Unplug & Connect: Screen-Free Week Challenge to Reset Your Home -

May 2026 - Screen-Free Week Challenge

Screen-Free Week may seem daunting. I get it; screens can make parenting easier some days. We are busy, working full time, trying to juggle getting our children off to activities/school or just wanting to cook a meal and maybe have a clean house. So, when we tell our children to put down their screens, the last thing we enjoy hearing is : “What do I do now?” or “I’m borrrrred” or the kids constantly following you around and you just want space to clear your head and reset.

As a screen-free advocate and board game advisor, I’ve realized that the “turning off” isn’t the hardest part—it’s finding meaningful alternative options that don’t feel like a chore for exhausted parents.

I think we’ve all felt that pang of guilt, wondering if we’re spending enough quality time with our kids. We often trap ourselves into thinking ‘connection’ means sitting down for hour-long sessions, but the truth is, those little ‘micro-connections’ are just as powerful. That’s exactly why I started this site. I wanted to show that you can find that magic in just 10 minutes with a game the whole family actually likes. And here’s the best part: it’s not just ‘kid stuff. You might be surprised by how much you genuinely get a kick out of playing your child’s favorite card game right along with them.

If you’re struggling with ideas for micro-connections, I highly recommend checking out highly rated parenting author Maggie Dent’s article—whom I love and admire, article – Love bridges: Why micro-moments of connection matter. Maggie provides a list of awesome ways to build on micro connections, and some can take less than 1 minute.

What is Screen-Free Week?

Screen-Free Week is a global invitation for families, schools, and communities to swap digital entertainment for play, exploration, and connection. This year in May, join me in exploring new board games or card games and use that time to bridge the screen gap with simple, high-impact tabletop experiences.

My tips for starting out:

Be flexible—I am all about modified house rules—start halfway around the board, finish early, and reduce the points you need. I can’t stress enough—it’s just about participation and connection. If you have young children who love rules, make it clear we only have 15 minutes today. Set a timer; make the next person who rolls a 6, and we finish. Or if you can, put the game aside and finish it the next day. This can make children excited to come back to the game to see who might win.
Food, food, food—The right snacks get my kids to the table. As teenagers, mine say, “What’s the treat?” before they decide if they play or not. I am also an advocate for healthy eating, so my healthy treats/snacks weren’t cutting the mustard at the start, so get what they want if need be; it can be a huge incentive.
Cooperative Play—If you have competitive children who hate losing, go for cooperative games. It changes things from “I” to “we.”
Know the Rules—Kids hate waiting around while you read the manual. Find quick setup games and watch “How to Plays” if need be. Or even better, set a challenge for your child to research how to play and become the teacher.

Screen-Free Week 7 Day Challenge Ideas

Use this guide to find your daily screen-free week challenge. No complex setups, just pure connection. Or just choose what you have from your house. There may be one night you just can’t do because of commitments, and that’s ok. Talk to your kids about Screen-Free Week and get them involved in the decisions about what games they want to play.

Day 1: The Kitchen Table Kick-off

Goal: Play a game that fits in a small box while dinner is simmering.
Ages 3-5: First Orchard or Animal Upon Animal.
Ages 6-9: Sushi Go Party! or Dobble.
Ages 10-13: Love Letter or Exploding Kittens.
Teens: The Mind or Hive Pocket.

Day 2: Teamwork Tuesday

Goal: Build resilience with a cooperative game where everyone is on the same team.
Ages 3-5: Outfoxed! or Feed the Woozle.
Ages 6-9: Ghost Fightin’ Treasure Hunters or Forbidden Island.
Ages 10-13: Hanabi or 5-Minute Dungeon.
Teens: Codenames Duet or Flow.

Day 3: The “No-Manual” Night

Goal: Choose a game so simple you can teach the rules in 30 seconds.
Ages 3-5: Snug as a Bug in a Rug or Build a Robot.
Ages 6-9: Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza or Connect 4.
Ages 10-13: Zombie Dice or Uno Flip.
Teens: Flip 7 or Boggle.

Day 4: Wednesday Win (The Witching Hour Fix)

Goal: Use a quick game to reset the mood during the most stressful part of the day.
Ages 3-5: Zingo! or Fast Fishing
Ages 6-9: Sleeping Queens or Dragomino.
Ages 10-13: Monopoly Deal or Splendor.
Teens: Abducktion or Uno Show ‘Em No Mercy.

Day 5: Tactile Thursday

Goal: Choose a game with fun pieces (wood, cards, or dice) for a sensory break.
Ages 3-5: Don’t Spill the Beans or Don’t Break the Ice.
Ages 6-9: Jenga, Mouse Trap, or Kerplunk.
Ages 10-13: A Gentle Rain or Mountain Goats.
Teens: Azul or Harmonies.

Day 6: Animal/Cartoon Friday

Ages 3-5: Sequence for Kids, The Sneaky Snacky Squirrel Game, or Count Your Chickens.
Ages 6-9: Sorry – Villians, Calico, or Hey Thats My Fish.
Ages 10-13: Forest Shuffle, Harry Potter Clue, Wingspan (40+ mins) or Ecosystem
Teens: Boop, Cascadia,

Day 7: The Grand Finale

Goal: Let the kids pick their favorite game from the week for a family “Rematch!”.

Let me know if you did Screen-Free Week

That’s it. Just remember it’s about participation and if you only did one night, that’s fantastic, congratulations. As a family we don’t play every night, that’s hard, but we do set nights where we connect over games. Some times my kids can’t be bothered so it might just be one round of Monopoly Deal.

Please Contact Us

—Drop me a photo or a note of what worked for your family and what games you played and loved. I’d love to hear from you. Big hugs to all you parents and caregivers out there doing your best!