According to screenfreeweek.org, Screen-Free Week is “an annual invitation to play, explore, and rediscover the joys of life beyond ad-supported screens. From April 29 to May 5, 2019, thousands of families, schools, and communities around the world will put down their entertainment screens for seven days of fun, connection, and discovery.”
This observance isn’t about sacrifice—it’s about reclaiming those minutes spent mindlessly playing video games for playing outside. Hours watching videos into playing outside. The time scrolling is turned into time with people you love, time turned into discovery and wonder.
Spend your days of Screen-Free Week at home, in school, in our community, or anywhere. When you put away your screens, you might be surprised to not even miss them!
1. Exercise:
Go outside and take a walk! Visit one of Hendricks County’s awesome parks. Bike or run on one of the many trails our community has to offer. Visit a gymnastics gym, trampoline park, roller skating rink, or enroll your kid in ninja warrior training. Take a class or take a leisurely swim at the Hendricks County YMCA in Avon or Richard A. Carlucci Rec & Aquatic Center in Plainfield.
Check out these events going on:
2. Visit a Library
If you haven’t been to your local library lately, go take a look! You can get a tour from office staff. Browse the books, periodicals, and music.. You can even visit libraries in other towns for a change of scenery.
Take a look at these library events happening next week:
- Avon Washington Township
- Brownsburg – Story Time
- Clayton -- Preschool Story Hours, McCloud Nature Center Nature Program, Animal Tales
- Danville -- Preschool Story Time, Taste Testing (for Teens), Toddler Tales, Cuddlebugs, Basic Sewing, May the 4th Event
- Plainfield – Trivia Tuesday (for Teens), Family History Hounds, Baby Story Time
- Wayne Township – Preschool Stories Galore, Evening Explorers, Baby Steps Story Time, Sensory Story Time
3. Experience a Museum
Because we live so close to Indianapolis, there are many more museums than days in a week! Check out individual websites for free admission days, membership prices, or special deals.
Here are just a few of our local favorites:
- Children’s Museum – Nickelodeon’s PAW Patrol: Adventure Play, First Thursdays (discounted admission!)
- Indiana State Museum – Visit for Free with Your Avon or Plainfield Library Card
- Hendricks County Historical Museum
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
- Newfields (formerly Indianapolis Museum of Art)
4. Spring Clean
This might not be as fun as the other suggestions, but it will make you feel great after you are finished! Spring is a great time to open the windows, play your favorite oldies playlist, clean, and get organized!
As you go through your stuff, consider recycling or donating items you no longer need:
5. Play
Play kind of goes along with Exercise, but Hendricks County offers so many opportunities to go and play: Art and crafts, race cars, sports, or simply play on a playground.
- Pop-up Play Date or Sit & Knit (or Crochet) at the Plainfield Public Library
- Racing Ultimate Callout Challenge or Wild Wednesdays at Lucas Oil Raceway in Brownsburg
- uPaint a Story Preschool Story Time at uPaint Pottery in Plainfield
- Visit the new Pecar Park in Avon
- Make a Macaroni Kid craft! Easy Bird Nest Craft, Milk Painting
- Macaroni Kid Hendricks Indoor Playgrounds & Spaces Guide
