Archive · 13 Nov 2025
Kids Reveal What They'd Rather Do Than Use Screens
Imagine if instead of playing video games or watching videos on a phone or tablet, kids could do other fun things.
Some kids said they would love to play outside with their friends, like playing soccer or riding bikes.
Others like to be creative, such as playing music, cooking, or writing stories.
Many children also wish they could spend more time talking and laughing with their friends and family in real life.
Even though screens can be fun, kids really miss doing these real-life activities.
They want more time for playing games, being creative, and just being together with people they care about, away from the screen.
Sometimes, they wish they had more time for these things because of school and other classes.
It shows that kids still love the simple joys of playing and being with others.
Children express a desire to trade screen time for real-world activities.
Key activities children would prefer include outdoor play, sports, and cycling with friends.
Many children wish for more time for creative pursuits like music, cooking, writing, and playing instruments.
Social interaction with friends and family, including chatting and laughing, is highly valued.
The availability of friends and family is often a factor in participating in these preferred activities.
- Who
- Children aged 9 to 14 years
- What
- Children expressed their preferences for real-world activities over screen time, highlighting a desire for social interaction, outdoor play, and creative pursuits.
- When
- Around Children's Day (implied)
- Where
- India (implied by The Indian Express source)
- Why
- To understand children's desires and highlight that they crave genuine experiences and connections beyond digital devices.
Activity Preference
Child's Reason
Outdoor Play & Sports
Activity Preference
Playing football, cricket, cycling with friends, and family.
Child's Reason
Preference for real games, real laughter, and shared experiences over screen time. Desire for friends and family to be available for these activities.
Creative & Indoor Pursuits
Activity Preference
Forming a music band, writing songs, cooking, playing the piano, writing in a journal, or swimming.
Child's Reason
Catering to creative urges, enjoying hobbies, and specific family-oriented activities like swimming with parents. Acknowledges limited time for these activities.
Social Interaction
Activity Preference
Hanging out with friends, shopping, chatting, and laughing together.
Child's Reason
Valuing face-to-face interactions and shared moments with best friends and family over solitary screen time.
- Topic
- Children's Screen Time vs. Real-World Activities
- Source
- The Indian Express
- Children's Ages
- 9 to 14 years
- Central Question
- What would children trade their screen time for?
- Children's Desires
- Outdoor play, creative activities, social interaction, and time with friends/family.
