March 19, 2026April 8, 2026
by Jessica Whitney

If you’re a sports mom, you know the drill. You’re at the baseball field by 8am. It’s now 2pm. Your athlete is still playing. The younger siblings have eaten all the snacks, lapped the parking lot six times, and are now asking to watch YouTube.

I see you. I am you.

I have four kids: an almost-13-year-old in baseball, an almost-11-year-old in gymnastics, and a 7 and 5-year-old who get dragged to everything. We will literally sit at the baseball field all day. Sometimes there are other siblings to play with, sometimes there’s a park nearby — but a lot of the time, we have to find something to do. And I made a rule for myself a long time ago: I’m not going to feel guilty about that, AND I’m not going to default to screens.

So over the years, I’ve built what I call the go-bag — a backpack packed and ready to grab, full of non-screen time activities for siblings that travel well, entertain for hours, and (bonus) the kids can carry themselves. No extra logistics for me.

This is what’s in it.

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The Sports Mom’s Go-Bag: 12 Non-Screen Time Sideline Sibling Activities That Actually Work

Because you deserve to watch the game — not referee the meltdown in the bleachers.

Why Screen-Free Activities for Kids at Sporting Events Actually Matter

Before we get into the list, can I just say — you don’t have to feel guilty about your younger kids being “bored” at their sibling’s events. A little boredom is actually good for them. But having a few tools in your bag means you get to be present for the game, cheer your athlete on, and connect with the other moms on the sideline — without the mental load of managing a meltdown every 20 minutes.

These screen-free boredom busters for kids also:

Build focus, creativity, and patience (which all happen to be things we’re always trying to teach anyway)
Work for a wide age range — most of what’s in our bag works for ages 5 through 12+
Double as car ride activities for kids on the way to and from events
Keep younger siblings occupied so the athlete in your family actually gets your attention during their moment

Okay. Let’s get into the bag.

12 Non-Screen Time Activities for Sideline Siblings (Sports Mom Tested, Kid Approved)

We all know those siblings running around the fields are feral and often have unlimited access to snacks and lack adult supervision. But even if that’s true, having a prepared bag of activities to keep them out of trouble is a must!

1. 🖊️ Boogie Board LCD Writing Tablet

This is the OG of our go-bag and has been for years. We’ve gone through multiple versions of it. A Boogie Board is an LCD writing tablet — kids draw on it, then wipe it with one button. That’s it.

It’s perfect for:

Drawing and coloring
Playing tic-tac-toe or hangman
Writing notes or jokes back and forth with a sibling
Long car rides where we don’t even grab anything else

Honestly? Sometimes this is the only thing we grab. It’s that good.

2. 📓 Journals + Glitter Markers (Only for On-the-Go)

My daughter loves to draw and color, and what makes this extra special is that we keep certain supplies only for the bag. When the glitter markers only come out at games and meets, they stay exciting.

Want to level it up? Add a pack of stickers they can color in — now you’ve combined sticker fun with art. My daughter will sit for a solid hour doing this.

Pro tip: A special journal that belongs just to them (their name on it, their choice of cover) makes this feel like a big deal.

3. 🏈 Whistling Nerf Ball

For my son, this is the non-negotiable item. It’s a Nerf football — but the magic is that it whistles when you throw it with a good spiral.

This thing is honestly fun for ages 5 to 50. Every dad at the baseball field ends up wanting to throw it. When we’re at outdoor events, there’s almost always space to run around, and this keeps the kids moving — which is exactly what a 7-year-old boy needs after two hours in the bleachers.

4. 🖍️ Sidewalk Chalk

Okay, this one is hit or miss depending on whether there’s pavement. But when we have it? Every kid within a 20-foot radius migrates over.

Chalk is a free-play activity that sparks creativity, gets kids moving, and often leads to them making new friends — which is really the best possible outcome when you’re at an all-day tournament.

5. 📚 Sticker By Number Books (Seriously, Don’t Sleep on These)

If there is a secret weapon in this bag, it’s the sticker by number books. I cannot rave about these enough.

These are activity books where kids place stickers to complete a scene — and there are levels, from easy to more challenging. They are:

Easy to do on a windy day (the pages don’t fly away)
Perfect for the car ride there and back
Great paired with an audiobook in the background
Mess-free and compact

If you haven’t grabbed one of these lately, add it to your cart right now. We’ve used these on 3+ hour car rides without a single complaint.

6. 🪢 Jump Rope

Old school. Lightweight. Zero setup. Toss it in the bag and forget about it until someone needs to burn energy. Jump ropes are a classic outdoor activity for kids that never gets old — and they take up almost no room.

7. 🔲 Rubik’s Cube (or Two, or Six)

We have Rubik’s Cubes ranging from a 2×2 to a 6×6 in our house, plus a few minis. If your kids are into puzzles and problem-solving, a Rubik’s Cube is a quiet, focused activity that they can do independently for a long time.

Bonus: This is a great conversation starter with other kids and adults too. You’d be surprised how many people want to try.

8. 🧲 Magnetic Figures Kit (For the Little Ones!)

If you’ve got toddlers or preschoolers in your crew, this one is for them. There are these adorable little magnetic figure kits — the pieces stick to each other and to the metal case they come in.

They’re small, easy to grab, easy to contain, and the little kids are absolutely mesmerized by them. This is my go-to for the 5-year-old.

9. 🎲 Tenzi Dice Game

Fast. Fun. No board required. Tenzi is a dice game the whole family can play together — and it works for a pretty wide age range. It’s small enough to throw in any bag, and the rules take about 60 seconds to explain.

This is a great option for when the siblings want to play something together, and you want something that doesn’t require a flat surface or a lot of setup.

10. ♟️ Travel Magnetic Chess Set

We found a magnetic travel chess set, and it has been clutch on road trips and at games. Because it’s magnetic, the pieces don’t slide around or get lost when someone bumps the board.

This is ideal for older kids (or a parent who wants to teach!). Chess is a screen-free cognitive activity for kids that builds focus and strategic thinking — and it feels fancy enough that kids actually want to learn it.

11. 📖 Kindle (Hear Me Out)

I know — a Kindle is technically a device. But I’d argue it belongs in the same category as a physical book, not in the same category as YouTube.

My daughter is a voracious reader and flies through books. She got a Kindle as a hand-me-down, and it’s been a game-changer. Kids Mode locks it down to age-appropriate content, and having access to a whole library means she’s never stuck without something to read — even mid-season when we’ve been to the library recently but she’s already finished everything.

If you have a reader, a Kindle as a backup is absolutely worth it.

12. 🌿 Boredom Itself (Yes, Really)

This one doesn’t go in the bag. But it’s still on the list.

I’ve noticed that when my kids say they’re bored — and I know they’ve had a good lunch, we’ve been there a reasonable amount of time, and they have things with them — the “boredom” is often just a request for something to do or someone to notice them. I’ll check in, we’ll chat for a few minutes, and then? They find something.

They make a new friend. They start cheering for their brother or sister. They sit quietly and just be.

We almost never bring tablets to events — even on road trips, we hold off until we’re 10+ hours from home. And our kids have genuinely adapted. They’ve learned to find things to do, to be present, to be creative with what’s in front of them.

Don’t be afraid of a little boredom. It’s good for them — and honestly, it’s good for us too.

How to Set Up Your Go-Bag (And Actually Keep It Ready)

Here’s the simple system that keeps this from becoming another thing on your to-do list:

Get a backpack that belongs to the activity bag — something your kid can carry themselves, so you’re not adding to what you’re hauling.
Pack it at the start of the season and leave it packed. You’ll rotate a few items in and out as things get used up (new sticker book, fresh journal), but the core stuff stays in.
Give each kid their own small basket at home for personal items — their sticker book, their Rubik’s Cube, their journal. They can grab it and put it in the go-bag before you leave, and store it back when you get home. This keeps younger siblings out of older siblings’ stuff and teaches them to take care of what’s theirs.

That’s it. One bag, mostly packed, ready to grab. No mental load required.

You’ve Got This, Sports Mom

I hope this gives you permission to enjoy the game — really enjoy it. To cheer loudly for your athlete, to have a real conversation with another mom, to watch the actual moment instead of managing chaos.

Your younger kids don’t need to be entertained every second. And with a little prep, you can give them the tools to entertain themselves — while you get to be there for all of it.

Go load up the cart. Pack the bag once. And then go enjoy the season.