The Big Screen Switch Off

By Hannah Hagon

Picture this: it’s Wednesday, 4 pm, and the Big Screen Switch Off is in an hour. Maybe it’s your first one, maybe you signed up with the family down the road (nothing like a bit of accountability), or maybe your kids have challenged YOU to stay off your screen for three whole hours.

Screens help to entertain when we need to prep lunches for tomorrow, chop veggies for dinner, or tackle that never-ending mountain of laundry. Or maybe, just maybe, you’ve finally managed to sit down with a hot cup of tea, hoping for five sacred minutes of peace. (Please!!!)

You’re now starting to feel a little panicky. It sounded like a good idea at the time right??

5pm rolls around and there’s that cuppa that’s getting cold, yikes!

And then…

That one phrase that’s sure to send a shudder through every parent and carer:

“I’m bored.”

You’ve probably heard it more times than you can count. Cue the sighs, the eye rolls, and the inevitable response: “Find something to do!” Or, if you’re feeling a little salty, “Only boring people get bored!” Charming!

Then comes the parental guilt spiral: Should I be entertaining them? Should I set up an activity? Should I just give them the tablet so I can finish this one thing?

But here’s the thing, boredom isn’t the problem.

It’s the answer.

The void: where magic happens

Boredom gets a bad rap, but it’s actually a launchpad for creativity, problem-solving, and resilience. That uncomfortable pause, the moment when they don’t know what to do, that’s the void.

And we all fear it a little, don’t we? The idea of nothingness, of kids (or us) spiralling into chaos or worse – complaining. But let’s reframe the phrase:

‘The void’, it isn’t empty, it’s full of potential.

What screen-free play looks like

Depending on your family dynamic, the ages of your children, and their interests or neurodiverse traits, this could feel both exciting and terrifying. A two-year-old will play differently from a twelve-year-old and that’s exactly how it should be.

The goal isn’t to entertain them, it’s to create the conditions for play. To give them enough of a starting point and then step back so they can take the lead.

A toddler might be stacking blocks and knocking them down.

A six-year-old might be building an elaborate fort with blankets and chairs.

An eight-year-old might be inventing a treasure hunt with a secret code.

A tween may pick up a book or a paintbrush, wouldn’t it be nice if you joined them too. Or you pick up that musical instrument purchased in lockdown that never saw the light of day again (just me?)

Children are discovering who they are. Figuring out how to entertain themselves, not just passively consuming what someone else decided was fun, they’re turning from consumer to creator.

Your kids might already know what to do or they might need a gentle nudge. That’s where Unplugged Tots comes in.

A starting point — without taking over

If you’re looking for some inspiration, a little spark to get them started, Unplugged Tots activities are designed for kids aged 2½ to 8. They’re simple, open-ended, and easy to adapt based on their age and interests. Some of my activities will need adult support so perhaps it’s not the best time to do this at the Big Screen Switch Off when you have to do ALL the things but they’re in your repository for another time.

I don’t want you to feel you’re just replacing one dependency (screens) with another (you) but sometimes we need to facilitate and curate an environment that nurtures play. Hand them the tools and step back so they figure it out. However some kids may need more support but once the chores are nearly done, there may be 10 minutes for a little bit of parent/carer and child fun before bed time rolls around or it’s 8pm before you know it…

Let’s embrace the void together. Because it’s not empty it’s full of possibility, fun and play.

Download your free Unplugged Tots activity pack here — because we all need a helping hand sometimes!

About the author:

Hannah is founder of Unplugged Tots and recently met up with Phil (Big Screen Switch Off) and found they had a very similar take on children using (and not using) digital devices. Please do check out her website: Unplugged Tots for amazing ideas and inspiration.

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