Navigating parenthood in a digital-first world is no small feat, and even the most involved parents are up against an algorithm, the ever-growing fear of raising ‘iPad kids’ and the very real struggle of keeping kids entertained. Here at 22Words, we believe in intentionally choosing screen-free toys to encourage children’s creativity and maintain attention spans through active play. Here are 20 of our favourites for kids aged 8 to 12 to get you started.
Raise mini geniuses with these coding robots.
With this CONSTRUCT & CREATE Mechanical Robot, your children can build 5 unique robots, improving their intellect through problem-solving and creativity. The sense of satisfaction from building and coding a robot from scratch? Priceless. It will keep them busy for weeks.
Origami kit with 72 patterns.
Encourage your children’s creative expression with this Hapray Origami Kit, which comes with over 155 sheets of origami paper and 72 patterns for a complete origami experience. A calming, screen-free activity that the whole family can enjoy together.
Build, create and repeat with the K’Nex set.
Fuel your children’s imagination and fine motor skills with the K’Nex building set. Your child can build planes, trains, motorcycles, helicopters and more. You never know, you might just be nurturing your future engineer or architect. Comes with a storage box, too.
The charm bracelet kit that doubles as a playdate activity.
This Galt Charm Bracelet Making Kit is a fun activity guaranteed to keep kids entertained for hours. A brilliant addition to playdates, and honestly, nothing is stopping you from making a bracelet for yourself, too.
Exploding Kittens for your most competitive family game night.
For the witty, competitive child who loves a social game. Exploding Kittens is tense, hilarious and perfect for getting the whole family away from their screens and around the table together.
An adventure kit for your little outdoor explorer.
Playing outdoors is far from a thing of the past. This Outdoor Adventure Kit comes with magnifying glasses, binoculars, flashlights and more, helping your child explore the outside world up close. Perfect for the naturally curious child.
Scratch art for mess-free creativity.
Exercise your child’s imagination with these Playkidz Colour Art Sheets, encouraging them to create colourful and striking artwork without paint or markers. With 50 A5 scratch sheets included, it’s great for solo play or sharing with friends.
This 3D wooden puzzle is as satisfying to build as it is to display.
Who needs a screen when you can spend hours building this wooden 3D puzzle instead? Perfect for the child who loves working towards something and seeing the finished result. A healthier screen-free active play.
Fun exercise activity disguised as a game with this badminton set.
Badminton is a great family activity that encourages kids to enjoy sports and the outdoors. It will tire them out, get them off their screens and have them sleeping earlier. Something every parent loves.
A world map puzzle for the kid who loves a challenge.
This high-quality 200-piece world map puzzle is as educational as it is entertaining, helping improve your child’s geographical knowledge while keeping them away from a screen. A great way to spark curiosity about the world around them.
A 125-obstacle maze for the goal-oriented kid.
This 3D Perplexus Maze features ramps, spirals and tight turns as you navigate a steel ball through 125 obstacles. Easily one of the most engaging screen-free toys on this list, especially for kids who love mastering something genuinely tricky.
A geology kit that they will not stop talking about.
This EDUMAN Geology Science Kit comes with real crystal geodes for your little explorer to crack open and reveal beautiful crystals inside. Safety gear included. Perfect for kids who love nature, science and showing off their coolest finds.
Perfume and soap making for your little creator
If your child loves experimenting and making things to share, this soap and perfume-making kit is a brilliant screen-free option. A safe and hands-on introduction to the DIY world without the hours spent watching others do it online.
Capture the flag — because sometimes the whole family needs to touch grass.
This glow-in-the-dark Capture the Flag set is social, active and fun enough to get even the quietest kid involved. Perfect for family picnics, holidays or any outdoor occasion where you want everyone off their screens and actually moving.
A STEM cyborg hand kit for your little genius.
This DIY Hydraulic Cyborg Hand Kit is a challenging and genuinely impressive STEM project for science-loving kids who enjoy building things. The finished result speaks for itself — and they built it themselves.
Foster a love of the universe with this solar system kit.
This Solar System Kit comes with everything your child needs to paint and mount a complete solar system. A fantastic screen-free toy that complements their studies and brings a little bit of outer space into your home.
A calming and creative activity — Hama beads.
This Hama Bead Set comes with 4000 beads for your child to make anything they want, from keyrings to fridge magnets and beyond. If your child enjoys crafting, this will keep them happily entertained for hours.
This wouldn’t be a screen-free toy list without LEGO.
This 3-in-1 dinosaur LEGO set is the kind of screen-free toy that needs no convincing. Educational, creative and endlessly fun, LEGO remains one of the best ways to keep kids entertained without a screen in sight.
All kids love stickers, so they’ll love this sticker maker
Foster your child’s creative freedom with this sticker maker machine, which also comes with gems to personalise their creations even further. Simple, fun and endlessly satisfying.
A screen-free activity for the whole family.
This escape room board game is the perfect excuse to sit down together and collaborate. Great for playdates or family game nights, and the best part? Everyone is away from a screen, including you.