmed in the making of it.
Got five minutes? Try one of these
- Sock basketballRoll socks into balls, aim for the washing basket. Instant league.
- Pavement artChalk a hopscotch, a racetrack or a giant snail on the path.
- Story in a sentenceTake turns adding one sentence each. Expect dragons.
- Cloud spottingLie on your back and name the shapes. Silliest one wins.
- Paper aeroplane contestFold, fly, measure. Then argue about the rules.
- Kitchen bandPans, wooden spoons and a box of rice. Earplugs optional.
🎪 Planning a party?
Our screen-free birthday party guide has games, timings and a plan you can steal. If you want a bouncy castle, a rodeo bull or a marquee in the garden, our party helpers pages list local firms across the Midlands, the North and Scotland.
Why screen-free?
Nobody here is anti-telly. But a den, a muddy bug hunt or a game of sleeping lions gives children things a screen can't: moving about, making things up, getting it wrong and trying again, and laughing at the same thing at the same time.