Did you know the average American child between the ages of 8 and 18 spends roughly 7.5 hours a day in front of a screen? That’s more time than most kids spend in school. For parents trying to create real connection on the weekends, that stat can feel equal parts alarming and clarifying.

The antidote isn’t a lecture about phones. It’s a Saturday with something better to do. 

Whether you’re looking for activities for kids, creative indoor projects, or lively community events, there are more options for screen-free activities than most families realize – if you know where to look.

Why Screen-Free Time Matters More Than You Think

It’s easy to hand a kid a tablet and let them entertain themselves. But the CDC has linked high levels of screen time in teens to poor sleep, fatigue, and symptoms of anxiety and depression. A 2025 survey from Lurie Children’s Hospital found that parents’ top three fears about their kids’ screen use are exposure to inappropriate content, sleep problems, and addiction, and that 62% of parents feel some guilt about screen time. Yet, many parents and guardians still feel unsure about how to course-correct.

The solution isn’t to declare war on technology. It’s to make the alternative genuinely appealing.

Let’s explore ways to make device-free time engaging this weekend and beyond.

Get Out of the House: Outdoor Family Activities

Fresh air is underrated. Even a few hours outside resets moods, burns energy, and gives kids something to talk about later. Here are some weekend outdoor activities that work for families with kids of all ages:

• Go on a nature scavenger hunt: Find a free checklist online, head to a local park or nature preserve, and let younger kids lead the way. It’s low-effort for parents and surprisingly absorbing for children who spend most of the week indoors.
• Explore a farmers’ market: Let each child pick one ingredient, then cook something together when you get home. The investment in choice makes kids far more likely to eat what ends up on the table.
• Ride bikes or walk a new trail: Changing up the route keeps it interesting. Even familiar neighborhoods look different from a bike seat.
• Plant something: Whether a window box, a single tomato plant, or a pot of herbs, the act of tending something living gives kids a sense of responsibility and a reason to check in on it every day.

Tap Into Your Community: Live Events and Performing Arts

One of the most reliable ways to reduce screen time is to engage in community events. There’s nothing passive about being in a theater full of people or watching a performer work a room; it demands attention in the best possible way.

Gorton Center, a beloved nonprofit community hub in Lake Forest, Illinois, has been doing exactly this since 1974. Serving families in Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, and the broader region, Gorton offers an impressive calendar of family and kids events, live music performances, and community happenings that give families a great opportunity to ditch devices and reconnect with their community.

Check our calendar of upcoming events for kids and families, children’s classes, and family film screenings, and pick the best option for your family!

Creative Indoor Activities for Kids (and the Whole Family)

Rainy weekends don’t have to derail your plans or force you to resort to screen time for entertainment. Some of the best family bonding activities happen right at the kitchen table or in a community classroom:

• Draw and paint together: You don’t need to be good at it. The point is doing it side by side.
• Cook a new recipe from scratch: Assign everyone a job, such as chopping, measuring, or stirring, and let the mess be part of the fun.
• Play a strategy board game: Classics like Clue, Catan, Ticket to Ride, or even old-school Scrabble get everyone thinking and talking.
• Try a class together: Gorton Center offers youth classes in art, cooking, music, STEM, drama, and sewing, taught by working artists and educators who bring real skill to the table. Explore our schedule of upcoming classes!

Gorton Drama Studio is a particularly good option for kids who have energy to burn and a flair for performance. Theater builds confidence, listening skills, and the ability to work with others – all things a Saturday morning in front of YouTube simply doesn’t offer.

Make It a Habit, Not Just a One-Off

The families who succeed at limiting screen time sustainably are often the ones who build a consistent rhythm of activities that kids look forward to.

Gorton Center’s full event calendar is regularly updated with performances, classes, film screenings, community events, and more, making it easy to plan and give the whole family something to look forward to each weekend. Summer camps extend that rhythm into the warmer months, keeping kids engaged, creative, and connected to their community.

Browse the full lineup of upcoming family events at Gorton Center to find something your family will love this weekend.

Gorton Center is a nonprofit center for the arts and a gathering place at the heart of Lake Forest, Illinois. We offer a wide range of classes, professional live music and events, and film screenings for all ages. Help us provide vibrant social experiences and exceptional arts and culture by supporting our work today!