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STEM ToysHow to Balance Screen Time and Active Play: Tips for Parents in the UK
We live in a world full of digital screens and on-demand entertainment. Much of our children’s education today relies on video-based learning and online classes. As a result, they spend a significant amount of time on screens and sitting at a desk. Thus, it is very crucial to block time for free movement.
Active play refers to physical activities that allow children to discover and enjoy movement. You don’t have to reduce your kids' screen time entirely. Instead, try to balance screen time with hands-on, movement-based activities to support your child’s growth and development.
The Positive Sides of Screen Time
Not all screen time is harmful. With the right content and moderate use, screens can:
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Support early literacy and numeracy skills
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Introduce children to new ideas and culture
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Offer interactive and educational games
This may seem counterintuitive. Like most things, it’s the quality and quantity of screen use that determines whether it helps or harms.
How Can You Regulate Your Children’s Screen Time?
1. Model Appropriate Use
Screens are here to stay, and the best approach we can take is to learn to regulate our use first. A basic rule of parenting is, “It’s what you do, not what you say.” Thus, it may be wise to consider our use of phones, manage them effectively, and model responsible use for our children.
2. Start Young
Set clear boundaries early. Talk to them, create a schedule for watching the screen, and discuss what kind of content is helpful.
3. Engage With Them
Set aside family time to engage your children in fun activities. Plan outdoor activities which interest them and allow them to learn new things. This will naturally keep them away and reduce screen time for kids.
4. Create Screen-Free Zones
Designate times when everyone sits together. It can be during meals, early mornings, or just before bedtime. Consider turning this time into a screen-free zone. This way, everyone can be together, share what’s happening, and come closer.
5. Limit TVs to the Living Room
The more screens you have, the more chances that your kids' screen time will increase. One way to reduce screen time for kids is to limit screens to public areas. For instance, no TV in the bedroom. This way, you can monitor what your kids are watching and how long they’ve been watching it.
Why Active Play Matters?
Active play is equally important for our children. It supports their physical, mental, and emotional growth. Additionally, active play:
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Strengthens bones and muscles
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Improves motor and spatial skills
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Boosts mood
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Regulates sleep and energy
In fact, children learn best when their minds and bodies are stimulated. Moreover, children don’t play for long stretches like adults. Instead, they tend to jump in and out of play: starting, stopping, switching activities, and returning to the previous activity.
Active play allows children to move at their own pace and in their natural stop-start pattern. It helps them explore, get creative, and feel confident in their abilities, even with simple activities like running in the grass or enjoying a light breeze.
Free Play
One of the key aspects of active play is the concept of free play. As the name suggests, here, children are free to engage in the way they want, free from rules, criticism, or the ‘right’ way to play. There’s no fear of failure or judgment. Think of it as the ultimate expression of what a child feels—an activity they instinctively choose because it makes them happy.
Types of Active Play
Active play generally falls into 4 categories:
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Social Play – Group games encourage collaboration, role negotiation, conflict resolution, and empathy.
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Object Play — Activities like stacking and building blocks help children refine their motor skills, understand cause-and-effect, and improve spatial reasoning.
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Imaginative Play — Role-playing and scenario-building improve creativity, self-regulation, and problem-solving.
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Physical Play—Physical play, like running, jumping, skipping, games like tag, rough-and-tumble, improves coordination, understanding of body movements, and impulse control as children learn turn-taking.
How Much Time Should Kids Engage in Active Play?
For children to grow healthy and develop good habits for life, it is suggested that:
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Toddlers (1-2 years) spend 1-3 hours daily engaging in physical activities, including energetic play, which can be achieved through running, jumping, dancing, and similar activities.
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Pre-schoolers (3-5 years) spend at least 3 hours in active play.
Active play can be spaced out throughout the day. Additionally, kids can spend quiet time reading, storytelling, or solving puzzles that support their cognitive development and skill-building efforts.
Indulging Children in Active Play
1. Do It Together
One of the best ways to reduce screen time for kids and engage them in active play is to do it together. It promotes excellent bonding and creates lasting memories.
2. Create Family Rituals
Think of family rituals like time blocking to connect better. Create rituals that interest your children and are easy to follow, like an after-dinner walk, a morning jog, and weekend sports.
3. Reward Movements
Moving your body has many inherent benefits. Rewards are an excellent way to get your children up and moving. Track weekly goals on a chart. At the end of the week, they get a reward if they meet the decided baseline. You may keep increasing the baseline if your children become too comfortable.
4. Give Active Presents
Make a conscious gifting choice for your children. Whenever you wish to give them something, opt for a present that stimulates them, such as puzzles, board games, fitness items, and the like.
Skillmatics Suggestions for Active Play
Found It Board Game
The Found It Board Game is a smart scavenger hunt game for ages 6+. Children grab their cards, flip the timer, and race to find objects that match as many prompts as possible. They get closer to the centre of the board with every prompt they solve. There are a variety of themes available in this game to pick from, like:
Rock Painting Kit
Rock painting is a simple, screen-free activity that inspires focused creativity. Children start by using paint markers to colour the rocks, create vibrant designs and add details. They can also decorate it with colourful gems and add googly eyes. This engaging art and craft activity helps children develop creative thinking skills and enhance their fine motor abilities.
Piece & Play
Piece & play is a giant floor puzzle and a game all in one! Once your child builds the floor puzzle, they can play two fun search-and-find games! First, match the picture on the game tiles to the puzzle, and for more advanced play, read the clues so your little one can find the matching picture! The good part? There are 4 exciting variants to choose from:
Craft-o-pedia
Craft-o-pedia is the perfect origami puzzle activity to boost brainpower. The 48 puzzles are organised into two levels: beginner and medium. Each puzzle comes with a step-by-step solution guide to make folding fun and easy. Kids can fold at their own pace while building essential skills like problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, process planning, and logical reasoning.
Aqua Puffs
No scissors, no glue, no cleanup! Skillmatics Aqua Puffs is the ultimate magical 3D art that pops to life. This engaging animal-themed craft kit encourages artistic expression and builds fine motor skills, focus, and imagination through hands-on play. Just colour the design, use the water pen to activate the puff effect, and watch the magic happen in minutes. There are 2 variants:
Conclusion
As parents, guardians, or teachers, you don’t have to choose between screen time and active play. You have to find the right balance between them. Your active involvement makes all the difference. It gives your children a chance to learn, play, and grow with you. And that’s the kind of connection that lasts a lifetime.
Product Links:
Found It Board Game | Smart scavenger hunt (ages 6+) – Skillmatics UK
Rock Painting Kit | Mess-Free Art & Craft Activity (ages 4-12)
Piece & Play: Underwater Animals
Piece & Play: At the Construction Site
Aqua Puffs: Princesses and Unicorns