10 Screen-Free Games Nannies Can Play With Kids at Home | Pay The Nanny [ ![Pay the nanny logo](https://assets.paythenanny.nz/images/logo-white.png) ](/) [Parents](https://paythenanny.com.au/For-Families) [Nannies](https://paythenanny.com.au/For-Nannies) [Agencies](https://paythenanny.com.au/for-agencies) [Pricing](https://paythenanny.com.au/pricing) [Contact](https://paythenanny.com.au/contact) [Sign Up](https://paythenanny.com.au/signup) [Log In](https://paythenanny.com.au/app/login) Article ------- 10 Screen-Free Games Nannies Can Play With Kids at Home ======================================================= By Mark Hudson · 19 March, 2026 Looking for ways to keep kids entertained without relying on screens? Whether you are a parent or a nanny, having a toolkit of simple, engaging games can make all the difference. Here are 10 fun, no-screen activities kids will love, using minimal setup and maximum imagination. ![10 Screen-Free Games Nannies Can Play With Kids at Home](https://assets.caresies.io/articles/199/conversions/31L2WNZmGcOZmNfdRc5q-webp-featured.webp) Keeping kids genuinely engaged without reaching for a tablet is one of the quiet superpowers of a great nanny. Not because screens are the enemy, but because some of the most memorable childhood moments happen when there is nothing to stare at except each other and a pile of cushions. These 10 games need almost no equipment, work across a wide age range, and tend to keep going far longer than you would expect. 1. The Floor is Lava -------------------- Scatter cushions, rugs, and soft toys across the living room floor and challenge kids to cross the room without touching the ground. Simple premise, chaotic fun, guaranteed laughter. It builds spatial awareness and gross motor coordination, and the energy burns fast. Good for a rainy afternoon when the walls are starting to close in. 2. Treasure Hunt ---------------- Hide a handful of small objects around the house and write out a list of clues or a simple checklist. For toddlers, clues can be pictures. For school-age kids, riddles work well. Treasure hunts stretch out naturally because kids will often ask to do another round once they have found everything. They are also surprisingly good for reading practice when the clues are written out. 3. Simon Says ------------- Zero setup. Works anywhere. Simon Says has been entertaining children for generations because the rules are just strict enough to feel like a real game. The trick is mixing physical instructions ("Simon says spin around three times") with quieter ones ("Simon says whisper your favourite animal"). The contrast keeps kids on their toes and genuinely focused. Research from the [CDC's developmental milestones resource](https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/index.html) highlights that listening and following instructions are foundational skills in early childhood, and games like this support that development in a low-pressure way. 4. DIY Obstacle Course ---------------------- Chairs to weave through, a cushion stack to jump over, a line of tape on the floor to balance along. An indoor obstacle course can be built in about five minutes and then rebuilt differently the next time. Timed runs add a layer of excitement for older kids. For younger ones, just completing the course is the reward. 5. Story Building ----------------- One person starts with a single sentence. "Once upon a time, a pelican walked into a hardware store." The next person adds a sentence. Then the next. Nobody knows where it will go, which is exactly the point. This game tends to get sillier as it goes on, and that is fine. According to the [Australian Early Development Census](https://www.aedc.gov.au/), language and communication skills in early childhood have a lasting impact on learning outcomes, and storytelling games are a low-effort way to build them. 6. Indoor Bowling ----------------- Line up plastic cups or bottles in a triangle at the end of a hallway and roll a soft ball toward them. Keep score or just reset and roll again. It is adaptable across ages. Younger kids can stand close; older kids can move back or bowl with their non-dominant hand for a real challenge. 7. Freeze Dance --------------- Play music through a phone or speaker and let kids dance freely. When the music cuts out, everyone freezes. Anyone who moves gets a silly challenge like "spin on the spot five times" before rejoining. Movement and music together have well-documented benefits for children's physical and cognitive development. The [Better Health Channel](https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/) notes that active play helps children develop balance, coordination, and social skills, all of which freeze dance quietly covers. 8. Guess the Object ------------------- Drop an item into a pillowcase or fabric bag and have kids reach in and guess what it is without looking. Start with obvious things like a banana or a tennis ball and get more challenging from there. For younger children, give a verbal clue first. This game is particularly good for kids who are sensory-curious, as it turns tactile exploration into something purposeful. 9. Chalk Drawing Challenges --------------------------- If you have an outdoor space, even a small courtyard or driveway, chalk is one of the most versatile tools in the kit. Give kids a theme, "draw your dream bedroom," "design a spaceship," "map out our street," and let them go. You can turn it competitive by guessing each other's drawings, or keep it open-ended for younger kids who just want to fill the space. 10. Build a Fort ---------------- Chairs, blankets, a few cushions and the strategic use of a dining table. Fort building is technically construction, problem solving, and imaginative play happening at the same time. Once the fort is up, it becomes a reading nook, a storytelling cave, or just a calm place to sit and chat. Some of the best nanny-kid conversations happen inside a blanket fort. Why Screen-Free Play Still Matters ---------------------------------- It is not about being anti-technology. Most kids today will grow up in environments where screens are everywhere, and that is fine. But the habits and skills built through hands-on play, creativity, movement, and genuine conversation have a stickiness that passive screen time does not replicate. The [Raising Children Network](https://raisingchildren.net.au/) points out that unstructured and semi-structured play are both critical to healthy development, particularly for building problem-solving ability, emotional regulation, and social confidence. A nanny who can lead this kind of play is not just keeping kids occupied. They are contributing something meaningful. How Pay The Nanny Supports Families Across Australia ---------------------------------------------------- Finding a nanny who brings this kind of energy and engagement to your household is worth the effort. Once you have found the right person, the employment side of things should not slow you down. At [Pay The Nanny](https://paythenanny.com.au), we handle the payroll and compliance work that comes with employing a nanny in Australia, including pay calculations, tax, superannuation, and Fair Work obligations. Everything is managed correctly from the start, so families can focus on the things that actually matter. 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