Every parent has heard their child say, “I’m bored.” Does that sound familiar? If so, you’re not alone. The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted the lives of millions of people around the world. Especially right now, children of all ages are probably saying this more than ever.
Playing with the same toys and watching the same movies over and over gets old, really fast. Fortunately, we have a bunch of awesome ideas. If you have kids at home because of the COVID-19 virus, you might want to go through this list of 70 things they can do alone or as a family activity.
This game is an old-time favorite. While typically played outdoors, no rule says your kids can’t play it inside as well. Depending on the age of your children, you might need to limit the space where they can hide. Otherwise, it’s a free for all.
Kids love to bake. To encourage your children to get involved, let them choose the type of cookie to make. Here are
five classic cookies recipes. When finished and with the kitchen cleaned, they can enjoy what they made. For the older kids, make a video of them doing an at-home “cooking show.”
Whether using board games you already have or having some new ones delivered, this will help fight your kids’ boredom.
Oh, come on, who doesn’t love playing with slime…it’s cold, gooey, and just downright fun. But since you can’t go anywhere to buy it right now, you can
make it with these easy instructions. Not only will your kids have a blast during the process of making it but also when they get to play with the slime.
Who said a pinata is only for a kid’s birthday party? Not only is it fun to make but the kids get to smash it to get to the goodies you put inside. This is a great stress reliever. To make a pinata, just have your kids
follow these instructions.
If you have older kids at home, especially ones with artistic flair, why not have them create a family tree. You can use whatever information you already have and then research data online. For something more challenging, have them put together a family tree for their favorite movie, perhaps Game of Thrones. You can print off the images needed at home.
Bubble baths aren’t just for stressed parents. For kids, they’re super fun. If you’re tired of hearing your children say they’re bored, put some bubbles in the tub and let them go at it. A helpful tip — since this is more playtime than get ready for bedtime, you might want to put extra towels on the floor and use kid-friendly bubbles.
If you’re someone who’s into crafts, there’s a good chance you have everything needed for your kids to design and make t-shirts. They can cut out stencils using almost any kind of paper and then paint away.
By this point, kids are starting to miss people they consider important in their lives…grandparents, aunts, uncles, classmates, teachers, and so on. So, schedule a time for some virtual conversations using Skype, Facetime, Google Duo, or whatever app you prefer. This is an incredible way to lift their spirits.
Sure, it’d be nice to visit a local spa for a massage, facial, manicure, or pedicure. But since that’s not possible, have a spa day at home with the kids. Everyone can throw on their bathrobe and then enjoy pampering each other.
Blowing bubbles in the backyard is a great way to have fun. And this is something your kids can do while still practicing social distancing. There’s no need to buy bubbles when you can make them yourself with these
easy-to-follow instructions.
If you have a child who loves to build things, why not start with a bridge. But for this, the goal is to complete the product using Q-tips, popsicle sticks, or toothpicks. Depending on the size and type of bridge, this could take days, if not weeks to finish.
Since we’ll all be home for some time yet and with the weather starting to warm up, this is a perfect time to build a treehouse. As long as you have a solid tree, some wood lying around, a hammer, and nails and screws, you’re good to go. For a dad-kid project,
here’s a great plan to follow.
You might remember as a kid how much you used to love dressing up in your mom’s or dad’s clothes. Well, your children would enjoy doing the same. So, let them rummage through your closet to find various pieces you approve of. For even more fun, they could put on a fashion show.
This type of garden consists of a miniature container and various accessories like a tiny doll, colored rocks, and beads. Then, have your child plant a few small clippings of greenery that’s starting to come up in or around your garden. Whether indoors or outdoors, this becomes a magical area to play.
This type of candy has been around for a long time. Along with tasting delicious, it’s super easy to make. While there are plenty of options, these
instructions are super easy.
17. Change your child’s bedroom
Whether that entails painting the walls, having new furniture delivered, making pictures to hang, building shelves, or simply moving things around, this will keep you and your child busy for a while. And the bedroom will look clean and organized when done.
Just because parents are stuck at home doesn’t mean they have to spend all their time trying to entertain their kids. This is a perfect opportunity to teach them life lessons regardless of their age. One example…show them how to do laundry.
Here’s a cool idea. Have your kids gather several items they consider important or relevant to today’s world. Then, place everything inside an airtight container and bury it in the backyard. Several years from now, the family can open the time capsule together.
For a lot of people, juggling is incredibly hard to learn. But now that your kids have a lot of time to spare,
show them a video like this to see if they can master it.
21. Paper fidget spinners
Although the craze of fidget spinners has died down, making some from pieces of paper is an exciting new trend and something your kids can do at home.
Although some origami designs are more challenging, there are still plenty of options that younger kids can make. Here are some
simple instructions to start with.
For this, place something shiny somewhere in your house. That item represents a large diamond. Then, using painter’s tape, create a maze the kids have to follow to reach it. The first one to reach the “diamond” without breaking the tape wins.
You don’t need authentic bingo cards to play this game. Instead, you can make them or if you have a printer, print them off at home. And no, this isn’t something only for the older generations. Young kids enjoy playing it as well.
If you have musical instruments, do a fun, family jamboree. You could even video it and post it on social media for others stuck at home to enjoy.
Here’s another idea the entire family could do together. Select an audiobook that everyone agrees on, pile blankets on the floor, and then relax while listening to it. You could even make some popcorn to make it a little more exciting.
If you have a daughter in middle school and up, more than likely, she knows how to make these. Let her teach everyone else and then make a bunch of beautiful friendship bracelets to pass out after the pandemic ends.
You can never go wrong with sidewalk chalk. Have the kids come up with some kind of cool design for the driveway or back patio. Remember to take photos during the process to share with others online.
This game is always a blast. And your kids can play it indoors or outdoors. Simply make a map for them to follow. Put an “x” at places they need to stop for clues you’ve left on sticky notes or cut up pieces of paper. Be sure you have some kind of “treasure” waiting. Home-baked cookies always work.
For a memorable camping trip, you don’t have to leave the safety of home. Just be creative…use sheets, blankets, or tarps to make a tent. If you have a real tent, you could set it up in your basement.
There are thousands of online
recipes for making delicious popsicles. After choosing one, let the kids do all the work. While they freeze, your children can do one of these other activities.
Usually, parents get mad at kids for pillow fighting. But with everyone stuck inside, this might be an exception. Just make sure not to use feather-filled pillows and provide close supervision. It’s supposed to be fun.
For this, either the parents can be the servers or the kids. Either way, the guests should dress in their finest clothes to eat at a beautifully set table while the servers bring yummy food to them. Your children can even come up with the ideas for food and make the menus.
If your kids want to create something but you don’t have any paint on hand, you can use Kool-Aid instead.
These instructions show you how to do it.
Whether you choose the Git Up challenge or a specific genre of music, have a dance-off. Depending on the number of kids at home, they could do a solo, duo, or group performance. Don’t forget to capture it on video.
Maybe this won’t be your kids’ favorite thing to do but it’s productive. As mentioned, some of your isolation time could be spent educating and teaching your children. This is one way to do that.
Let your kids write a short letter using invisible ink. Then, they have to pass it to someone to see if they can read it. Making this special ink is super easy.
Here are five unique methods.
As a parent, you know all too well how annoying it is when your kids won’t stop asking questions. Well, here’s a chance for them to ask away without it bothering you. Think more of it as them interviewing you.
For parents with a private backyard, getting outside is a great way to spend time. Give your kids a list of things to find. This could be a four-leaf clover, funny-shaped piece of wood, a rock that looks that a heart, and so on.
As moms and dads, you want to make this difficult time as easy on your kids as possible. One way to lift their spirits is to serve them their favorite breakfast meal in bed. But after seeing how it’s done, have them serve you in bed the next morning.
Find several
sites online that teach simple card tricks. Then, give each child a different site so they have different tricks to learn. When done, let them show off their new talent.
Do you have balloons left from a party? Here’s a way to put them to good use. Blow them up, set up “net” or place painter’s tape on the floor, and let the kids enjoy a game of indoor balloon volleyball.
You could set up a face-painting “booth” where you first create designs on your child’s face and then let them paint yours.
Yoga is an excellent way to relax. And right now, that’s something we all need to do. For this, teach your children what’s called
Cosmic Kids Yoga. This is yoga done to favorite movies and stories all using interactive screen time.
Little girls love having tea parties. So, why not enjoy one with her. Using her tiny play dishes, you can serve “tea” and “biscuits.” Don’t forget to invite all her favorite dolls and stuffed animal friends.
46. Tic-tac-toe or hangman
For a lot of kids, the pandemic has caused anxiety. These kids just want to be close to mom or dad. You and your child can plop down on the sofa to play games of either tic-tac-toe or hangman. It’ll help take their mind off everything that’s going on.
Every kid loves pizza. So, teach them how to make it. You can either make the dough or if you have plain bagels in the refrigerator, use those. They’ll appreciate their lunch more.
With
instructions like these, your kids can master the art of making paper airplanes in no time. Have them try several different models. Then, see which one can fly the furthest.
You know those puzzles you put in the closet for a rainy day? Well, now’s a perfect time to pull them out. Even if they’re more complicated, don’t underestimate your child’s enthusiasm in wanting to help solve one.
Although the “I Spy” game is something that people usually do on car trips, there’s no reason your kids can’t do the same thing from the living room window.
All you need for this is a blanket to place on the floor, yummy sandwiches, and a thermos of juice or Kool-Aid. But with your child’s imagination, it’ll be much more.
Like slime, you can make playdough at home with supplies you already have on hand. These
instructions are easy, something even younger kids can follow.
With a little ingenuity, you can make a front and back cover of a new scrapbook. Then, using paper typically for homework, make blank pages for the inside. Your child can then choose items they’d like to memorialize.
Your child could work with the family dog to teach it a new trick. Now, if your pup is a little older, that doesn’t mean it still can’t learn. Remind your child about the importance of being patient and step in to assist if needed.
We’ve all heard of “Christmas in July” but what about “Christmas ornaments in May?” Why not? There’s plenty of time and when the holidays roll around, your kids will feel proud to hang their decorations on the tree.
The great thing about this game is you don’t need any supplies or careful planning. Instead, everyone takes a seat and pretends the floor is hot lava. The goal is to reach another person in the room but without stepping on the floor.
If you’ve never heard of this, a water sensory bag lets your kids discover, explore, create, learn, and imagine. For this, they have to rely on their senses. You can make one by using
these instructions.
Using socks, markers, buttons, and strings, your kids can make adorable puppets. Of course, they’ll each need a name. Then, they can put on a show for the entire family to watch.
Whether Custard’s Last Stand or a shoot out at the OK Corral, your kids can do a Western reenactment. The nice thing about this is they first need to research what they want to perform. So, while having fun, they also learn a little bit about history.
Who cares that summer’s not quite here? Sometimes, you just want a homemade dessert. If you have an ice cream maker, great. But if not, you can make bagged ice cream with this or a similar recipe.
Speaking of desserts, there’s no reason you have to stick to traditional dishes. Let your kids come up with something that’s all their own. Now, you might want to help them pick the ingredients just to make sure you don’t end up with something like sardine pie.
There’s nothing better than crawling in bed with mom or dad for some snuggle time. But use this opportunity to read books, watch videos, or play games on a tablet. It’s all about quality.
This might sound a little scary for some parents. But if your kids are old enough to not make a huge mess, set up an in-home nail salon. Then, let them paint your nails using their creative ideas.
While home, kids still need to keep up on school work. Not only will this give them the chance to write letters to family members and friends but it’ll also help them improve on penmanship.
A treasure bottle consists of taking various embellishments to enhance a bottle’s appearance. Your child could use broken jewelry pieces, buttons, paint, lace, whatever they want. It’s not really for holding anything but more to just enjoy looking at.
This is another old-time game but it’s still a ton of fun. Your kids can play on the floor or do the marble drop game. For that, take an empty coffee can. Cut a hole in the lid just large enough for a marble to go through and place it on the can. From a standing position, your kids need to try to drop a marble through the hole.
67. Indoor obstacle course
This is another fun activity for kids. Using things that you have around the house, make an obstacle course. If you leave it in place for a day or two, they’ll use it over and over again. If you need an idea,
check out this video.
68. Mancala counting game
With an empty egg carton and
these instructions, you can introduce your kids to a new game. Who knows, it might quickly become one of their favorites.
For the little ones, let them place magnets on the front of the refrigerator or cookie sheets. While you’re fixing dinner, this will help keep them occupied.
Older kids get bored even faster than the younger ones. So, you want to find things for them to do that are somewhat challenging yet educational. Here’s an idea…let them write and direct a stop-motion movie.
With this information, they’ll succeed.
