Screen-Free Fun for Children Aged 8 and Over

Do older children still play with toys?

Finding a gift for a toddler can feel relatively straightforward. Finding something engaging for a child aged eight, nine, ten or older can be much more difficult.

At this age, children are often assumed to have moved beyond toys and playing. The default option can quickly become a screen, a game download or another piece of technology.

But older children still enjoy playing. Their play simply begins to look different.

They may want to build something, master a skill, solve a challenge, create a detailed picture or become completely absorbed by a new interest.

Follow the child’s interests

As my own children grew, I realised that age recommendations were only part of the picture.

Two children of the same age can have completely different interests. One may spend hours drawing, while another wants to understand how things work. One might enjoy a competitive family game, while another prefers to work quietly on a detailed project.

For children aged eight and over, I think the best starting point is often not, “What toy suits this age?” but, “What does the child enjoy doing?”

Arts and crafts for older children

Creative activities can give older children something purposeful to focus on without telling them exactly what the finished result must look like.

Depending on the child, this might include detailed drawing, painting, model making, jewellery, sewing, paper craft or another hands-on project.

These activities are not only about producing a finished item. They can also support patience, concentration and the satisfaction of improving through practice.

 

Construction and engineering

Some children are happiest when they are building, experimenting or working out how different parts fit together.

Construction and engineering toys can offer a real challenge, particularly when they allow children to test their own ideas rather than simply follow one set of instructions.

I have always liked products that leave room for mistakes. A design may fall over, a mechanism may not work on the first attempt and the child has to decide what to change.

That process is part of the learning.

Games that bring people together

Family games are another useful screen-free option, particularly as children become old enough to understand more complex rules and strategies.

A good game creates conversation, competition and plenty of opportunities to negotiate the rules.

It may also bring adults and children together in a way that does not require anyone to ask, “How was school?”

Sometimes the easiest conversations happen while everyone is concentrating on something else.

Imaginative play does not have an expiry date

Pretend play is often associated with very young children, but imagination does not disappear at a certain age.

Older children may enjoy creating characters, making videos, performing, writing stories or using puppets in much more sophisticated ways than younger children.

A puppet may become part of a comedy sketch, a storytelling project or a character with a very detailed personality.

Screen-free does not have to mean anti-screen

I do not think the answer is to treat every screen as the enemy.

Technology is part of children’s lives and can be creative, social and educational. The issue is balance.

Having interesting alternatives available gives children the opportunity to discover activities they might not otherwise try.

A screen-free toy or game does not need to occupy a child for the entire day. If it captures their attention, starts a conversation or encourages them to make something of their own, it has already done something valuable.

Explore the Mimitoys range for creative, educational and screen-free ideas for children of different ages.

Myriam Doyle - September 2026