7 Surprising Ways to Keep Your Kids Entertained Beyond Screen Time This Summer

Remember the days when kids actually begged to put down their screens and play a board game? If you’re a parent navigating the modern challenges of summer boredom and TV- or tablet-dominated days, you’re not alone. In a world saturated with digital distractions, finding engaging, meaningful, and screen-free activities is becoming a real challenge for families everywhere. But here’s a bold question: What if the secret to keeping your kids happily entertained this summer was hiding in a board game box?

WIRED’s recent article on the 16 Best Prime Day Board Game Deals for Kids of All Ages (2025) paints a promising picture of how board games are making a huge comeback as the ultimate family entertainment tool. From classics to innovative new games, Prime Day has stacked the deck with amazing deals that can transform your summer days.

But why board games? And how can they truly change the way your family experiences quality time together? Let’s unpack the big benefits, and then I’ll share some insider tips on how to enhance your family’s summer fun beyond just the games.

Why Board Games Are Game-Changers for Families

  • Boost Social Skills: Sitting around a table and playing board games encourages communication, strategy discussion, and healthy competition.
  • Stimulate Cognitive Growth: Games challenge kids’ problem-solving abilities, math skills, and creativity.
  • Limit Screen Fatigue: It provides a refreshing break from digital devices, promoting healthier eyes and a more active mind.
  • Create Lasting Memories: The shared laughter, the thrill of victory, and even the groans of defeat build stories your family will revisit for years.

Yet, as beneficial as board games are, what if you or someone you know is facing the emotional and physical rollercoaster of trying to conceive or expanding your family? Here’s where a little-known but highly impactful resource comes into play.

Linking Family Fun and Family Growth: A Thoughtful Connection

Summer is the perfect time to reconnect with loved ones, and that connection is even more meaningful when you’re on a journey like trying to conceive (TTC). For couples and individuals exploring fertility options, creating moments of joy and lowering stress is crucial.

This brings me to MakeAMom, a pioneering company that offers at-home insemination kits designed to bring the hope of pregnancy into the comfort of your home. Their range of kits—like CryoBaby for frozen sperm, Impregnator for low motility sperm, and BabyMaker designed for specific sensitivities—provides an empowering, private, and cost-effective alternative to clinical settings.

Why does this matter alongside summer family fun? Because joy, connection, and reduced stress can positively impact fertility journeys. By embracing tools that support your family-building goals alongside activities that foster bonding, you create a holistic environment of hope and wellness.

Interested in learning more about how at-home options might fit into your unique path? Dive deeper into the possibilities and real success stories at MakeAMom’s website.

Back to Fun: Top Tips for Summer Screen-Free Entertainment

  1. Choose Age-Appropriate Games: Whether your kids are toddlers or teens, there’s a game out there perfectly tailored to their interests and abilities.

  2. Set Weekly Family Game Nights: Make it a ritual. Anticipation builds excitement, and it becomes a treasured tradition.

  3. Mix in Outdoor Activities: Board games are fantastic, but balancing them with bike rides, nature scavenger hunts, or water balloon fights keeps energy levels high.

  4. Get Kids Involved in Game Selection: Let them pick or research games themselves. Ownership means they’re more invested in playing.

  5. Use Board Games to Teach Skills: From math practice to strategic thinking, incorporate educational elements subtly through play.

Wrapping It Up: The Ultimate Summer Hack for Families

So here’s the truth: This summer doesn’t have to be a battle over screen time or a scramble for money-draining activities. By leveraging the best Prime Day deals on board games, you’re not only investing in hours of laughter and learning but in building family bonds that last much longer than any digital distraction.

And if building your family’s future is part of your current story, remember the quiet power in resources like MakeAMom’s at-home insemination kits. Together, these tools create a supportive summer landscape—fun for today and hopeful for tomorrow.

Ready to transform your summer routine? Which board games are you adding to your family’s collection? Or if you’re on a fertility journey, how do you balance joy and hope during your TTC days? Share your thoughts below—we love hearing your stories and questions!


Inspired by WIRED’s 16 Best Prime Day Board Game Deals for Kids of All Ages (2025).