The Otter blog
Play ideas and parent-sized advice
Short, practical reads for when you want more play and less screen.
-
Things to do with kids: 40 screen-free ideas for any day
Forty easy things to do with kids at home, outside or in a pinch, sorted by what kind of day you're having. Most use things you already own. -
Screen-free play in 10 minutes: where to start when you're out of energy
You don't need a craft cupboard or a free afternoon. Three small ways to start playing together, and what to say when your child isn't interested. -
Science activities for preschoolers: 12 experiments you can do with kitchen stuff
Easy, safe science experiments for ages 3 to 5 using things from your kitchen: sink or float, color mixing, fizzy volcanoes and more. -
Preschool activities at home: 20 ideas that don't feel like homework
Twenty easy preschool activities for ages 3 to 5 that build early skills through play, with no worksheets and no special supplies. -
Paper plate masks: how to make them (and what to do next)
A simple way to make paper plate masks with kids, with ideas for animals, robots and monsters, and a play to put on afterwards. -
Leaf rubbing with kids: a 20-minute nature craft
A leaf hunt, a crayon and a sheet of paper. How to make leaf rubbings that actually work, and what to do with them afterwards. -
How to build a blanket fort that stays up
A simple, sturdy way to build a blanket fort with kids using things you already have, plus ideas for what to do once you're inside. -
Floor is lava: how to play (plus 6 ways to keep it fresh)
The rules, the setup and the little tweaks that keep this classic going. All you need is a few cushions and a living room. -
How to make a cardboard marble run (using tubes and tape)
A step-by-step way to build a marble run from cardboard tubes and tape, with tips for steep ramps, stuck marbles and keeping kids building. -
Activities for kids: simple ideas by age, from 1 to 10
What kids tend to be ready for at each age, and easy screen-free activities to match. No special supplies, and each one can start in two minutes. -
Activities for 5 year olds: 15 screen-free ideas
Crafts, challenges, outdoor games and quiet projects for 5 year olds. Fifteen easy, screen-free ideas that use things you already have. -
Activities for 4 year olds: 15 ideas they'll ask to do again
Treasure hunts, forts, simple experiments and make-believe. Fifteen screen-free activities for 4 year olds, with the words to get them started. -
Activities for 3 year olds: 15 easy, screen-free ideas
Pretend play, big movement, messy fun and quiet moments. Fifteen simple activities for 3 year olds that use things you already have.