We live in a fast-paced world saturated with technology and social media; however, every once in a while, it's nice to press pause and enjoy a low-tech family activity.
It seems like "Fun" has been so thoroughly digitized, we can't conceive of anything to do without a WiFi signal. But there is a big world out there, so if you can bear to switch off Netflix and your smartphone for an hour or two, you might actually have a real-live conversation with your own flesh and blood.
Some examples of low-tech family activities are playing a board game (Monopoly, anyone?), having a picnic or even playing a round of cards. Though these activities may seem old-fashioned, there are a range of innovative options out there to keep things interesting.
18 Examples of Low-Tech Family Activities
18
Jungle Gym Recliners
The Abooba Chair Lets Parents Sit Comfortably While Playing with Their Kids
17
Girl Construction Toys
GoldieBlox and The Builder's Survival Kit Teaches Important Skills
16
Wizard Board Games
Harry Potter Monopoly Immerses Fans in a Magically Competitive World
15
DIY Boat-Building Sets
Set Sail and Go On Adventures with Your Own Balmain Sailboat Kit
14
Indoor Play Swings
The Rafa Kids S Swing Allows Kids to Safely Play Indoors
13
Bike Sharing for Kids
The P’tit Velib Program in Paris is an Extension of Its Velib Network
12
Comical See-Through Cards
Laugh Out Lout When You Play with These Poker Face Cards
11
Tofu Stacking Games
The 'Manner Tofu Chopstick' Game from Japan is Fun and Frustrating
10
Artisan Game Board Furnishings
The Congo Quares Chess Board Bench is Inspired By The Strategy Game
9
Foosball Pencil Toys
The Foosball Pencil Eraser Design by Suck UK is Fun and Functional
8
Elaborate Storytelling Playing Cards
This Card Deck is Equal Parts Art, Design and Craftsmanship
7
Medieval Game Board Remixes
The Chainmaille Chess Set Lets You Play Like It's 1399
6
Convertible Picnic Bags
This Stylish Bag From BuiltNY Includes All Your Picnicking Products
5
Retro Console Board Games
This Shogi Board Game is Designed in the Likes of Nintendo Game Boy
4
Illuminated Ping Pong Games
Indigo's Glow In The Dark Table Tennis Set Ensures Hours of Fun
3
Galactic Playing Cards
This Star Wars Card Deck Shows the History of Darth Vader
2
Color-Blocked Picnic Packs
'PiqueNique' Encourages You to Spend More Time with Loved Ones
1
Retro Pixelated Playing Cards
These Pixel Playing Cards are Cute Reinventions of the Classic Deck
Related Ideas
Phone-Free Tourist Islands
Ulko-Tammio Promotes Digital Detox and Connection with Nature
Phone-Free Festivals
This Never Happened is a Music Event Series and Festival Concept
Emotionally Rewarding Multiplayer Games
Toca Boca Days Helps Tweens Find a Sense of Belonging
Digital Detox Phone Concepts
Andrea Mangone Boasts a Minimalist Foldable Phone
Screenless Learning Wands
The Kinoo Magic Wand is for Independent & Family Play
Nostalgic Beer Brand Phones
The Boring Phone by Heineken Helps Adults Focus on What Really Matters
Meditative Screen-Free Toys
Calm Tonie Shares Mindfulness Activities & Breathwork for Kids
Stacked Stone Camera Projectors
'The Nostalgia of Now' by Josh Schwefel is Naturalistic
Gen Z IRL Campaigns
Hinge's Phonebook Encourages Gen Z to Connect IRL for Global Day of Unplugging
Kid-Powered Imagination Campaigns
Lunchables' A.I. vs K.I. Proves Kids' Limitless Creativity
Playful Thermal Printer Cameras
The Children’s Print Camera by Koool Design is Easy to Use
Color-In Photo Cameras
The 'Potto' Toy Camera Concept Encourages Kids to Color in Prints
Creative Play Pop-Ups
The Sharpie Studio Offered Opportunities for Creativity at SXSW
Bookshelf Board Games
These Classic Board Games are Disguised as Vintage Books
Buildable Marble Mazes
The LEGO Magic Maze is a Challenging, Skill-Building Tabletop Game
Sustainable Sensorial Play Pads
The Stokke PlayPad by Marius Kindler Adapts to Growing Children
Nostalgia-Evoking Outerwear Collections
The North Face's New Low-Fi Hi-Tek Line Has Old Influences
Playful Restaurant Pop-Ups
The Play-Doh Restaurant of Imagination Turns Kids' Creations Edible
Gen Z Crafting Events
Red Heart Hosted an Exclusive "Crafternoon" in NYC
Sensory Immersion Tools
Lifelines Activate the Body's Natural Stress Relivers
Connected Gamer Campaigns
Heineken's Just Another Night Out Shatters Anti-Social Stereotypes
Snack-Themed Textbooks
FUNdamental Textbooks by Heinz Make Learning More Playful
Slow-Cooking Recipe Campaigns
Troy-Bilt's Low, Slow, & Mow Recipes Free Up Time for Yardwork
Resurrected Used Smartphones
Think Tank Team Makes Artifacts with Project Afterlife
Magnetic Portable Chess Sets
The VentureBoard is Ready to Play From Anywhere
Space-Exploring STEAM Toys
LeapFrog's Magic Adventures™ Line Arrives for Kids Five and Up
Sci-Fi Avian Board Games
The Abducktion Board Game is Quick to Learn and Play
Connected Digital Game Boards
'The Last Gameboard' is an Interactive Digital Board Game Platform
Creativity Time Capsules
Crayola's Campaign for Creativity Reunites Adults with Childhood Art
Cannery-Inspired Phone Boxes
LookUp Makes Digital Detox Tools in the Shape of Fish Tins
Retro-Inspired Tactical Outerwear
The North Face Low-Fi Hi-Tek Collection Has Modern Materials
Playfully Renovated Homes
This Home Has a Slide, Swings and Rock-Climbing Wall
Child-Friendly Camera Concepts
The Camera for Kids Concept Reimagines the Digital Camera
Kid-Envisioned Urban Environments
The Little Big Playmat Takes a Creative Path to Design Problems
Lifestyle Activity Tracking Apps
The 'Timeline It' App Tracks Virtually Any Activity or Event
Monetizable Mobile Gaming Apps
'Playbite' Enables Players to Win Gift Cards and Prizes
Kid-Friendly Tech Frames
myFirst Recently Unveiled Two New Digital Frames
Financial Literacy Board Games
Chime Launches a Gamified Financial Literacy Initiative
Playful-Focused Polish Homes
Znamy się Designs a New Home in Poland Inspired by Wooden Blocks
Dog-Friendly Board Games
The Dog’s Best Friend Game Incorporates Enrichment and Training
AI-Powered Family Story Books
Life Story AI Will Help Users Preserve Their Family's Legacy
Storytelling Projector Toys
Moonlite Projects Stories With Added Music and Sounds
Electricity-Free Portable Refrigerators
The 'Tony' Food Storage Container is Made with Clay
Digital Wellness Inniaitives
Pinterest Focuses on the Digital Well-being of Gen Z
Forest-Inspired Screenless Toys
Boogie Board Launched the Sketch Pals Forest Friends Line
Timber Tech-Packed Dolls
These teenage engineering Wooden Dolls Come in Eight Varieties
Cloud-Based Retro Gamer Apps
The Polymega App Offers Access to Nostalgic Titles
Nature-Inspired Indoor Playgrounds
Sarit Shani Hay Designs a New Playground in Tel Aviv
Fun-Filled Inflatable Boards
The 'Adventure Board' is Designed For Versatile Outdoor Enjoyment
Kid-Friendly Telescopes
The LeapFrog Magic Adventures Telescope Shares Images Taken by NASA
Board Game-Inspired Pastimes
The Eastpoint Sports Connect 4 Hoops Arcade and Table Game is Fun
Pixelated Tile Toy Sets
The 'VOXART' Click Tile Construction Set is Easy to Build and Customize
Family-Focused Learning Toys
Chick-fil-A Debuts a Family Game Brand to Inspire Family Playtime
Gen Z-Focused Board Games
Mattel Launches Scrabble Together for Non-Competitive Gen Z Consumers
Friendship-Focused Party Games
Catch the Vibe is a Battle to Prove Who Knows Their Friends Best
App-Enabled Party Games
Twister Air Takes a Digitized Approach to the Classic Pastime
Intelligent Portable Board Games
Kai Xia Designs the EIFplay Chessboard with a Digital Approach
Storybook Recipe Experiences
The Magical Pantry Brings Recipes to Life Through Fables
Retro Family Photoshoots
Blue Bunny is Inviting Families to Pop-Up 90s-Themed Photoshoots
Cozy Meditative Digital Games
The Simpler Times Game Creates a Peaceful Ambiance for Players
Remote Caregiver Kits
The Essential Care Kit Assists Caregivers with Next-Gen Technology
Mixed-Reality Bedtime Apps
Pillow is a Mixed-Reality App for Quest That Supports Relaxation in Bed
Preschool Gaming Subscriptions
The Piknik App Subscription Service Shares Games for Preschoolers
90s Toy Holiday Trees
Furbtrees are Introducing the Next Generation of Furby Across the UK
Cereal Bar Game Sets
Treat. Eat. Compete. Turns a Family-Favorite Snack into a Game
Consolidated Family Organizers
Jam Offers To-do Lists, Calendars, and More, All in One Place
Challenging Sensory Games
Toy Mania's Quick Pops Feature Four Game Modes
Confidence-Promoting Conversation Cards
TableTalk is a Card Deck of Mealtime Conversations
Natural Scavenger Hunt Toys
Craft-tastic Nature: Scavenger Hunt Potions Inspire Play in Nature
Insect Habitat Toys
Smart Lab Toys' Insect Inspector Lab Bug Playground Encourages STEM Learning
Entertaining Micro Workout Apps
The 'Baseline' Smartphone Workout Game App Sets Up Good Habits
ASMR-Inspired Soothing Toys
These Sensory Motion Bubblers Visually Create Calm
Fast-Paced Challenge Games
Pop Off!'s Coasters, Cups and Balls Offer Over 50 Ways to Play
All-Inclusive Family Resorts
The Tyler Place Family Resort Encourages Families to Play Together
Multi-Generational Travel Deals
easyJet Holidays' Grans Go Free Supports Affordable Family Travel
Thoughtful Conversation Cards
Lumitory's Conversation Cards Offer Thought-Provoking Prompts
Play-Inspiring Workshops
LEGO is Sharing a Free Workshop Series Featuring Renowned Creatives
Mess-Free Eco Craft Kits
Brainstorm's Create N Colour Let Kids Magically Paint with Water
STEM Excavation Kits
Thames & Kosmos' 'Jurassic World Dinosaur Dig' Lets Kids Be a Paleontologist
Gaming Ads-Inspired Video Games
D3 Publisher and Monkeycraft Present the Ironic Those Games
Generation-Uniting Family Vacations
Backroads Crafts Vacations for Parents with Adult Children
Phygital Kids Board Games
Playshifu's New 'Tacto' Board Game Combines AR with Physical Figurines
Family-Focused Meal Kits
Home Chef's Family Menu Features Meal Kits for Families
Digitized Ancient Board Games
The 'NAVKAKRI' Strategy Game Monitors Player Performance
Compact Dexterity Games
Oink Games' DroPolter Challenges Players to Drop Charms Quickly
Casual Mini Games
This Online Hub Allows for Players to Easily Learn Engaging Games
DIY Digital Music Systems
Teenage Engineering's Record Factory is Perfect for the Holidays
Gamified Budgeting Apps
Bread Budgeting Makes Budgeting Fun By Integrating Challenges
Family Organization Apps
Rejoy Merges Calendars, Lists, meal Planners, and More in One Place
Private Social Photo Apps
The 'Retro' App Focuses on Mindful Sharing with Select Others
Flexible Family-Friendly Card Games
UNO Announces a New Game Called UNO Flex
Video Game-Inspired Outdoor Play
ROXs is Getting Kids Outdoors
Active Entertainment Systems
Nex Playground Gets People Moving at Home
Multi-Generational Vacation Packages
Multigenerational Vacations Connect Seniors with Grandkids
Low Resolution Weather Displays
Tidbyt Displays Relevant Information Via the Internet
Personalized Bed Time Reading
BlissFable Lets Kids Be the Protagonists of Their Own Stories
Smart Fidget Toys
TapTap is for Ages Five to 105 and It Offers Benefits for All
Family Game-Sharing Platforms
Valve is Introducing 'Steam Families' to Replace 'Family Sharing'
Smartphone Distraction-Curbing Apps
The 'Lemio' App Combats Against Smartphone Addiction
Inclusive Children's Apps
Pok Pok Offers Culturally-Specific Content for Global Audiences
Offline Shopping Campaigns
'Shop Offline' Helps People Rediscover the Joy of Real-World Shopping
Family-Friendly Survival Games
Lego Debuts a New Fortnite Survival Crafting Game
Adult Board Game Campaigns
Hasbro and Ageless Innovation Rebrand Childhood Games for Adults
Life-Sized Toy Construction Sets
The Funphix' 'Standard' is an Educational Outdoor Playset
Personalized Bedtime Stories
StoryGenius Let's Parents Insert Their Children Into Books
Relationship-Strengthening Dating Ideas
Perfect Dates is an App Inspiring Stronger Bonds
Connected Training Baseballs
The Playfinity Backyard League Smart Gaming Baseball is App-Enabled
Addiction-Conscious Social Media Apps
BeTimeful Makes Your Social Media Less Addictive
Hybrid Puzzled Tranquil Games
Humble Games and Witch Beam Launch the Unpacking Game
Senior-Focused Exergames
Ludica Health's 'LudoFit' Helps Adults Maintain Strength and Balance
Digitized Board Game Consoles
This Smartphone-Controlled System Displays Board Games On Your TV
Large Group Video Games
Nintendo Everybody 1-2-Switch! Supports Up to 100 Players
Phone-Style Counting Toys
Leapfrog's Chat & Count Emoji Phone Mimics a Real Phone to Teach Numbers
Mini Tug-of-War Games
Tug! is a Family Party Game That Puts Brains and Brawn to the Test
Date Night Card Decks
Date Night Deck Offers 50 Creative Ideas for Quality Time Together
Childhood Memory Capturing Apps
Dear Little One Allows Parents to Record Messages for Their Child
Smart Life-Planning Apps
Last Plannr is More Than a Traditional To-Do List
Online Family Sharing Systems
Steam Introduces the Steam Families Feature for More Sharing Options
Parental Gift Generators
The Parent Present Gift Generator Supports Gen Z & Millennial Shoppers
City Exploration Apps
Concrete is a Social Exploration App Inviting Users to Discover Their City
Kid-Friendly Financial Support Apps
Goaly Offers Financial Lessons for Kids and Their Parents
Card-Comic Book Generators
Marvel Snap by Second Dinner is an Interactive Playful Card Game
Generational-Lasting Dynamic Playgrounds
Mike Hewson Designs a New Public Playground with Boulders
Work Platform Game Features
Microsoft Teams Unveils Games for Work Feature for Positive Morale
Phone Puzzle Games
Word Search Game Offers Mental Stimulation with Word-Based Challenges
Romantic Date Night Questionnaires
LLV: Date Night Questions Poses a More Engaging Date Activity
Refurbished Tech Initiatives
An Orland Town's Recycling Program Repurposes Refurbished Electronics
Screen-Limiting Phone Apps
Takebreak Encourages People to Have a Better Work-Life Balance
Corporate Team Building Parties
It's Game Night Revolutionizes Corporate Team Building in Toronto
Holiday-Themed Playful Quizzes
Foney Fonts Challenges Players to Recognize Holiday Typography
Urban Communal Dining Events
Toronto's Weekly Communal Table Program is Hosted Under a Highway
Community Borrowing Apps
Borrow Encourages Neighbours to Interact and Share
Personalized Game Show Generators
Quizado Lets You Host Your Own Family Feud-Style Game Nights
Base-Building Sleep Apps
'SleepTown' lets Users Build a Cartoon Town by Sleeping
Canned Fish Dinner Dates
Ali Hooke's Tin Fish Date Night is an Unexpected, Now-Viral Idea
Family-Friendly Adventure Vacations
OARS Offers Vacations Centered Around Water-Based Experiences
Magical Mischief Games
Fairy Prank is a Family-Friendly Guessing Game
Visualized Screen Time Apps
The 'Cyte' App Helps Users Search Their Digital History with Ease
Simple Joke Platforms
Gigglet is a Simple Webste that Tells 10 "Dad Jokes" a Day
Novelty Polling Websites
Funnypoll Gives Users a Quick Laugh in an Often Overwhelming Online Space