Does your family spend too much time "connected" and looking at screens? We're all spending more and more time using our electronics than ever before, from school to work to playtime - especially our kids. Can they turn it off? Can you? Take a break and take the challenge to go tech-free for 24-hours.
Global Day of Unplugging is an awareness campaign promoting a 24-hour break from technology observed the first weekend every March. The organization behind the Global Day of Unplugging, Unplug Collaborative, says more than 135,000 people have participated in events hosted by over 1,000 schools, religious institutions, and businesses worldwide over the last 13 years. The 2024 challenge takes place for 24 hours March 1st at sundown till March 2nd.
Don't limit your "unplugging" to once a year, challenge your family to unplug more often - try it for an hour, a day or more! Want to take a break from those screens . . . but not sure how to get your family to fill those hours without technology?
Check out these 10 ideas to go screen-free as a family:
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1. Get outside
Take your family for a hike, visit a park, head to the beach or go camping. Get outside and enjoy nature together!
- Conejo Valley Botanical Garden and Kids Adventure Garden
- Gardens of the World - Thousand Oaks
- Stagecoach Inn Museum - Newbury Park | explore the outdoor areas and activities
- Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District - Oak Park and Simi Valley
- City of Calabasas Parks and Trails
- Malibu City Parks
- Alumni Park at Pepperdine - Malibu
- Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area - Los Angeles and Ventura Counties
- Santa Monica Mountains Trails - Los Angeles and Ventura Counties
- Conejo Recreation and Park District - Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park
- Westlake Village City Parks
- City of Agoura Hills Parks
- Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency - Trails and Open Space in the Conejo Valley
- Los Angeles County Beaches and Harbors
- Ventura County Beach Front Parks
- Santa Monica State Beach
- City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks
- California Department of Parks and Recreation
- Take your family birdwatching - read here for helpful information
- 50 Ideas for a Backyard Adventure: Unleashing Kids Creativity
- 5 Fun Backyard Games to Play with Your Kids Anytime
- 5 Creative Ways to Explore Nature with Your Kids Nearby and at Home
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2. Play
This sounds simple enough, but it's surprising how little time many children have most days for open play. Let your children run wild with imagination by giving them free hours to just PLAY - inside or outside!
Just in case they need a little help take a look here:
- 40 Fun Indoor Activities for Kids - Anytime
- Nowhere to go? Family Bored? 14 Fun Inside Activities For Kids
- 👨🔬 Recipes for Fun Hands-On DIY Science and Crafts for Kids 🎨
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3. Host a family-friendly competition
Gather the family for a board game bonanza! Break out the family favorites or introduce a new game or two.
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4. Build
Build with cardboard boxes, LEGOs, blocks, magnet toys, building toys, toothpicks, or whatever else you can think of! Hold a family building competition or work together to create an epic project.
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5. Read
Head over to your bookcase, grab some of your kids favorite books then cuddle up together on the couch for a reading marathon. Or start a book together as a family! Looking for something new to read? Visit a local library and pick up a soon to be new favorite.
- Read Across America: 50 Kids' Books Set in 50 States
- 2023 Reading Challenge for Kids, Plus FREE Bookmarks!
- Page to Plate: Book-Inspired Eats for Read Across America Day
Visit the Library
- Agoura Hills Library
- Oak Park Library
- Calabasas Library
- Malibu Library
- Thousand Oak Libraries
- Westlake Village Library
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6. Encourage sensory play
This is perfect for either indoor or outdoor play with Littles! Water - sand - dough will give your kids a fund time.
We love these:
- Puffy Winter Slime: Fluffy and Fun for Kids of All Ages
- How to Create a Winter Wonderland Sensory Bin for Kids
- Snow Fun! How To Make DIY Fake Snow With Just 2 Ingredients
- Your Kids Will Love Digging Into These Edible Sensory Bins
- How to Make Your Own Salt Dough Nature Art
- DIY - Homemade Gingerbread Playdough
- DIY Modeling Dough Keeps Kids Busy
- Macaroni Kid Crafts DIY Homemade Moon Dough
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7. Clean
It's never too early to start your spring cleaning! This is a great time of year to declutter, sort, and donate. Your kiddos can definitely help with the process and feel great donating some unwanted items to those in need!
- 12 Great Cleaning Hacks We Love
- Spring Cleaning - Back to the Basics
- Take Control of the Kids' Messy Rooms
- 6 Ways to Make Cleaning Up with Kids Fun!
- Get a Jump on Spring Cleaning with these 80 Things to Declutter NOW!
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8. Discover a new hobby together
From knitting to playing an instrument, and everything in between — what have you always wanted to learn, but haven't? Now is the time! Older kids might want to participate as well — a great way to connect with your kids as you learn together.
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9. Create art
Consider not giving your child a craft or end goal — just let them create! This is called process art, which is open-ended art making. The goal is to give the child the freedom to self-direct, make choices, and give them the freedom to discover and create without expectation. With process art, the end product is always unique — and likely not what you expect! The goal is the creation of the work, not the outcome.
 Conejo Cottontails by B. Gutell |
10. Go on a mini adventure around Conejo Valley, Malibu and Calabasas
Explore! Go on an art hunt . . . be on the lookout for public art, sculptures, murals etc. Visit a museum you haven't been to before, or revisit a favorite.
Museums:
- Chumash Museum - Thousand Oaks
- Stagecoach Inn Museum: Old-Fashioned Family Fun - Newbury Park
- Leonis Adobe Museum - Calabasas
- Historic Adamson House and Malibu Lagoon Museum - Malibu
- Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art at Pepperdine - Malibu
- Getty Villa Museum - Pacific Palisades
- Ronald Reagan Library and Museum - Simi Valley
- Santa Susana Depot - Simi Valley
- Grandma Prisbrey's Bottle Village - Simi Valley | Hours by appointment - not open to the general public | Public tours monthly
- The Museum of the San Fernando Valley - Northridge
- Valley Relics Museum - Lake Balboa
Public Art:
- Conejo Cottontails public art - Location Map
- Agoura Hills art in public spaces - printable map - virtual art tour
- Malibu public art
You can find even more public art at many of our local outdoor shopping centers or out in front of community libraries and public spaces including the Civic Arts Plaza in Thousand Oaks.
Need more fun things to do with your kids?
Take a look at the Macaroni KID Conejo Valley - Malibu - Calabasas calendar for a list of family-friendly events happening.
Who knows? Maybe you and your kids will have so much fun going screen-free you might decide to make it a regular event for your family. Happy unplugging!
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