Christmas can involve a surprising amount of screen time: television, phones, shopping, messages and scrolling between plans.
You do not need a complete digital detox. Pick one part of the day and give it a different default activity.
15 things to do at Christmas without a screen
- Start a Paint by Numbers project. Choose a screen-free painting kit and work on one colour at a time.
- Do a jigsaw puzzle. Leave it out so people can join and leave freely.
- Play cards. Keep the rules simple enough for mixed ages.
- Cook one new recipe together.
- Take an evening walk to look at Christmas lights.
- Read for an hour. Everyone can read something different.
- Make paper decorations.
- Do a blind chocolate or tea tasting.
- Write proper Christmas cards or letters.
- Build a family playlist without keeping phones at the table afterwards.
- Try a board game tournament.
- Sort and print favourite photographs.
- Start a small embroidery, crochet or knitting project.
- Have a Christmas craft night.
- Give everyone their own painting kit and make a no-phone evening of it.
Make it easy enough to happen
The best screen-free activity is not necessarily the most ambitious one. Keep materials visible, choose something everyone can understand and avoid turning it into another task that needs perfect preparation.
A screen-free Christmas painting night
For groups, use our Friends & Family Paint Night collection. One kit per person means nobody has to share a canvas or keep pace with someone else.
Use Christmas to start a hobby for January
A physical project can continue after the holidays. That is one reason creative gifts work well: they give the recipient something to return to once the busy part of Christmas is over.
Read Screen-Free Hobbies for Adults or see Screen-Free Christmas Gifts for Adults.
