How to Keep Your Kids Entertained Without Screens While Working From Home

The modern parenting puzzle: work from home with kids, no screens

You're on another Zoom call that should've ended 10 minutes ago. Your inbox is overflowing, the cat just walked across your keyboard, and in the next room, your children have started arguing over the last blue marker. Again.

As a parent working remotely, you’re constantly pulled in two directions — wanting to be present for your kids while trying to meet deadlines and keep your career afloat. And when you've sworn off screens (at least most of the time), the challenge only intensifies. But with a few intentional strategies, it's possible to create an environment where your kids feel supported, stimulated, and engaged — without turning on a tablet.

Rethinking "occupation": letting kids get gloriously bored

The first mindset shift comes from understanding that being "occupied" doesn’t always mean being entertained — especially not by you. In fact, periods of boredom are a gift in disguise. They're fertile ground for creativity to take root. If you find your child saying, “I’m bored,” resist the urge to immediately jump in with a solution. Instead, try saying something like, “Something interesting usually comes out of boredom. I’m excited to see what you come up with.”

Of course, to get to this point, kids need scaffolding. Not constant structure, but a toolkit of independent activities they can reach for when they need inspiration. That’s where thoughtful preparation meets space for imagination.

Creating a "yes" environment for independent play

Set your environment up for success. Children between 6–12 can absolutely manage longer periods of solo play if their surroundings are designed with accessibility in mind. Think of it as curating a mini creative studio where most things are a temp-controlled "yes":

• Arts and crafts materials: Think washable markers, scrap paper, recyclables, washi tape, and stickers — items that don’t require constant supervision.
• Constructive kits: LEGO bricks, magnetic tiles, or simple model kits can buy you pockets of deep focus time.
• Story starters: Try leaving out a comic strip with the final panel blank, or some character cards that need backstories.

If your child knows where to find these options and feels empowered to make their own choices, you're setting the stage for more successful independent engagement.

Using audio storytelling as an immersive unplugged activity

One of the most underused tools for screen-free home life is storytelling — not visual, but auditory. Audiobooks and audio series engage the imagination without overstimulating the senses. For kids between 6 and 12, they can be a bridge between play and learning. They make wonderful companions for drawing sessions, quiet building projects, or even short snack breaks while you're meeting a deadline.

This is where the iOS / Android app LISN Kids comes in handy. With its curated library of original audiobooks and series made specifically for children ages 3 to 12, it offers high-quality stories that can spark imagination without turning on a single screen. The content is age-appropriate, enriching, and refreshingly calm — perfect for long afternoons.

Building predictable rhythms in your workday

Children thrive on knowing what happens next. When you're working from home, it’s tempting to let each day fall together haphazardly, but try carving out reliable blocks in your schedule where your kids know what to expect. For example: "After breakfast is quiet time with crafts or audio stories. After lunch, backyard play if the weather’s good." Pairing these blocks with specific types of activities reduces the need for constant redirection.

Learn how to take intentional breaks with your child, so that short quality connection time midday can recharge both of you.

What about when you're too tired to think?

Let’s be honest: some days, no matter how well you've planned, you will be exhausted. Your child is bouncing off the walls, and you simply cannot summon the creativity to steer them. That’s not failure. It’s just parenting.

In those moments, consider outsourcing engagement — not to technology, but to safe, pre-established resources like a sibling-led scavenger hunt, a jar of activity prompts, or a trusted audio story app. You're not giving up; you're handing over the reins in a thoughtful way.

Final thoughts: you're doing better than you think

Balancing work and parenting was never meant to be a solo act. And doing it without screens takes even more presence, creativity, and patience — all of which tend to run in low supply when you're juggling home life on fast forward.

On the days when you feel like you're failing, remember that your effort — to create balance, to offer alternatives, to nurture — matters more than any perfectly executed plan. If your child spends 40 minutes building a cardboard city or listening to a captivating story on the floor beside your desk while you meet a deadline — that’s a win. A big one.

For more ideas to gently nurture connection and calm at home, check out our piece on calm activities after a long day or explore quick bonding rituals you can weave into busy days.

And if you're parenting solo or managing multiple kids, you are not alone. These smart strategies might feel like a hug in article form.