The Analog Summer Challenge

From park picnics to porch puzzles, here’s how to help your family log off and lean into hands-on fun.

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This summer, the hottest trend isn’t an app, a gadget, or a streaming-only series—it’s going analog. Across the country, there’s a growing shift toward tactile, screen-free activities as a way to unplug from the constant buzz of notifications and the mental drain of doomscrolling. In fact, Google Trends reports that searches for “analog” have jumped 80 percent in the past month, signaling a cultural moment that families can embrace together.

Excessive screen time, which can range from 1 to 16 hours daily for children, poses significant long-term risks to eye health and development, according to professionals at UAB. Dr. Laura Markham notes that earlier screen introduction correlates with increased trouble managing technology addiction later, and UAB ophthalmology experts note that high screen usage can lead to eye strain and other long-term eye health issues in children.

An “analog summer” doesn’t require expensive equipment or elaborate planning. At its core, it’s about rediscovering simple, hands-on pleasures: writing letters, baking from scratch, building something with your hands, or spending long afternoons outdoors. For kids, these activities foster creativity and independence. For parents, they offer a chance to slow down and reconnect—not just with their children, but with their own sense of play.

Searches for terms like “film cameras,” “vinyl records,” “board games,” and “journaling” have steadily increased during the past few years. One summer, I had my daughter write a few sentences a day about our activities and draw a picture to go with it. At the end of those months, I had it spiral-bound at a print shop as a souvenir memory book. This year, I plan to take our Polaroid camera everywhere to snap instant old-school pictures wherever we go, then we’ll combine it into a summer scrapbook.

In Birmingham, opportunities for analog fun are everywhere. Neighborhood walks can turn into nature scavenger hunts. A trip to a local park can become an afternoon of sketching or journaling. Even everyday routines—like cooking dinner or tending a small garden—can become screen-free family rituals. The beauty of an analog summer is its flexibility. It’s not about eliminating screens entirely, but about creating intentional space away from them. You can start small with a few designated hours as “offline time,” or introduce a weekly family activity like board game night or a DIY craft project.

As digital life continues to accelerate, choosing analog experiences offers something increasingly rare: presence. So, consider pressing pause and embracing the simple joys that don’t require a battery or a Wi-Fi to work.

Screen-Free Starts Here

  • Pack a sketchbook and head to Railroad Park for drawing, cloud-watching, or journaling.
  • Create a photo scavenger hunt at Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve (rocks, birds, something colorful), and take a disposable camera to capture your findings.
  • Take a slow walk through Birmingham Botanical Gardens and challenge kids to sketch what they see. At home, use watercolors to bring your work to life.
  • Browse for puzzles, craft kits, or classic board games at Homewood Toy & Hobby or Snoozy’s.
  • Let kids pick out a physical book for a family reading hour at one of our amazing public libraries. Don’t forget to check out their summer kids’ activities, too!
  • Start a summer “maker day” with DIY projects using supplies from Forstall Art Center. Check out classes at Artsy Studio in Trussville.
  • Write and mail postcards to grandparents or friends (kids love the novelty). You can find Birmingham-specific ones at Alabama Goods.
  • Teach kids a childhood favorite—hopscotch, jump rope, or building a blanket fort. Sidewalk is cheap at big-box stores.
  • Visit Pepper Place Market and let kids pick ingredients for a meal they help cook.
  • Try a “from-scratch night” where dinner becomes the activity. For daytime, check out the camps and classes all over the area through Itty Bitty Bakers.
  • Start a small backyard herb garden or container garden. Create mocktails using your fresh clippings!
  • Write a pen pal: Instead of mailing letters far away, kids can exchange handwritten notes with a friend down the street—delivered by bike, mailbox, or even a “secret drop spot.”
  • Themed picnics are a favorite pastime: “Breakfast Picnic,” “All Yellow Foods,” “Fancy Dress-Up Picnic,” or “Around the World.” Let kids help plan the menu and setup.
  • Download our summer park guide, and make it a mission to check off as many as you can this summer.