Smart Phone and Screen-free ideas for the rest of the summer holidays?

July 31, 2025

Ideas for a screen-free summer holidays in Hong Kong

Holidays

If school term makes it difficult for us parents to model our best ‘appropriate smartphone use’ for our kids – be it due to the busyness of day-to-day routines or juggling conflicting work-family schedules – the summer holidays , a change from routines, and perhaps a change of location can be the perfect opoporunity for us to reset our relationships with these devices, for ourselves and our families.

If you have just returned to Hong Kong (and apartment living, which I know can be synonymous with defaulting to screens for entertainment), this article has been designed to inspire you to hold on to some of those screen-free holiday practices that may have been achieved more easily on holidays.

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Setting yourself up for success

1. Re-think your relationship with your smartphone

It starts with me… It does, which makes it equally terrifying and empowering…

Numerous surveys have shown that children mimic parent behaviours. Take time this summer to consider your relationship with your smartphone, the patterns you are modelling and how it impacts your and your family’s wellbeing. This might mean:

Being mindful about how soon upon waking we reach for our phones
Thinking about how much time we spend scrolling through social media
Being mindful about our ability to sit still, without switching tabs as we wait for the page to load

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2. Schedule dedicated screentime

Sadly, with our pervasive use of smartphones and devices, there are days where device-free time is hardly recognisable. Day-to-day school routines, homework, and assignments might make taking a break from screens difficult. However, during holidays, have a family discussion and see how you can reasonably enforce dedicated screen-time.

Ideally this should be AFTER some device free time (more to follow below), and time-bound, made clear with setting a visual or audible timer. Having dedicated screen time and/or social media time for you as an adult is a step towards changing your relationship with your phone.

Aim for 30-60 minutes a day
If possible, break this up into multiple time slots (a morning slot and an afternoon slot)
Let this also be your dedicated time to check your inbox, read the news, have your dedicated screentime

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3. Have dedicated time in nature, everyday if possible, at least weekly if not

The summer heat is intense. However, the early mornings or late afternoons offer the perfect setting to spend time outdoors in nature as a family. Nature is healing. Emerson famously said “Adopt the pace of nature, her secret is patience”. Heaven knows we need lots of this during holidays. Some recommendations in Hong Kong include:

Hike up the peak or hit the Tai Tam Family trail as a family
Scooter along the waterfront promenade and stop off at the various little playgrounds along the way
Take a ferry to one of the outlying islands and spend a day meandering the streets or visiting the local beaches. Our favorites are Cheung Chau and Lamma Island
Pack a picnic, plenty of sunscreen, and bug-spray and head to the beach
Take a speedboat from Sai Kung pier to some of the pristine white sand beaches on Sai Kung peninsula
Scooter along the waterfront promenade and stop off at the various little playgrounds along the way

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4. Have a dedicated weekly “pool day”

This summer, why don’t you build a family pool day ritual? Wherever you are based across Hong Kong, you are sure to find one that is convenient for you. If you are a bit adventurous, have a pool day in a new neighborhood. Some of our favorites include:

Hong Kong island: Kennedy Town swimming pool, in Kennedy Town and Morrison Hill swimming pool in Wanchai
Kowloon: the pool at Kowloon Park offers an excellent respite from the heat and busyness of the area if you are local to TST
New Territories: The pool complex in Tseung Kwan O and the swimming pool in Ma On Shan offer excellent facilities for families and swimmers of all levels

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5. Create screen-free family rituals

Family rituals are designed to spark connection to each other. Family rituals are designed to be easy and convenient, achieved with little effort but a lot of commitment. Some rituals include:

Have dedicated family reading time: If you have younger kids, read to them. For older kids, leave devices charging together and use this time to sit down and read together
Have regular games sessions: Board games offer an easy way to spark laughter, conversation, and fun and offers you insights into their world. Our current easy to carry board game recommendations include, Quartro, Exploding Kittens, and The World Game.

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6. Other indoor screen-free options:

Hong Kong offers excellent museums, whether your kids are interested in art, history, culture, science, or space. Check out this article for a full round up of indoor infotainment options to enjoy as a family.

In addition, so many lovely family memories can be created in the absolute mundane.

Get your kids involved in cooking and meal preparation (embrace the mess, I know it’s hard)
Involve them in setting the table
Give them little tasks to declutter before the new school year commences

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Will you take a few minutes to reflect with me?

We are strong believers in maintaining a reflective practice and assess what is working and what isn’t.

How can I delay reaching out for my phone first thing upon waking up and last thing before I go to bed?
Can I explore how I can make our bedrooms a phone-free zone?
Can I possibly consider removing social media applications from my phone
Can I wait patiently for my tab to load, instead of switching between tabs?

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My Love Letter to you Mama…

It start’s with us. Our kids might not always listen to us, but they are indeed observing and watching us. It’s never too late to change our behaviours and instil healthy behaviours to support our kids’ health (and indeed our own).

We hope these suggestions offer you some ideas to review your own behaviors and spark some connective conversations, creating smartphone-free opportunities of connection for you and your families. nd as you prepare for the new year, why not build a network of like-minded families, who are committed to delaying smartphones for their kids. Sign the Look Up Hong Kong parent pact here: https://parentpact.lookup.hk/. Then share your commitment with other parents in your school and year. Together we are powerful!.

Written by Lisel Varley

For your consideration