12 Screen-Free Ways to Connect With Your Teens and Tweens

Parents of teens and tweens often lament the fact that it feels hard to connect with their growing children because of technology. I have plenty of opinions about using tech that I will share in another post, but for those of you trying to make a concerted effort to connect with your teens and tweens, here are some ideas to get you started. While building connection is of course important in the early years, it’s never too late to foster a healthy relationship with your child.

1. Cook Together: Cooking can be a wonderful bonding experience. Invite your teens into the kitchen to help prepare a meal. It’s not just about the food; it’s about the quality time spent together.

2. Nature Walks: The other day my oldest asked if we could go for a hike around a lake that’s close by. Of course, I said YES! We had so much fun exploring the area together. Spend time outdoors in nature with your big kids. Whether it’s a hike in the woods, a visit to the local park, or a simple stroll through the neighborhood, nature provides a serene backdrop for meaningful conversations.

3. Art and Craft Projects: My kids are very creative. With two artists for parents, of course we always have some sort of art supplies available for them to use. Engage your teens in creative activities like painting, drawing, or crafting. This allows them to express themselves and provides opportunities for open dialogue while you are each working on a project together. You could even go to a paint your own pottery place as a fun night out.

4. Board Games and Puzzles: Board games are a fantastic way to encourage teamwork, problem-solving, and healthy competition. Choose games that suit your family’s interests and enjoy some screen-free fun.

5. Volunteer Together: Volunteering as a family can be a rewarding experience. Find local community service opportunities that align with your values and passions and involve your teens in making a positive impact.

6. Read Together: I’ve been looking for books that my oldest would find interesting but without any adult sexual content or language. Let me tell you, even in the young adult and teen books, this is a challenge. But lately I’ve found a few options that were technically written for adults but met our other standards. I read them first, then let my kiddo read it too. It was fun talking about the story together. I loved how excited he would get at certain parts of the story and the conversations we’ve been having as a result. Reading is not just a solo activity. Start a family book club where you read the same book and then discuss it. This can lead to insightful conversations and shared literary experiences.

7. Go Camping: Outdoor adventures are the perfect times to put away technology and enjoy the great outdoors. Taking them camping can help them learn many different skills from starting fires, to cooking food outside, to identifying edible foods in the forest, and more. Plus, it’s a time to just take a slower pace of life to enjoy each other.

8. Family Fitness: Engage in physical activities together, biking, hiking, or even dancing in the living room. Regular exercise is not only good for the body but also great for family bonding and can help you connect with your teens and tweens.

9. Stargazing: In our house we call it moon hunting. Mostly because when we went to go look at the supermoon recently, the two youngest called it that. And it stuck. But finding a spot to look at the stars can be an incredible experience for the whole family. You can use a telescope, or just find places without a lot of light pollution and teens and tweens enjoy this activity too.

10. Road Trips: We went on a lot of road trips back in 2021 to early 2022. And it was a blast! We saw the Ark Encounter, went to Mt. Rushmore, stayed in an RV in the woods of Arkansas, hiked to caves and waterfalls. It was amazing. Road trips are a great way to connect with your kids. Let them pick some places they want to go that you know you can take them to, and then do it. You’ll make great family memories and connect with your teens and tweens.  

11. Family Movie Night: Why not just pick up a Redbox movie and some movie theater style snacks and have a movie night at home? We like to pull a mattress out to put on the floor in the living room so it creates a cozy space to watch movies from. The kids enjoy the snacks and the time spent together. I know this one isn’t technically screen free, but everyone has a lot of fun on family movie nights.

12. Visit a City Nearby: Sometimes just getting a change of scenery can provide a great backdrop for connection. Find a new coffee shop, a diner for lunch, and some shops to explore. Getting some time together to see and experience new things can be just the thing you need to connect with your teen or tween.

Conclusion

Connection is critical for child development and building a healthy bond with your children. Build genuine connections with your kiddos no matter what age they are to help them as they grow up. These connections let them know that you care for them, want to spend time with them, and that you will be there for them when they need it the most.