Having to stay at home can be a drag. Or is it?
There are actually several things kids can do while in the confines of their house, especially if you have a bit of a backyard space to play around in. If not, don’t worry. This list is for any and everybody who has to keep kids busy all day.
Whether you want them to focus on using their imaginations, instincts, or educational insights, you’re sure to find something that will make the days fly by. But why limit yourself? Mix things up!
Who says being at home has to be boring? We don’t! Flip through the slides and see what activities you and your little ones can do first.
Just because the kids aren’t in school, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be on a schedule! It’s imperative for children to stick to a routine as they grow. Routines give children a sense of stability and organization. They also form healthy habits like brushing their teeth, for example!
Enrolling your child into an online course is a great way for your child to continue learning while at home. There are several learning opportunities happening online. Some adults are even teaching children in a classroom-like setting as well.
Never stop learning!
3) Educational television
Sesame Street is popular for a reason. Shows like it do an amazing job teaching their viewers as well as entertaining them. Who says learning can’t be fun? Parents can even get in on the fun as well.
Kick back, grab some popcorn, and relax with a movie marathon. Disney and Pixar have tons of kid-friendly movies to choose from. Maybe even have some conversation about what they did or didn’t like about the movie and why. Better yet, add in some trivia!
If you don’t have any workbooks laying around, the internet is right at your fingertips. Print off some math problems and other subjects for your child to work on from the comfort of their home. Make sure to be available for any questions that they might have.
This is always fun to do with the little ones! Maybe start off with simpler recipes such as cookies and cakes. Then graduate to various breads and biscuits. Before you know it, you’ll have a family bakery!
There are tons of board games to choose from: Chutes and Ladders, Candy Land, Monopoly, Scrabble, Life, Sorry, etc. The list goes on! It’s a great way to connect and engage with your children. Besides, it’ll keep them busy for hours.
Kids need to stay active too! There are a lot of ways to keep them on their toes: hide-go-seek, tag, racing, playing with the dog, playing catch, etc. Some kids have even taken to yoga! Give it a try. You just never know!
This is a great and private way for kids to express themselves. They’re able to relieve stress and expand their vocabulary. It’s also a great way to log that brilliant idea that’s been on their mind.
10) Teach them to perform everyday tasks
Many adults have expressed that there were certain things that they wished they had learned in school; skills that they come to realize are imperative in the adult world that they just weren’t taught in class. During this time, try your best to teach your kids the skills they need to master before adulthood.
Some ideas are how to properly do laundry, basic math skills such as calculating a tip, money management, basic repairs like changing a tire, self-defense, etc.
Now this is something that every child should do with their parent as much as possible. Particularly, if their parent is a good cook. But all levels are welcome! It’s the bonding experience that matters. Not to mention, it’s a skill that everyone should have.
12) Go on a virtual field trip to the museum
Have you ever wanted to visit a museum but it was just too far away? You’re not alone. However, many museums are giving people the option to visit them from the comfort of their homes. Hey, it’s better than nothing!
Here are just a few that offer the service: Louvre, Boston Children’s Museum, British Museum
Remember Miss Mary Mack? What about Patty Cake? There’s also the
cup game,
slide, and
tic-tac-toe. All of these hand games require concentration and hand-eye coordination. Not to mention, they’re sure to put a smile on your child’s face.
14) Facetime/Skype with loved ones
Stuck inside and don’t have anybody to talk to? Hop on video chat to feel less lonely. It’s been quite a ride with technology over the years but many people utilize these platforms to get through tough times.
15) DIY tissue box monsters
Feeling crafty? Make monsters out of tissue boxes! The best part is being able to design the boxes any way that your kids want! Find out how to do so
here!
There’s nothing like a good old-fashioned treasure hunt to keep the kids busy. Just make sure that the prize is worth it in the end. That way, they might want to do it again!
17) Go on a virtual field trip to the zoo
Wanting to visit the zoo on a rainy day? Or maybe you want to see animals that you wouldn’t be able to see near you. Like the museums, you can go on virtual tours of zoos! Check out the Cincinnati Zoo’s live stream on their Facebook page at 3p. You can even check out the live stream of
African wildlife!
You can really get your creative juices flowing with this one. You don’t even need a fancy camera to get it done. All you need nowadays is your phone and an imagination.
19) Hang up holiday decorations
Because why not? Kids love doing this during the holidays so why not let them do it when they’re bored at home? Hanging a few lights around the house won’t do any harm. Instead, it just might up their mood.
Play your favorite tunes for the kids. In turn, maybe listen to a few of theirs.
Many kids get their taste in music from their parents. Give them a decent head start!
Scrapbooking is fun! Especially when it involves photos. Kids love to see old photos of their parents and of themselves when they were younger. Scrapbooking is a great way to teach your kids about their history.
Being at home doesn’t mean you can’t step outside. Of course, if the weather permits. If so, grab a kite and fly it! It’s a great workout.
Unlike a treasure hunt, a scavenger hunt consists of a list of items for someone to find rather than a series of clues that leads to a prize. Also during a scavenger hunt, a person must find a certain number of items. Both are sure to keep the kids busy!
24) Perform a science experiment
Just because your kids are at home, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t keep learning! Here are some
experiments from Science Bob to get you started. He explains what occurred at the end of each experiment.
25) Learn another language
If your kids are young, it’s an even better reason to get them started in another language! Kids’ brains are still developing so the earlier they start, the better. That’s not to say your older kids, or even you, can’t learn. It just might take a bit more time.
Give your princess or prince the tea party for the ages. Make sure you come in the proper attire. You’re going to want to take a lot of photos. This leads us to the next slide…
Why not? Especially if you’re all together and are doing some of the listed activities. Hopefully, you and your children will look back on those moments fondly.
Gather the troops! It’s time for karaoke! Karaoke is a great family activity. It’s a chance for the different generations to expose the other to different types of music.
It’s an oldie but a goodie! It’s a chance for your child’s imagination to run wild! There are so many different things that can be made with play-doh. Just make sure nobody tries to eat it!
Have a kid who’s more musically inclined? If so, start them off by making a homemade banjo. Well, they aren’t actual banjos but they sure are cute and fun to make!
See for yourself.
If the kids have been at home for some time, give them a few chores to do. Have them organize and clean their room. Who knows, they might enjoy it enough to want to help you.
Once they’re done with their rooms, see what clothes and other items that can be donated. Make sure they know that the items will be going to someone in need. They might be more apt to go through their rooms more often.
33) DIY glow in the dark jellyfish
Now these are cool! Your kids are sure to enjoy putting these together. With a few items, their rooms will be transformed into a whole new environment!
Try it out!
This is a relaxing way to pass the time. Ask your kids what they see. Create stories out of the designs and characters in the sky. Just because it’s relaxing, doesn’t mean it can’t be fun.
Ah, yes. Finger painting. Be prepared for a mess. The kids might accidentally wipe their hands on the table so just have a little patience with this one. The resulting artwork is always worth it.
36) Have an indoor picnic
Make sandwiches and have juice! Luckily, there won’t be any insects around to spoil the fun. We know how much bees like to show up to these sort of events uninvited.
37) Put together a puzzle
Give the kids even more opportunity to use their brains. Allow them to try puzzles of different sizes to challenge them. Maybe brew a hot cup or joe and some hot chocolate for the two of you. Hopefully, you know which one is for who.
If you have some old white shirts laying around and they haven’t turned into dust rags yet, make them useful. In fact, anything that is white and not being used, like old sheets, would be fun to experiment with.
The ultimate at-home way to relax. Who wouldn’t want to escape into another universe? It’s easily one of the best pastimes that we could have! Read with your child or to them. If they’re older, maybe just set some time aside for them to read what they choose.
There are plenty of card games to pass the time. Whether you’re playing with a traditional deck or something more in the realm of Uno, your time will be well-spent. Make sure you get comfortable. Card games can be lengthy and intense.
Doodle if you want! If you feel like you’re not the best artist, there are plenty of books out there that teach beginners the basics. Before you know it, you could be one of the greats!
This skill is often overlooked. Knowing how to read music boosts self-esteem, allows you to focus, and improves memory. Of course, it helps to be playing an instrument as well. It’s just more fun that way.
Use that imagination to put together a land made of legos. There are quite a few intricate lego sets out there. Why not start now?!
44) Write letters to family and friends
If you’re really feeling the writing bug, write some letters to family and friends. You don’t even have to send them. But it might be a pretty cool idea to do so years later.
Get out the costumes and review the script! The stage can be anywhere but do put a little effort in! This could be the start of something big!
There are many skills that can be learned in the confines of home. Try picking up an instrument. Learn to knit. Before you know it, with all of those skills, possibilities will be endless for you.
Morse code isn’t a common skill. But it sure can be a valuable one. Why not teach your kids about its history and then purchase a book on how to learn it?
The universe is vast and we’re just a tiny portion of it. Grab a telescope, if you have one, and see what you can discover. Otherwise, simply use your eyes!
49) Play game apps on your phone
If you don’t have any of the games mentioned prior or a stack of cards, use your phone. There’s a game called Head’s Up that people just love.
But seriously, purchase a deck of cards and some board games!
Play around the house or outside. Find somewhere incredible to hide and the kids will stay busy for some time. Maybe take a breather when it’s your turn to seek…
There’s nothing like it! Being at home is a great opportunity to teach your kids about their family history. Share with them what it was like growing up for you. Discuss the family tree. Teach lessons. Talk with your kids.
Put on a puppet show! You can get creative and decorate your characters or just use plain socks. You can perform a script or simply perform improv. There’s no wrong way!
53) DIY pool noodle obstacle course
All you need are some pool noodles, duct tape, and some sharpened pencils.
This obstacle course will keep the kids busy and active! They’ll be wiped out when it’s time to get ready for bed.
This is another important skill to have. More and more people are learning the importance of coding and are becoming interested in it. The demand for coders is only going to increase in the future. They just might fall in love with it.
Sometimes the brain needs a break and video games are a great escape. With all of the different types of games out there, you’re sure to find something for everyone. Try not to get addicted!
56) Go on a virtual field trip to a farm
Never been on a farm? Well
this virtual tour allows you to visit. It also shows the process of how things are done. They’ve even included some facts on each tour.
Get up and move! Have a dance off. Go crazy! But not too crazy! The best part is that you can dance doing just about anything — cooking and cleaning are just a couple.
Use your crafting skills. Build a home for nature. There are many books and online resources on how to build a bird house and/or a bird feeder.
Yes, it looks as cool as it sounds. You only need a few essential items to get the job done. Your kids will love this new addition to the home. See how to create them
here!
60) Start an indoor garden
Start planting! Whether it’s a plant or a fruit or vegetable, teaching your kids how to grow something is extremely informative. It’ll be fun teaching your kids the value of taking care of something. Someday, they might even begin growing their own food.
That’s right. Let loose! Don’t make this a habit though. Beds and bed frames are costly. Maybe do a pillow fight instead.
62) Camp in the living room
Set up a tent and go on little adventures! Use your imagination to explore the unknown of the living room or the backyard. Don’t forget, you will be sleeping out there!
63) DIY fireworks in a glass
If you really want to impress your kids, try this. It’s a wonder to gaze at. It looks awesome and can be done again and again. All you need is food coloring, water, and oil. Check it out
here!
Color inside the lines or don’t! It’s completely up to you. Bring in different types of coloring books and experiment with different colors. Let their imagination run wild.
65) Join an online book club
Yep, kids have book clubs too! This is an awesome way to help keep your kids on a schedule. They’ll also be able to think critically about what they’ve read and practice communicating their thoughts.
Why not let your kids dress up in your clothes? If that’s too much, why not let them dress how they want? Let them play with style and taste for once. After all, they’re going to anyway.
67) Teach the pet a new trick
If you have a dog, why not challenge them to a new trick? Maybe they don’t know any. This is the perfect time to let your child lead the way.
Make it out of pillows and blankets or cardboard. It’s up to them! Allow them to add their own decorations. Maybe they’ll add one of the DIY crafts that we’ve suggested? Who knows?!
It’s never too early, or too late, to start one! Let your kids know that it’s okay to dream big. Allow them to put their biggest and most ambitious dreams and goals on it. Hang it up in their room so they are inspired every day.
Origami is an opportunity to learn some history and have fun. It’s been
said to have many benefits including improving hand and eye coordination, memory skills, and patience.
Writing a creative story does more than expand the imagination, it can build confidence in children which in turn allows them to find their voice. They’ll also develop skills in organization, thinking, and even problem-solving. What’s not to love?
72) Go on a virtual tour of a national park
National parks also offer virtual tours. Yellowstone, Bryce, and Hawai’i Volcanoes are just some of the national parks that allows people to visit from their home. This would pair great with camping in the living room!
If you want to build a race track, you’re going to need lots of tape of different colors. Hopefully, you can spare your kid some vehicles as well. Really let them flex their creativity here. This should be fun not perfect!
Nowadays, there is a podcast for everyone. Yep, even kids have programs they can tune in to. Some are purely entertaining, others are informative. Mix them up! Your kids might even want to engage in ideas afterward.
The best one on the list for some. After doing the various other ideas in the slideshow, you’re going to be exhausted! Let them nap while you grab a drink!
Staying in doesn’t have to be boring. As you can see, it’s far from it!
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