Unplugged Play

Full of activities for every scenario, from solo play to group play, indoor play to outdoor play, from parent and child play to birthday party games, and loads of busy-body play activities, these books allow children to safely entertain themselves and gain independence, all the while giving parents a moment to finish work or make dinner. 

The imaginative, creative, playful possibilities are endless with the Unplugged Play activity books!

explore the books by choosing one of the age groups below!

UNPLUGGED PLAY: TODDLER 

Unplug your toddler with over 150 screen-free games and activities!

“Every parent ought to have this book... [A] feast of unplugged family favorites, forgotten and new.”– Penelope Leach, PhD, psychologist and author of Your Baby and Child
 

From Tunnel Tube to Party Play Dough, Bumper Ball to Hoop-Dee-Do, here are more than 150 screen-free games and activities to help kids enjoy the wholesome old-fashioned experience of playing creatively and freely...without technology. There are outdoor games and indoor games, games to play solo and games to play with others, crafts, songs, guessing games, puppet ideas, playdates and party favorites––even instant activities to do at the kitchen table while dinner’s cooking. All games are toddler-tested and approved!

A note to parents…

Play matters! Technology has its place, but these unplugged games are designed to stretch the imagination, spark creativity, build strong bodies, and forge deeper connections with family and friends.

In Unplugged Play: Toddler, children ages 1–2 will refine their fine motor skills and coordination with games such as:

MUFFIN SORTER

Toddler-friendly objects are placed into a muffin tin as toddlers practice sorting and arranging objects in little cubbies!  

TODDLER BASKETBALL

All that’s necessary is a bin (plastic tub or small laundry basket) and a soft, medium-size ball. Hold the basket at toddler height and have the toddler throw or toss the ball into the tub. Parents can help toddlers make every shot a scoring basket by moving the bin to catch their throws. 

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UNPLUGGED PLAY: PRESCHOOL 

Unplug Your Preschooler with more than 200 screen-free games and activities!

“Just plain fun!... This book will help parents give their children the kind of childhood that more and more children are missing.” – Mary Piper, PhD., author of Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls
 

From Animal Doctor to Lunch Bag Puppet, Letter Hunt to Life-Size Me, here are more than 200 screen-free games and activities to help kids enjoy the wholesome, old-fashioned experience of playing creatively and freely...without technology. There are outdoor games and indoor games, games to play solo and games to play with others, arts and crafts, songs and rhymes, playdates and party favorites––even instant activities to do at the kitchen table while dinner’s cooking. All games are preschooler-tested and approved.  

A note to parents…

Play matters! Technology has its place, but these unplugged games are designed to stretch the imagination, spark creativity, build strong bodies, and forge deeper connections with family and friends.

In Unplugged Play: Preschool, children ages 3–5 develop problem-solving and motor skills with activities like:

SAND-CAKE IMPRESSIONS

Awaken the little sculptors in your preschoolers by setting them up to make “impressions” in damp sand. Supply them with preschooler-safe objects and play sand (available at toy stores). Children love seeing how images appear and disappear naturally in the sand. 

COLOR DETECTIVE

Select a “color of the day.” If blue is the chosen color, challenge your child to look out the car window (while running errands together), searching for every blue object and calling it out. Keep a running tally and announce the grand total for extra fun! 

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UNPLUGGED PLAY: GRADE SCHOOL

Unplug your grade-schooler with 200 screen-free games and activities!

“A terrific prescription for much of what ails children and parents today.”– Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder

RECENTLY FEATURED AS ONE OF AMAZON’S EDITOR’S PICKS!

From Fortune-Teller to Draw Me a Story, Spillin’ the Beans to Monkeyshines, here are more than 200 screen-free games and activities to help kids enjoy the wholesome, old-fashioned experience of playing creatively and freely... without technology. There are outdoor games and indoor games, games to play solo and games to play with others, guessing games, arts and crafts, musical fun, and party favorites––even instant activities to do at the kitchen table while dinner’s cooking. All games are big kid-tested and approved!

A note to parents…

Play matters! Technology has its place, but these unplugged games are designed to stretch the imagination, spark creativity, build strong bodies, and forge deeper connections with family and friends.

In Unplugged Play: Grade School, children ages 6–10 will be entertained for hours with age-appropriate games that match their sophisticated level of play such as: 

BLIND SKETCHING

Have your child make a list of 10 things they can draw. Then place some drawing paper in front of her and tie a blindfold around her so she can’t see the paper. Have her draw the pictures from her list, and then have family members try to guess what the items are supposed to be. 

HOP, STICK, AND A JUMP

Place six sticks in a line on the ground about 2 feet apart. Several feet away, create a second line of sticks parallel to the first line for the second player. On “Go,” the players start hopping over each stick in their line on one foot. Once they have hopped over every stick, they can turn right back around and hop over sticks on the opposite foot. 

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