A Screen-Free Day with My 10-Month-Old: Real Talk from a Real Mum

A Screen-Free Day with My 10-Month-Old: Real Talk from a Real Mum

Lately, I’ve found myself reflecting on how often the TV is on in my home—not for me, but for my 10-month-old daughter. As a single mum, it’s incredibly easy to let screen time fill the gaps in the day. Whether I’m working from home, cleaning, or just trying to get a moment of peace, the TV can become a go-to distraction.

But recently, I decided to challenge that. Today is our first screen-free day, and as I write this, it’s just after 12:30 PM. To my surprise, my daughter is happily playing with her toys—no fuss, no signs of boredom, and certainly no meltdown.

Honestly, I expected resistance. I assumed she’d get bored quickly without the flashy lights and sounds of the TV. But the truth is, maybe it was me overthinking it all along.

Why I Chose to Cut the Screens (At Least for a Day)

We often hear that excessive screen time in young children can reduce their attention span, hinder communication development, and affect their social interactions later on. And even though I know this, the reality of parenting—especially doing it alone—is tough.

We live in the UK, and unless you’ve got a load of money, it’s hard to constantly find new, exciting things to do. Our time is mostly spent indoors, apart from my daily walks (for my own health and sanity!) and our little outings to feed the ducks at the local park.

But I realised: she doesn’t even know what TV is. She’s not asking for it. It’s just something I introduced and relied on more than I’d like to admit.

So How’s It Going So Far?

Surprisingly well.

My daughter’s been playing with her usual toys—rattles, blocks, toys that spin or pop up—and she's been perfectly content. She's crawling, exploring, babbling, and interacting with me and her environment.

That’s the kind of development I want to encourage: cognitive skills, fine motor practice, and genuine human interaction. I also introduced waterplay to her today getting a container with a few toys and laying out a sheet on the floor in which she was splashing around and playing with her toys. See the video below. This has so much joy and it feels good to me as a mum that I’ve actually planned an activity for her to do that helps her development so it’s fun watching her interact with her toys and the water.

My Screen Time Plan Moving Forward

This one day has already made a difference in how I see things. I’m now considering doing 2–3 screen-free days every week, and maybe limiting TV time to just one hour a day on the other days. Not because I want to be perfect, but because I now believe she can thrive without it.

I’m planning to:

• Introduce more sensory play like water activities and non-toxic finger painting.
• Use building blocks to encourage problem-solving.
• Read more books together even if she just wants to chew them half the time!
• Rotate her existing toys to keep things fresh.

I already have some great toys that support her development—stacking cups, toys with moving parts, spinning wheels, and more.

Need Ideas? I’ve Got You Covered

I’ll be sharing a full list of screen-free activities that you can do with your 10–12 month old on this page. I’ll also include links to some of my favorite toys and activity kits from my Amazon Storefront[link below].

Remember, you don’t need to spend a fortune to keep your baby engaged. Sometimes the simplest things—like a plastic bowl and wooden spoon—are enough to spark their curiosity.

Let’s Be Real... Parenting Isn’t Easy

I get it. The system isn't designed to support parents the way it should. And sometimes, screen time is a lifeline—not a failure.

But this is just my honest experience. I’m not judging anyone. I’m just trying something new, and for the first time in a while, it feels good. It feels intentional.

So here’s a little reminder to myself and to you:

They won’t be this little forever. Let’s soak it up while we can—even if some days are messier, louder, and screen-free.

Let’s Chat

Do you limit screen time in your household? What kind of activities do you do with your little ones to keep them engaged?

Drop a comment, share your ideas, or just let me know you stopped by. 💬

And if you haven’t already, subscribe to my blog for more posts like this—honest motherhood moments, practical tips, and the occasional rant from a tired but determined mum.

Thanks for reading. Speak soon!

– Claudia

Screen-Free Activities for 10–12 Month Olds:

🖐️ Sensory & Messy Play

Non-toxic finger paintingWater play with cups and plastic spoonsPlaying with cooked pasta or rice in a trayCrinkle paper or textured fabric play

🧱 Cognitive Development

Stacking cups or soft blocksFill-and-empty containersWooden puzzles with knobsShape sorters

Screen-Free Activities for 10–12 Month Olds:

🖐️ Sensory & Messy Play

Non-toxic finger paintingWater play with cups and plastic spoonsPlaying with cooked pasta or rice in a trayCrinkle paper or textured fabric play

🧱 Cognitive Development

Stacking cups or soft blocksFill-and-empty containersWooden puzzles with knobsShape sorters

🎵 Music & Movement

Dance with musical toys or shakersCrawl races or obstacle coursesClapping games (pat-a-cake, peekaboo)Sing-along time with nursery rhymes

📚 Language & Bonding

Reading board booksNaming objects around the houseCopying animal soundsLooking in the mirror and saying body parts

🌿 Outdoor / Nature Play

Daily walk in the pram or carrierFeeding ducks at the local pondLetting baby explore safe grass or sandPointing at trees, clouds, birds, etc.

🎵 Music & Movement

Dance with musical toys or shakersCrawl races or obstacle coursesClapping games (pat-a-cake, peekaboo)Sing-along time with nursery rhymes

📚 Language & Bonding

Reading board booksNaming objects around the houseCopying animal soundsLooking in the mirror and saying body parts

🌿 Outdoor / Nature Play

Daily walk in the pram or carrierFeeding ducks at the local pondLetting baby explore safe grass or sandPointing at trees, clouds, birds, etc.

 

🛒 Our Favourite Screen-Free Toys from Amazon

Here are some of the toys we love using on screen-free days. They help with sensory exploration, cognitive development, and — most importantly — keep your baby entertained without a screen!

🧩soft stacking blocks 🧸 Rattles & Shake Toys🎨 Non-Toxic Finger Paint📚 Baby Board Books

 

You can check out my full list here: Visit My Amazon Storefront →

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