The Only way to raise no-screen kids: Take them outside!

The ever present worry for every parent in this day and age? How to keep children off tablets!

But what if I told you that the answer is much simpler than you think?

I am a mother, working a full time 9-5 corporate job, and raising a child myself. If I’ve learnt anything at all in my years of parenting, it is that raising kids indoors is definitely not ideal!

You want to play with the kids, keep them off screen, and cultivate a more healthier environment. Yet, chores stare you in the face while you just respond to this last email or phone call. Before you even know it, it’s already bedtime and the kids did but sit in front of the TV or on their screens all day. Guilt sets in as you prepare them for bed. You promise yourself you’ll do better tomorrow. Then you repeat the same thing all over again tomorrow.

That is what I call the cycle of indoor parenting.

The cycle of indoor parenting can be broken by one to thing only: GO OUTSIDE!

Both you and the kids don’t need a reminder to stay off your screens when you’re hiking a mountain or dipping your toes in a cold lake or swimming in natural pools or admiring a stunning waterfall. Nature has a way of demanding your full attention and that is something you won’t get staying indoors.

But I hear you.

There’s work to be done. There’s school. There’s not enough money to travel abroad. So you stare back at me and ask: how on earth do we find the time to do that then?

With parenting, you have got to be strategic with your time. There’s no other way round it.

The evening once you’ve logged off, the weeekends, and especially the school holidays.

Those are your precious moments.

Go out to your nearest playground after school/work if you don’t already have other extracurricular activities planned for the kids.

Explore the nearest park or nature reserve on weekends. And make it a goal to do a road trip at least one weekend a month to the nearest national park. We have 10 national parks in the U.K., enough to keep you busy.

If you don’t know where to start exploring, I recommend the Lake District as your first national park in the U.K. From great kids-friendly hikes, stunning waterfalls, jaw-dropping views, incredible lakes, refreshing natural pools, and wildlife, the Lake District offers U.K. families with young children the perfect escape from city life. The great news is, most of it is only 3-5 hours drive from major U.K. cities and there are public transport options available for those without a car.

When you head down to the Lake District, we recommend basing yourself in Keswick to explore. Our favourite part of the Lake District is Buttermere but Windermere and Grasmere are also great starting points for families with young kids.

In terms of activities, we recommend having a picnic at Buttermere Lake for a start, wild swimming in the Buttermere Infinity Pools, and a walk to Latrigg Fell for glorious sunset views.

I have written more detailed guide on the Lake District within inclues ten beat hikes, waterfalls, wild swimming spots, as well as accommodation and restaurant recommendations and so much more. You can purchase them here.

I wish you and your family happy memories together and plenty adventures out in the wild!