Screen-Free Toddler Activities in Saskatoon: Why Silly Times Daycare Prioritizes Hands-On Learning
Why Parents Are Choosing Screen-Free Daycares in 2025
In an age where screens dominate childhood, more Saskatoon parents are seeking screen-free daycare options for their toddlers. Recent studies show:
📱 75% of Canadian toddlers exceed recommended screen time limits (2025 StatsCan Report)
🧠 Excessive screen use is linked to shorter attention spans and delayed speech (Canadian Pediatric Society, 2025)
At Silly Times Daycare (#102 1359 Fletcher Road), we believe in learning through play—not screens. Here’s how we keep toddlers engaged, curious, and screen-free in Saskatoon.
10 Screen-Free Toddler Activities at Silly Times (Saskatoon-Approved!)
1. Sensory Bins with Local Prairie Touches
✅ What we do: Toddlers explore bins filled with Saskatchewan wheat, lentils, and smooth river rocks (collected from the South Saskatchewan Riverbanks).
🔹 Skills developed: Fine motor skills, sensory processing
2. Nature Scavenger Hunts at Richard St. Barbe Baker Park
✅ What we do: Weekly walks to this east-side Saskatoon park to find pinecones, different leaves, and bird feathers.
🔹 Skills developed: Observation, nature appreciation
3. Water Play with a Saskatoon Twist
✅ What we do: Kids experiment with pouring, floating, and sinking using local items (mini WDM grain trucks, pretend berries).
🔹 Skills developed: Early STEM concepts
4. DIY Musical Instruments (Prairie-Inspired!)
✅ What we do: Make shakers from dried beans (like Saskatchewan lentils) and drums from recycled oatmeal containers (from Bulk Basket!).
🔹 Skills developed: Rhythm, creativity
5. Puppet Shows with Canadian Animals
✅ What we do: Handmade puppets of prairie dogs, foxes, and snowy owls for storytelling.
🔹 Skills developed: Language, imagination
6. Outdoor Art at the Forestry Farm Park
✅ What we do: Monthly trips to sketch trees, animals, and flowers at this beloved Saskatoon attraction.
🔹 Skills developed: Creativity, focus
7. Building Forts with Local Materials
✅ What we do: Use Saskatchewan-made wood blocks and fabric scraps to construct mini “grain elevators” and “teepees.”
🔹 Skills developed: Problem-solving, teamwork
8. Baking with Saskatchewan Ingredients
✅ What we do: Simple recipes using local oats, honey, and flax (allergy-safe options available).
🔹 Skills developed: Math, patience
9. Mini "Farmers’ Market" Role Play
✅ What we do: Toddlers “sell” pretend Saskatoon berries, carrots, and eggs at a play market.
🔹 Skills developed: Social skills, counting
10. Storytime with Canadian Books
✅ What we do: Read “The Hockey Sweater,” “M is for Maple,” and other Canadian classics daily.
🔹 Skills developed: Listening, vocabulary
Why Saskatoon Parents Love Our Screen-Free Approach
“After just two months at Silly Times, my son stopped asking for his tablet. Now he comes home excited to tell me about the ‘rock hunt’ or puppet show!”
– Lisa T., Saskatoon mom
2025 Research Backs Our Method
📌 University of Saskatchewan study (2025): Toddlers in screen-free programs showed 30% better language skills than peers in tech-heavy daycares.
📌 Saskatoon Early Learning Report: Hands-on play reduces behavioral issues by 22%.
How to Reduce Screen Time at Home (Saskatoon Edition)
Try these local alternatives to screen time:
Collect smooth stones at Poplar Bluffs
Play “I Spy” at the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market
Make playdough with Saskatoon berry juice (for color!)
Join Saskatoon’s Leading Screen-Free Daycare
Limited 2025 spots available! See our Fletcher Road centre in action:
📞 Call: (306) 281-3214
📧 Email: sillytimesdaycare@gmail.com
📍 Visit: #102 1359 Fletcher Road, Saskatoon (Near Lawson Heights Mall)
P.S. Ask about our 2025 “Nature Explorers” program—perfect for curious toddlers!