In a world of rapidly evolving images, sounds and notifications, children are surrounded by entertainment that requires little effort. A single click starts a song, one short clip leads to another, and video games offer new challenges at any moment. For many families, holidays bring a recurring question: how can children spend more time away from screens without turning it into a daily battle?
Mobile devices provide intense stimulation and quick pleasure, often described as “cheap dopamine”. Over time, constant exposure can make ordinary activities feel less exciting. Abeer Ibrahim, Certified Montessori Teacher, Early Childhood 0-9, believes that giving children more opportunities for real play and outdoor activities can help them regain a calmer and more stable rhythm.
“The problem is that a child who is used to the constant stimulation of his brain provided by screens may find difficulty in enjoying things that seem simple and normal for their peers,” she said, citing activities such as watching ants in the garden, playing with sand, shaping clay or listening to a story told by a parent.
Rather than eliminating screens completely, families can gradually reduce screen time while opening other doors to fun through movement, exploration, achievement and social interaction.
Challenge-based activities can provide children with a sense of satisfaction similar to the reward they seek from screens. Ibrahim explained that solving puzzles and participating in group games give children opportunities to try, fail and try again until they succeed. Beyond learning a skill, children experience achievement, motivation and the natural release of dopamine, one of the brain’s reward-related chemicals.
Nature, movement and sensory play can also contribute to a calmer mood. Going to the park, running, riding scooters and playing with other children encourage movement and interaction. Activities involving water, sand and playdough, along with drawing and colouring, can help children focus and relax.
Quiet moments can be equally meaningful. “Reading bedtime stories with lots of hugs from parents all help the child to relax and feel content,” she said.
Physical activities such as running, jumping, playing ball and riding bicycles can promote joy and wellbeing, while role-playing, imitating characters and taking turns allow children to become active participants rather than passive observers. “The child becomes more present with their body, voice, and imagination, and play transforms into a shared social experience,” Ibrahim noted.
Even the kitchen can become a place for engagement. Children can help prepare meals, choose ingredients, add their own touches and sit with their families to enjoy what they have made.
Ibrahim stressed that parents’ presence is more important than the alternatives offered to children. Consistent quality time can reduce their need to seek constant stimulation while strengthening their sense of belonging and connection.
A less device-dependent lifestyle, she added, does not mean eliminating technology, but restructuring the relationship with it. Clear boundaries around when, where and how devices are used can reduce arguments and negotiations.
Parents should also not fear boredom. Ibrahim believes that allowing children unstructured time encourages creativity and innovative thinking. Recalling the games of the 1990s and earlier generations, she noted that children once created entertainment using what was available, from folk games and handmade doll clothes to simple bead accessories and books.
“Boredom” can therefore become not an empty space to be filled, but an opportunity for children to discover how to create their own fun.
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