Fun Things to Do with a Phone Besides Watching Videos

Phones and tablets are often used for watching. Videos, games, short clips, and endless scrolling can easily become the default.

But a device does not always have to be used that way.

Sometimes, the most interesting use of a phone is not passive viewing, but active play. When children use a device to create, observe, record, or interact, the experience can feel very different.

Here are a few simple ideas.

1. Take a photo and draw over it

Take a picture of something interesting — a toy, a leaf, a snack, a shadow, or even a family member — and let your child trace it, decorate it, or draw around it.

This turns the screen into a creative tool instead of something to stare at. It encourages children to notice details, shapes, colours, and little changes.

2. Draw something, then take a matching photo

After your child finishes a drawing, invite them to recreate it with a real-life photo.

If they draw a lion face, they can pose like a lion.
If they draw a butterfly, they can hold their arms out like wings.
If they colour a happy character, they can copy the same expression.

This makes the activity feel playful, physical, and interactive.

3. Make a “find this colour” challenge

Choose a colour or object on the screen or on paper, then ask your child to find something in real life that matches it and take a photo.

For example:

• Find something blue
• Find something round
• Find something with stripes
• Find something that looks like your drawing

It is a simple game, but it encourages observation and movement.

4. Create a tiny travel photo diary

On a plane, train, or day out, children can take a few simple photos during the journey:

• what they packed
• their seat
• a snack
• something they saw outside
• a finished drawing

Later, those photos can become part of a small story about the day.

This helps children use a device to remember and reflect, not just consume.

5. Use the camera as a storytelling tool

A phone can become part of pretend play too.

Children can draw a character, place it in different settings, and take photos as if they are making a tiny storybook. A simple paper drawing suddenly becomes a travelling explorer, a zoo guide, or a train passenger.

The device becomes part of the storytelling, not the whole activity.

Watching is not the only option

The goal does not have to be removing devices completely. Sometimes it is simply about changing the role they play.

A phone can be used to watch endlessly, but it can also be used to create, imagine, notice, and interact.

That small shift can make a big difference.

When children use a device as a tool for creativity, not just entertainment, screen time can begin to feel more thoughtful, more active, and much more meaningful.