“TV is grim. I love watching it but it makes me tired and grouchy” says my daughter. Hmm. Me too. The following 112 ideas should kick-start you into turning off the TV . So, save on your electricity bill, save your eyes, build imagination and personal skills and most of all have fun! It costs next to nothing!

1. Play an instrument.
2. Make an instrument (a guitar out of a shoebox and elastic bands, a drum out of an old pot, cymbals from saucepan lids, maracas from sealed pots with dried rice, a xylophone from glass bottles filled with water, etc).
3. Make a robot out of recycled boxes. Or a cot for your doll. Or a washing machine to wash her clothes in. Use your imagination!
4. Read a magazine, book or poem.
5. Write a poem or story or a book review to inspire a friend.
6. Paint a picture, or (if you’re allowed) your bedroom!
7. Practice hula-hooping, skipping, pogo-sticking or hopping.
8. Tell someone something that you like about them.
9. See how many people you can make smile in a day!
10. Draw a picture.
11. Take some photographs.
12. Organise photos in an album or start a scrap book of events/feelings/your favourite subject.
13. Make a photo/picture frame.
14. Tell jokes. Make up jokes and create your own joke book.
15. Make a daisy-chain or leaf- garland to wear.
16. Plant some seeds or water thirsty plants.
17. Make a collage from natural or recycled objects.
18. Sing.
19. Dance.
20. Learn how to play cat’s cradle.
21. Face-paint.
22. Give yourself or someone else a wild hairdo (no scissors allowed!!). This could include making hair wraps.
23. Play hide and seek.
24. Play word games, twenty questions and other guessing games. Or make up tongue-twisters.
25. Do a crossword or word search.
26. Make your own puzzle/colouring book or comic for friends and family.
27. Do a jigsaw.
28. Learn to juggle.
29. Play hangman.
30. Make a jigsaw by sticking old magazine pictures onto card and cutting them up.
31. Make up a play and perform it. You could even make your own finger or sock puppets.
32. Create a cabaret show with songs, dance, cheerleading, magic and jokes.
33. Model with clay, plasticine or play-dough.
34. Play a sport or practice sports skills.
35. Go swimming.
36. Go for a walk or picnic with your family. If today is not appropriate then plan one for another day.
37. Pick some flowers (with permission from whoever grew them!) and arrange them in a vase.
38. Have a water fight outdoors.
39. Help cook a meal or make someone breakfast in bed.
40. Bake a cake or some biscuits.
41. Learn magic tricks.
42. Collect feathers, pressed leaves or holed stones and shells, and make a mobile for your bedroom.
43. Invent something new and useful. Maybe you will just have to plan it on paper (if it’s a solar-powered gravity-defying spaceship) or maybe you can actually create it.
44. Learn all about a wild animal or an animal in your local environment.
45. Draw a self-portrait. Draw yourself as someone from a different era, country or planet.
46. Make up positive affirmation rhymes and stick them around your room or on the fridge for all to see.
47. Set up a seasonal altar or an altar in honour of a deity or your garden fairies.
48. Feed the birds.
49. Learn about cloud formations and weather patterns so that you can impress people by ‘magically’ predicting the weather.
50. Play a board game or learn a new one, such as chess, draughts or backgammon.
51. Ask your parents or grandparents what they did before they had a television.
52. Play at fancy dress.
53. Find out when your nearest seasonal festival is and plan a party or ceremony for it.
54. Go to a museum or art gallery.
55. Visit the library.
56. Make paper aeroplanes or a kite.
57. Draw your house as a castle or a cave or whatever fantasy home you like!
58. Collect coloured buttons and sort them, thread them or use them to make mosaic pictures.
59. Tell funny stories from your past.
60. Earn some pocket money by doing household or garden chores.
61. Design and make your own board game.
62. Play target practice with a toy bow and arrow. Perhaps you could make your own bow and arrow from wood and string.
63. Have a disco with friends.
64. Go to the beach.
65. Cycle, jog or roller-blade.
66. Go to the park (with permission) and make a new friend.
67. Record yourself on tape or video and save it for when you’re older to play to your children. You could even record your own radio or television documentary.
68. Play tiddlywinks.
69. Go bird watching, insect spotting, wildflower naming or tree discovering. Take identification books with you and a journal to record what you find. This can be done as locally as your own garden!
70. Press leaves or flowers and make pictures or bookmarks or decorate folders and notebooks.
71. Make birthday cards for friends and family.
72. Learn a new skill, such as knitting, sewing or woodwork.
73. Play hopscotch or skipping games.
74. Create new eco-household rules for your home (consult with your parents as to what’s practical) and make a chart or poster to help family and visitors stick to it. Make an award for the person who is best at following the rules.
75. Make a friendship bracelet, bead a necklace or design a badge for a friend or yourself.
76. Carefully watch or help an adult light a fire or barbecue.
77. Learn a new language.
78. Invent a new language or a code language!
79. Turn your kitchen into a global restaurant. Draw a flag to represent whichever country your meal originates from.
80. Create a treasure hunt. Ask someone to set one for you in return. If you have no ‘treasure’ to hide, the reward can be a joke/hug/favour.
81. Help around the house or garden.
82. Listen to the radio or books on tape. If you have DAB radio, tune in to BBC7 and Fun Radio which both have programmes for children.
83. Make a den and become someone different for a while.
84. Design a poster or snappy slogan that will inspire other people to turn off their TV or be more ecological.
85. Make a medal or award for someone you admire or love.
86. Enjoy the weather, whatever it’s doing!
87. Look for the moon and learn the constellations in the sky.
88. Play card games. If you’ve no one to play with, play ‘patience’.
89. Camp in the countryside or in the back garden.
90. Practice yoga or t’ai chi.
91. Research your family tree.
92. Learn sign language.
93. Make shadow animals using your hands and a torch.
94. Make up some riddles.
95. Play marbles.
96. Practice yo-yo tricks.
97. Pick up litter.
98. Write to your local MP about something that is important to you (e.g animal welfare, clean streets, school funding, etc.).
99. Clear out your room and recycle your old things by giving them away.
100. Go to a car boot sale or hunt through charity shops for recycled bargains.
101. Start a secret club/ reading group/ sports group with friends.
102. Buy some fabric paints and plain t-shirts (you could use second hand ones) and design your own clothes.
103. Help out with, or play with, a pet.
104. Have a relaxing bath, using essential oils or herb leaves (rose petals are lovely!).
105. Have a tea party with your teddies, friends or family.
106. Be somebody’s pixie for the day and do as many secret treats and helpful things for them as you can.
107. Use old newspapers to make a paper maché moneybox. Decide what you’d like to treat yourself to and start saving money in your new moneybox! Think of ways to earn more money.
108. Chill out! Rest on your bed and listen to peaceful music, lie on the grass and look for pictures in clouds or ask someone to read a guided meditation to you.
109. Research something that interests you and write a booklet about it. You could illustrate it or cut out pictures from magazines to stick in it. Topic ideas: sport, bugs, saving energy, wild flowers, a travel brochure, rainforests…
110. Write a letter or draw a picture for a member of family or a friend you haven’t seen for ages.
111. Compile your own list of anti-TV activities!

Categories: children, money saving eco tips

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