Introduction
Every business has a story, and ours begins not in a boardroom, but at our kitchen table. We are parents of two girls, ages 8 and 4, and together we started Printed Adventures with one simple goal: to replace screen time with something better — creative, playful, and shared as a family.
This is the story of how our parenting struggles inspired a business, and why screen-free adventures have become so important in our home.
Raising Kids in a Screen World
Like most families today, we’ve seen how easily kids get absorbed by screens. Our oldest, now 8, is at that tricky age where it’s hard to pull her away from a tablet or show. She loves stories, mysteries, and problem-solving, but screens often compete for her attention.
And our youngest, at 4, wants to do everything her big sister does — including staring at screens.
We realized this wasn’t just about our household. This is the world kids are growing up in today: a world where screens are always there, always tempting, always competing with imagination and play.
The Gap That Screens Leave Behind
We noticed what many parents do when faced with too much screen time: they just take the screen away. On the surface, it makes sense — remove the problem, and it should go away. But in reality, that approach often backfires.
When a screen is removed without something to replace it, kids feel like they’re losing out. They get frustrated, restless, and bored. Parents feel guilty, kids get upset, and before long it turns into an argument. We’ve been there — the “no more screen time” talk can spiral into stress and tears.
That’s when we realized something important: removing isn’t enough. You have to replace.
Replacing a screen means offering something that feels just as engaging and rewarding, but that actually builds creativity, teamwork, and joy. It changes the narrative from:
- “No, you can’t have the screen.”
to - “Yes, let’s do this adventure together.”
When the choice is framed this way, kids don’t feel like they’ve lost something. They feel like they’ve gained an experience.
This became our guiding principle as parents — and later, as the foundation for Printed Adventures.
The First Homemade Adventure
One rainy afternoon, we decided to put this idea to the test. We hid small objects around the house and created simple clues to guide our girls from one discovery to the next.
For the next hour, our 8-year-old was completely absorbed — reading each clue, piecing together the hints, and racing from room to room to uncover the next object. Our 4-year-old might not have solved the puzzles, but she was just as excited to run alongside her sister and celebrate every time a hidden treasure was found.
They weren’t asking for a screen. They were laughing, moving, and celebrating together.
That was the moment we realized: kids don’t need screens — they just need something better to capture their imagination.
From Family Fun to Family Business
At first, we created these adventures just for ourselves. But soon, friends started asking if they could try them too. Other parents told us:
- “It kept them busy for an hour!”
- “They worked together instead of fighting!”
- “They didn’t even ask for a screen.”
That’s when we realized this wasn’t just our problem, and it wasn’t just our solution. Families everywhere were searching for simple, screen-free fun that was exciting, affordable, and easy to set up.
That was the moment Printed Adventures was born.
Why Replacing Screens Matters
Screens aren’t the enemy — they can be educational and fun in moderation. But when they dominate, kids can become passive, impatient, and less likely to connect with others.
Replacing screens with adventures creates the opposite effect:
- Kids talk more.
- They use their imagination.
- They move, laugh, and interact.
- They feel connected to family instead of isolated by a device.
The biggest win? Instead of endless negotiations about “more screen time,” we’re building memories around shared experiences.
Our Creative Process (and Tiny Testers)
Behind the scenes, creating Printable Adventures is a family affair.
- One of us focuses on the design and structure of the puzzles, making sure every challenge is balanced, fun, and engaging for kids.
- The other focuses on making sure families discover us — spreading the word, sharing our story, and ensuring parents know there’s a screen-free alternative waiting for them.
- And our daughters are our Chief Testers.
If a puzzle is too easy, our 8-year-old lets us know in seconds. If a story doesn’t make sense, our 4-year-old asks “But why?” over and over. When they’re both giggling and eager for the next challenge, we know we’ve done something right.
Building a Business as a Couple
Starting a business as a couple has its challenges. We don’t always switch off — sometimes puzzle ideas sneak into late-night conversations. But it’s also deeply rewarding. We share the same vision, we balance each other’s strengths, and we’re building something that reflects our family values.
We’re not just partners in parenting; we’re partners in creating adventures that help other families too.
Lessons We’ve Learned
- Don’t just take screens away. Replace them with something exciting.
- Kids are the best testers. Honest, direct, and impossible to fool.
- Parents want simplicity. Print, play, enjoy. No setup, no stress.
- Family comes first. Some days, the business waits. And that’s okay.
Looking Ahead
We started with six printable games in our bundle, but this is only the beginning. We’re already dreaming of seasonal adventures, holiday puzzles, and maybe even puzzles designed by kids, for kids.
Most of all, we want our daughters to grow up proud of what we built — not just a business, but a way for families everywhere to laugh, learn, and connect without screens.
Closing Thoughts
When people ask why we started Printed Adventures, the answer is simple: because of our girls. They showed us that when you replace screen time with something better, kids don’t miss the screens — they gain adventures, stories, and moments with the people they love most.
Want to try the same kinds of adventures that inspired our family? Check out the Printable Adventures Bundle — six ready-to-play games for just $49. Tested (and approved!) by our little adventurers at home, and ready for yours too.