Simple ways to slow down and connect—no screens required.
When the Weather Keeps You In (and the Screens Try to Take Over)
Winter is coming. We live in Montana and have already had one freak snowstorm a few weeks ago. It left us with several inches of snow overnight. Ever since, we’ve been in the 60’s. Days like that are made for staying home. Let’s be honest, I wish I could stay home for the entirety of winter. Anybody with me? Rainy days, cold mornings, lazy Saturdays. If you are able to stay home when the weather is bad, don’t let the screens take over your day.
As cozy as a day in can be, it’s also tempting to run to your screens. For the kids, for ourselves, for everyone. I’m not saying there is anything wrong with a movie or a few educational games. But sometimes what we really need is a chance to unplug and be present.
This is where screen-free family activities come in. An invite to slow down, and make memories you don’t have to scroll to find later.
Whether you’re looking for indoor fun on a cold day or just want to find more mindful connection. This list of cozy, screen-free ideas is here to help.
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Why Screen-Free Time Matters (Especially at Home)
In today’s world, everything is fighting for our attention; notifications, streaming, social media, etc. It’s easy to fall into passive togetherness. We’re in the same room, but not really present with each other.
Screen-free family time changes that dynamic. It gives everyone a chance to be fully present. To create something together. To laugh and play and rest without the background noise and distraction.
These moments don’t have to be extravagant or over the top. Typically, the coziest memories often come from the simplest things. Baking cookies, building a blanket fort, or reading a story out loud are all examples of fun screen free activities the whole family can enjoy.
So snuggle up, drink something warm, and pick one of these ideas to try this weekend.
18 Screen-Free Family Activities for Cozy Days In
1. Make Homemade Bread or Cookies Together
Choose a favorite recipe and let everyone help. Measuring, stirring, even cleaning up. My kids are currently learning how to crack eggs, so that’s their favorite part of baking at the moment. The best part about that? Enjoying something warm and delicious together.
Try it: My Rustic Berry Galette or The Best Ever Cinnamon Rolls are perfect for this.
2. Create a Family Reading Nook
Pull out all the blankets and pillows, grab a stack of your family’s favorite books, and cozy up together. Take turns reading aloud, or let everyone pick their favorite to enjoy side by side.
3. Write and Mail Handwritten Letters
Set out stationery, markers, stamps, and envelopes. Write notes to faraway friends, grandparents, or neighbors. Young kids can draw pictures to include inside. Next time you visit grandma and grandpa, their fridge just might be covered in those pictures.
4. Have a Slow Morning Picnic
This one is harder to pull off if you work and have kids in school. It can be a great weekend tradition to start. Instead of rushing into the day, spread a blanket on the living room floor and enjoy your favorite breakfast picnic-style. Add some music and you’ve got instant magic.
5. Make a Fort and Tell Stories Inside
Blankets, couch cushions, and fairy lights—what more do you need? Build a fort, grab some snacks, and tell made-up stories or listen to an audiobook together.
6. Cook a Comfort Meal as a Family
Choose a cozy recipe (like soup or chili) and cook it slowly together. Let your little ones wash veggies, stir, or set the table.
Bonus idea: Let each family member choose a dish for a “cozy dinner club” night.
7. Do a Puzzle Together
Puzzles are the perfect blend of quiet and connection. Choose one with a seasonal scene or calming colors and let it live on the table for a few days. My kids love this puzzle of the United States. Fun and educational!
8. Draw, Paint, or Craft Freely
Pull out the art supplies and see where creativity takes you. No need for Pinterest perfection—just paper, colors, and a little imagination.
9. Play Board Games or Card Games
Bring out the classics: Uno, Memory, Go Fish, Scrabble, or something new. Games teach patience, strategy, and cooperation—and they’re just plain fun. The favorite in our house is this Bluey Candy Land game.
10. Start a Cozy Ritual (Like Tea Time)
My kids’ favorite new routine now that its cold out is to have hot chocolate and tell me their favorite and least favorite parts of their day. This gives us a chance to work through the harder parts of their day. Pick a time each day or week to enjoy tea, cocoa, or warm cider together. Light a candle, play soft music, and simply enjoy each other’s company.
11. Host a Living Room Campout
Sleeping bags, flashlights, “campfire” snacks, and a round of storytelling—it’s everything you love about camping, without the bugs and cold.
12. Make a Family Gratitude Jar
Set out a jar and some slips of paper. Each day or week, everyone writes something they’re thankful for and drops it in. Read them together at the end of the season.
13. Bake Bread for a Neighbor
A simple way to connect beyond your walls. Bake a loaf together and deliver it with a handwritten note. If you’re like me and love fresh bread but maybe don’t have killer bread making skills, use this Bread Maker. It does everything for you and your home will smell amazing while it bakes.
14. Start a Family Journal
Keep a shared notebook where each family member can write or draw about their day. It becomes a keepsake full of memories and moments.
15. Do a Seasonal Nature Study Indoors
Collect leaves, pinecones, or rocks during a walk, then examine and draw them at home. Use a magnifying glass or guidebook if you have one.
16. Have a “Yes” Day for Creativity
Say yes to building, baking, pretending, and creating—whatever your kids dream up (within reason). Let them lead the fun for a day.
17. Turn on Music and Dance Around the Kitchen
It doesn’t have to be fancy. Just turn up the volume and let loose. Bonus points for themed playlists or dance-offs.
18. Create a Cozy Corner for Quiet Time
Encourage rest by creating a quiet space. Add books, blankets, puzzles, or soft toys where anyone can go for a little quiet.
Tips for Making Screen-Free Time a Habit
If you’re trying to incorporate more screen-free time at home, here are a few gentle tips:
- Set a rhythm, not a rigid schedule. Aim for one screen-free pocket of time each day—maybe during breakfast, before dinner, or on weekend mornings.
- Involve the kids. Let them choose from a list of cozy ideas or come up with their own.
- Create a screen-free basket or shelf. Fill it with books, games, craft supplies, puzzles, and ideas to pull out when boredom strikes.
- Be patient. It might feel awkward or “boring” at first, especially if screens are a default. Stick with it. Simplicity has a way of settling in slowly.
Final Thoughts
What I’ve come to love most about screen-free family activities is how ordinary they are. They don’t require special equipment or lots of prep. Just a little time, a little presence, and a willingness to step away from the distractions.
In the end, cozy days in aren’t about doing everything perfectly. They’re about just doing something together and being fully present. So, light that candle, build the fort, roll the dough. Let your home be a soft place for everyone to land, screen-free and soul-full.
I love this! It’s such a refreshing reminder that family time doesn’t need screens to be fun and meaningful. These cozy, screen-free ideas are perfect for slowing down and making memories, especially on those rainy days when staying in feels just right.
Trying my hardest to raise a screen free baby 😅 so I LOVE these ideas! Face to face connection is so important.