Ditch The Endless Scrolling With These 39 Screen-Free Things That’ll Actually Hold Your Squirrel-Sized Attention Span
Amazon, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "Edd Kimber is so creative with his bakes, and this book is full of fun and interesting cookie recipes. Love the flavors in this book...subtle and layered. Baking small batches is surprisingly liberating. Most ingredients are on hand, and I'm not stressing about what to do with large quantities of cookies. With small amounts, it feels easier to play and experiment." —Monica
Get it from Amazon for $20.10.
Amazon
The kit includes enough tools and yarn to crochet eight unique flower bookmarks. You'll have eight colors of yarn, a yarn needle, six stitch markers, a crochet hook, and instructions.
Promising review: "This beginner crochet kit is fantastic! It comes with everything you need to get started, including high-quality yarn, a variety of hooks, and easy-to-follow instructions. The materials are perfect for learning, and I love how organized everything is. It’s a great way to dive into crochet, and I highly recommend it for anyone just starting out!" —Amber
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (also available in five toy styles).
Promising review: "I first saw this book on TikTok and decided to look more into it. I purchased four total because I know some people hold onto things that are difficult to let go of. It’s a great way to look at things from a different perspective and truly hold yourself accountable for different things in your life. I love what it stands for, and I look forward to when I burn mine after I’m done. Self-love, self-care, and meditation for a better state of mind tomorrow is always the goal. I definitely recommend it to those susceptible to change and those willing to try things differently. You’re so much more than what’s been done to you, and someone’s inability to see your worth does not decrease your value. Choose you for a change." —Brent Helm
Get it from Amazon for$7.32.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Some elements are even made from plant-based plastic, so yeah, the designers really went above and beyond. Check out these beauties in a TikTok from @shaelorend.
Promising review: "I wasn’t expecting this to take as long as it did; I see why people do this with someone else. But it was even more fun to do this by myself and watch my shows. The instructions are in picture form and detail, which pack is which. Some of the pieces can be similar, and you have a couple of pieces left behind, but I think they’re a weird form of 'extras.' But if you’re not super messy or plan on moving these around too much, you won’t have to worry about the pieces, but keep them safe. I love how these will never die and look forward to another set of forever flowers to build! :)." —Bri J.
Get it from Amazon for $47.99.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "My kids love playing with these outside. They love that they can get creative with them and add flowers and sticks to create little animal figures. They are not super lightweight but it’s not hard to play with them." —Arliss Hammer
Get it from Amazon for $23.98 (available in six set colors).
Amazon
Promising review: "Very simple to use! Delicious homemade butter! My son and I love making this, and we take turns shaking the jar. Very easy to clean, durable, low cost, and doesn't leak! Great product!" —Shay K.
Get it from Amazon for $12.49.
www.amazon.com, Mallory Mower / BuzzFeed
Yeah, yeah, I know this coloring book is for adults, and I've got a gif of my toddler scribbling away up there *but* that's because I got this to share with my kid while on a five-hour flight over the holidays. And you better believe I was the one who was most entertained! Well, me, and all the other romantasy readers on the flight who caught what my kid was coloring on. We all got a good laugh. This coloring book is way better than it has any reason to be. The pages are thick, the illustrations are detailed and interesting, and the quotes pulled from the books make it even more fun.
BTW, I got these colored pencilsfor myself (great travel pack) and these crayons for my kid. Both were great on the flight!
Promising review: "I'm so glad I got this coloring book. The illustrations throughout are gorgeous, and I love the quotes opposite each picture. It's detailed but not to the point of being stressful to color. The pages are nice and thick, smooth to blend. The style in which it's drawn makes for a nice guide if you decide to do some shading. It's been years since I've done any visual art, but I've been relaxing and enjoying this each night. I recommend soft colored pencils as opposed to the harder, more waxy ones. I am using Faber-Castell soft pencils in the attached photo. Unfortunately, I tore part of a different page by trying to blend and burnish with too firm pencils, so just keep that in mind. Slowly add your layers and enjoy the process." —Mary
Get it from Amazon for $11.79.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Start a collection! Coco Wyo has a *ton* of other cozy stress relief coloring books with different themes in theirAmazon storefront!
Add to their gift with this cult-fave colored pencil set on Amazon for $9.99!
Promising review: "This coloring book is a wonderful way to unwind and de-stress. The illustrations feature familiar, cozy corners that are both charming and relaxing to color. The designs are intricate enough to keep you engaged but not overly complicated, making it perfect for both adults and teens. The quality of the paper is great, holding up well to colored pencils, markers, and gel pens. I love how each page feels like a little escape, and coloring them has become a therapeutic routine." —Ali El-Khatib
Get it from Amazon for $7.99.
Amazon
Promising review: "This is a favorite game to bring with the family on trips. Everyone can play, from the 3-year-old to the 36-year-old, and it's super easy to teach new people (grandma, visiting friend, etc.). Each game can be as short as you need, so we like to bring it to restaurants or doctors' offices where waiting is inevitable. The game is very compact in the tin and good as long as it's not wet or windy (there is a waterproof version though!)" —Sunny Lee
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
Promising review: "I've been wanting to dive into tarot for some time now. I wanted to find a deck that I could relate to. I've always related to the 'bad guys' in Disney. If you think about it, they're not really bad, just misunderstood. Anyway, when I saw this deck, I knew I had to have it. The pictures are absolutely beautiful. The sturdiness of the cards is amazing. I don't feel like I'm going to crush them as I shuffle. The guidebook is very informative, with actual examples of interpretations. I'm very pleased with my first tarot deck." —kinni
Get it from Amazon for $23.24.
Amazon
Promising review: "This has the perfect mix of humor, creativity, and randomness to keep things interesting. The activities are clever and unexpected, definitely not your typical word searches and crossword puzzles. It’s a fun way to unwind and take a break from screens. And the quality of the book is great, with a nice design and plenty of quirky prompts that make you think (or just laugh). If you’re looking for something unique to pass the time or a fun gift for someone who enjoys a little wit and absurdity, this is a great choice! There are many, many 'naughty' words, so definitely keep away from kids." —Lainey
Get it from Amazon for $13.82.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
To get the cat eye effect, apply one layer, cure with a UV light for one minute, add a second layer, and use the included magnet to move the glitter into the desired formation. A few reviewers didn't find the magnet to be strong enough, so you might want to grab this magnet kit as well.
Promising review: "I've been doing my nails for years, and this was so fast and fun to use. I always wanted cat eye polishes in my collection, and this was perfect! Especially for Christmas time! I will say they are thick, and I'm guessing that's because they're pigmented and packed with the little magnetic bits for maximum shine and glimmer. I feel like I have the Northern Lights on my nails! I would recommend playing on a few test nails beforehand to get a handle on the different patterns you can make with the magnet. Overall, would recommend it for anyone wanting something easy and fun!" —Hailey
Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in various set and color options).
Olive & June
You'll get 32 nails and damage-free tabs in this compact box. To use, add a tab to your natural nail and then hold the press-on onto your nail for 30 seconds. That's it! They should last up to a week, with many reviewers saying they lasted around two weeks.
Promising review: "These tab press-ons are perfect! They have it all: fun colors, a cute pattern, and they're so easy to apply. I got so many compliments on these, and I did them from the passenger seat of the car. If you're going to get one pair of tab press-ons, let it be these!" —Taylor F.
Get them from Olive & June for $8 (available in several styles).
Amazon
Grab a spiral bound sketchbook to go with it if you want to draw using something you can easily fit on the tiny tray table.
Promising review: "This is an amazing idea and so fun! The prompts are amazing to unlock a creative block if you feel like drawing but don’t know *what*. It’s also a super fun screen-free activity to do with my 8-year-old — she draws the cards and we each make an illustration, all the while discussing ideas and why they work. I’m buying two more sets for gifts. This is perfect for kids and adults!" —Megan Theile
Get it from Amazon for $18.55.
Check out a TikTok of Murdle in action.
That's not all! Once you finish "Murdling," you can move on to Volume 2, Volume 3, and also dig into these themed Murdle books!
Promising review: "The puzzles are a lot of fun, but the characters, story lines, and other details take the Murdle experience to another level. I have no idea how the author came up with all of this creativity! You can Murdle solo or with friends. I look forward to future volumes, but this one will keep me busy for a while!" —Liz Gately
Get it from Amazon for $8.71.
Each set comes with the holder mount and 20 pre-cut threads in 10 colors, as well as access to an online instruction manual for all kinds of different designs.
Promising review: "I bought this for my daughter for a craft night. I made friendship bracelets when I was a kid, but I could not remember how to make them. This helped so much! I had to buy another one for myself so we can work on them at the same time. Love this product!" —hollyhock
Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in five colors).
Amazon
Promising review: "This book is exactly what it says it is: a big activity book for anxious people! It’s got some great activities inside that totally keep me busy and keep my anxiety in check. It truly is a great time-suck to keep my mind focused on the activities and an escape from whatever is consuming me these days. I can't recommend this book enough!" —Alex R. Pepin
Get it from Amazon for $13.94.
Fun fact: This was the most funded puzzle on Kickstarter, raising over $3 million.
Promising review: "Just got this puzzle for something to do at home over the holidays. Seriously... I have never seen a puzzle quite like this! It’s very impressive and exceeded my expectations already. The packaging is beautiful inside and out. Everything about it shouts quality. I particularly liked the envelopes inside for the puzzle pieces and mystery. Heavy weight and substantial. The one holding the 1,000 puzzle pieces stays closed with Velcro! How cool! And the secret mystery envelope has a cool string loop tie. Makes you remember you can’t open it until the puzzle is done. The whole vibe of The Mystic Maze is quality and fun, and also looks like a challenging puzzle. Looking forward to getting started on this. Certainly a good stay-home fun activity. Highly recommend!" —Kyle Fletcher
Get it from Amazon for $22.99.
Different Puzzles
Every puzzle is made in the US using 100% recycled cardboard. They come in 1,000 and 500 pieces, and all are 20 x 27 inches when completed.
My husband and I spend a lot of our nights listening to audiobooks and doing puzzles (and spend many mornings picking up the puzzle pieces our cats have knocked off the table while we slept). The cheekiness of this brand interested us both, and we got the Floravision version above. We *loved* working on a puzzle with surprises in the illustration. It was engaging, frustrating, and SO fun finding and connecting pieces without knowing how they would fit in with the end product. The end? It was gorgeous. We've framed ours and put it on our wall (but I'm not showing you...because I don't want to spoil the surprise end result!).
Get it from Different Puzzles for $36 (available in several styles).
Promising review: "This game is so fun! My husband and I pick one card, and if the question is a little more difficult, we put it on the fridge and give each other time to answer. Has added a little more genuine conversation into our weeknights, while raising two girls." —Derrek
Get it from Amazon for $18.99.
Hachette Books
Promising review: "I’m really enjoying this structured approach to sharing my thoughts and experiences in life. It is easy to pick up and write a bit or more in a given session. I have many more questions to answer, but do not feel compelled to do it all in one sitting. I’m not overwhelmed by the task and look forward to doing it over time. It makes a great gift, both new and completed." —Mary Angert
Get it from Amazon for $13.65.
Amazon
The kit includes four colors of yarn, a bag strap, a pre-started crochet piece, a crochet hook, a threading needle, a marking clip, and is recommended for intermediate crocheters by reviewers.
Promising review: "I’ve worked on this for a few days and I’m almost finished! I went online to find step-by-step instructions, and it’s basically the same steps for each row. Very simple to follow!" —nicole ribera 17
Get it from Amazon for $19.97 (available in two colors).
Amazon
This 27-piece letter stamp set includes a hammer, metal stamping block, nine metal charms, a key ring, 21 jump rings, earring wire set, four chains, four lobster clasps, mini pliers, and instructions.
Promising review: "This is a beautiful kit. I purchased it for my eldest daughter who loves escapes from technology. This is best suited for a teenager or older. The hammer and chain nose pliers are great quality and can be used for many more projects." —Baby Boomer
Get it from Amazon for $29.95 (available in three styles).
Amazon
There's no need to shop for supplies! This kit comes with everything you need.
Promising review: "These instructions are easy to follow — I finished it in two hours. This was so much fun, and I love my finished results! It looks so beautiful. It was a gift for my friend. I would buy it again and recommend it to others." —Nicole
Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in seven styles).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
This embroidery kit includes a canvas tote bag and printed botanical pattern, an embroidery hoop, a pack of multi-colored embroidery threads, two embroidery needles, and instructions.
Promising review: "This was really fun to make. I gave it to my mother for Mother’s Day, and she loved it. I'd totally buy it again. This is beginner-friendly. It's not too challenging a design, but it takes a bit of time. Highly recommend." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $13.99(available in five styles).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
This comes with three numbered, pre-printed canvases, seven paint colors, a mini paint brush, a mini easel, detailed instructions, and a Bob Ross booklet.
Promising review: "Okay, so this product is tiny. Itty bitty. So small. But the joy it brings is HUGE. I absolutely loved painting my mini Bob Ross paintings. The brush and paints aren't half bad, but you do need to build the paint up a bit to the opacity you want from the color. This is an awesome product." —K Peck
Get it from Amazon for $6.80.
Several reviewers recommend getting a fine-tip craft glueto complete this kit. It also glows! Just be sure to grab two AA batteries(not included) once you've finished.
Promising review: "This book nook took me two days to make, and I am so in love with the final result. The instructions are very clear. Some pieces broke, so be sure to be patient while cutting them out. I glued the broken ones back together with no problem. This works with a motion sensor, but you can access the battery pack from the back, which is really convenient! The most tedious part of this is making the books, but after that, it goes pretty fast! The lights are amazing, and they tell you where to place them in the instructions. This was my first book nook I’ve ever built! I will definitely be buying more in the future!" —Phoenix
Get it from Amazon for $39.99 (available in four styles).
Promising review: "This kit was the perfect Christmas gift for our 6-year-old! It was packaged well and clearly labeled, the ingredients were fresh, and it included very cute and easy-to-follow directions! It was a great activity for all of us to enjoy together! We did half the regular salt pretzels and half with cinnamon and sugar; both were delicious!" —Austin
Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in five other cooking kits; like bagels and cinnamon buns).
Amazon, www.amazon.com
The set includes 90 magnets in all, so your cryptid possibilities are endless!
Promising review: "My whole family and all our guests who come over love these. There's always a new cryptid being built and hanging out on the whiteboard. So much fun!" —Jenny Spagnuolo
Get them from Amazon for $29.95.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "This works like magic! It's easy to use and makes a beautiful gift from the kids!" —Sj773
Get it from Amazon for $16.69.
Amazon
You'll get a bamboo embroidery hoop, thread, an organza fabric with the pattern, embroidery needles, and instructions.
Promising review: "This was one of the first embroideries I have done and I was nervous it was going to be too delicate for me because of the organza. It is delicate but it still holds up well. I recommend this for a project for yourself or as a gift for someone else. It is lots of fun!" —Sunshine
Get it from Amazon for $8.49.
Graham Keegan
This kit includes a bandana, clamps, a cotton cord, protective gloves, illustrated instructions, vat activating chemicals, and natural indigo from plants.|
Grahan Keegan is a small business based in Los Angeles, California, specializing in natural dye kits and tools.
Promising review: "This kit is beautifully assembled and the instructions are clear and concise." —sdrazninnagy
Get it from Graham Keeganon Etsy for $56.
Amazon
This kit includes woven bamboo steaming baskets, agar agar, a dough roller, a spatula, and instructions.
Promising review: "My kids love soup dumplings, but I don't know how to make them, so I got this as a fun gift activity to do with them. It was AWESOME. The kit was really easy to follow, with step-by-step instructions. My kids had so much fun using the dough roller, and it let us get the dumpling wrappers nice and thin. It was easy and, although it did take some time in the kitchen, it was fun. I would definitely do this again, and I could see it also being a fun night with friends." —Nicole Fuentes
Get it from Amazon for $59.99.
Amazon
This kit comes with all the tools and ingredients needed to make six candles with different scents.
Promising review: "I purchased this kit because I always wanted to make my own candles. This candle-making kit looked like it had everything I needed, and it definitely does. I am so pleased with it that I will be buying more scented oils and wax so that I can make candles as gifts this holiday season. It's a very nice kit." —Tracie Craig
Get it from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in two styles).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "I have trichotillomania and really love these little guys. They help refocus my habit, and the pull is very satisfying and realistic. I've had to repurchase already, and I'll reorder more in the future. Can't recommend these enough, as I've been searching for this type of tool for a long time." —Danika Hill
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in eight styles).
Amazon, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "With the help of this book, my wife has made all of the Christmas gifts for our friends and family. I highly recommend this book to anyone who, like my wife, has shedding cats in their house." —Science Educator
Get it from Amazon for $8.
Amazon, www.amazon.com
The “things” to photograph are numbered, with slots to place your final image above each prompt.
Promising review: "I started this project in March of 2015. In Feb 2016, I finished. I love this book so much. It was worth every penny. It expanded my mind on photography and I am left with a book full of 11 months of wonderful memories. What else can I say? I love this book." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $10.99.
www.amazon.com, Amazon
This comes with geodes, goggles, and a display stand.
Promising review: "If you are considering this for your kiddo, please buy! My 8-year-old and I had an absolute blast! She loves every geode. There was one we got that was more solid, and she couldn't get it open, so I got to smack it with the hammer, and honestly, it was not only stress-relieving, but it was also fun and beautiful! It would be great as a positive outlet for stress or just for kids who love sparkly things. I'd give this more than five stars if I could!" —Mandii Vi
Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in three kit sizes).
Amazon
Promising review: "This is a delightful and fun book. If you've ever been to someone's home where their toilet paper is embellished, you would be thinking, 'How do they do that?' This is a fun, inexpensive way to spend some time relaxing and learning toilet paper origami. Who knew? My daughter and granddaughters love it as a craft. Don't bash it 'til you've tried it! You can even leave cute rolls of spare tissue around the bathroom." —Kindle Customer BGCW
Get it from Amazon for $16.56.
Reviews in this post have been edited for length and clarity.
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