Ocean Adventurers in Cheddar has partnered with Sidcot School to launch a pioneering ‘Offline Adventure’ movement this February - a new, year‑round initiative designed to help families rediscover the joy of tech‑free play during school holidays.
The launch follows mounting national concern about rising screen use among children, with recent BBC‑reported research showing that 79% of UK parents believe their children’s screen time has increased since the pandemic, while 67% say they worry about what their children are watching, including exposure to violent, addictive or inappropriate content.
Yet, in a striking contrast, 93% of parents also say they want more educational, development‑boosting content for their children, highlighting the complicated relationship modern families have with screens.
To understand local experiences more deeply, Sidcot School and Ocean Adventurers surveyed over 1,000 parents across Somerset on various social channels. The results revealed a clear appetite for support across different questions: 65% of parents said they rely on screens simply to ‘get things done’, 58% use screens for entertainment, and 64% struggle to think of low‑cost offline activities during the school holidays.
When asked what makes offline play hardest, parents most cited juggling work and chores, with many also noting the British weather. These findings reinforced the need for a non‑judgemental, practical resource that helps families rebalance screen time without shame or pressure - exactly the space the new Offline Adventure is designed to fill.
The Ocean Offline Adventure invites children to become ‘Offline Adventurers’, taking part in a lightly structured journey of imaginative challenges that celebrate curiosity rather than perfection. Children choose from activities such as inventing new games, building dens, embarking on mini scavenger hunts, exploring outside, or enjoying simple mindfulness moments.
Each activity earns a tick on an illustrated Adventure Map inspired by the shared value ‘Live Adventurously’, a theme that beautifully connects both Ocean Adventurers and Sidcot School. When families return their completed Offline Adventure to Ocean Adventurers, they will receive a unique discount code offering 33% off entry (valid from 24th February to 20th April), along with an Ocean Offline Adventurer sticker and a certificate celebrating their achievement.
The campaign is grounded not in restriction but in reassurance, emphasising small moments of connection rather than strict rules.
“Parents tell us they want practical help, not pressure,” says Laura Filer, CMO and Co‑Founder of the Family Adventures Group. “Even a few minutes of offline play can make a noticeable difference. The Offline Adventure is about making those moments feel easy, joyful and completely achievable - even on the busiest days to support parents during school holidays,” she added.
Sidcot School’s involvement ensures the initiative remains deeply rooted in educational wellbeing and values‑led child development. Sidcot has been leading the way with sign-ups to the Smart Phone Free Childhood Movement, with parents signing up to the pact to remove smart phone access until 16 years old.
Cath Dykes, Head of Sidcot Junior School, explained: “At Sidcot, we believe children thrive when they are active, curious, and connected. The Ocean Offline Adventure gives families a joyful, practical way to encourage those qualities - without guilt, pressure or unrealistic expectations,” she added.
Together, Ocean Adventurers and Sidcot School are offering a fresh, hopeful response to one of the most pressing parenting challenges of our time. Instead of fuelling the guilt so often associated with screen‑time conversations, the Offline Adventure reframes the question entirely: not ‘How do we switch screens off?’ but ‘How can we rediscover moments of curiosity, calm and connection alongside them?’
With national concern rising, local parents calling for support, and school holidays once again approaching, this Somerset‑born movement is arriving at exactly the right moment. This initiative will launch across the February half-term and be set to run with different activities during each school holiday in 2026 to support parents to have more offline time.
For more information, visit www.oceanadventurers.com and https://www.sidcot.org.uk