Keeping your kids entertained while at home can seem like an impossible challenge. Despite all of the toys and activities available, finding something new and different may be necessary to keep everyone happy, engaged, and having fun. Whether you find yourself at home because of a school break or stuck inside due to inclement weather, here is a list of activities that will create hours of fun and maybe even provide some educational value.
Get Crafty
Select an age-appropriate craft, round up some art suppliesLinks to an external site., and start creating. You can make just about anything from jewelry, macrame wall hangings, artwork, and more. Whether you want to make something functional or decorative or just find a way to pass the time, you are sure to find a craft that fits the objective and appeals to your children.
Science Experiments
Science is all around us, and at-home experiments are a great way to learn and have fun. Depending on the age and interests of your children, you can find the perfect science experimentLinks to an external site. to catch their attention and help them better understand how and why things work the way they do. From creating a weather event in a mason jar to making homemade playdough or building a volcano, there are lots of experiments that you and your children can conduct together using simple items from around your home.
Bake Cookies
Whip up dessert or a tasty snack while also passing the time in a constructive way. Reading a recipe and measuring ingredients is a great way to sneak in practical uses for reading and math skills. Baking is a fun activity you can do with young children, or it can provide an opportunity to let older kids do their own thing and experience some independence in the kitchen.
Build a Pillow Fort
Collect all of the pillows, cushions, and blankets you can find and help your kids create a space to curl up with a book, color, listen to music, take a nap, or do just about anything. Building a pillow fort requires creativity and ingenuity, and the fort creates a safe and secure space to play.
Play Games
Get a deck of cards or a board game and sit down to play. Games teach and reinforce so many skills from reading to math and even help children learn about social interaction. Playing games together can also create cherished memories, and adding in a competitive element can make things more interesting. Whether you just play one hand or sit down for an entire tournament to declare an ultimate winner, playing games as a family can be an excellent way to spend time together.
Cards and board games are the staples of family game time but mix in video games to keep things interesting. If your child is really into video games, participating in something they enjoy can be an effective way to connect and learn more about one another.
Redecorate Bedrooms
Give your child’s room a refresh and re-do the space. Redecorating can be as simple as re-arranging the furniture or as big as painting the walls or even moving to a different room in the house. Whatever the scope of the project, let your child take the lead and decide how they want their room to look and determine how they will use the space.
Have a Fashion Show
Cleaning out dressers and closets is not necessarily a fun activity. Still, it needs to happen, and you can make it enjoyable by encouraging your child to put on a fashion show. Have them try items on and walk the runway to model their outfits. Sort through everything and decide what items will be kept, which items are suitable for donation, and lastly, which items are past their prime. For older children, you may want to let them research and select the organization to receive the donation.
Learn a New Skill
Have you always wanted to learn origami or how to juggle, or how to train your dog to roll over? You can learn just about anything on YouTube, so decide what you want to know, find a video, and start practicing. Each family member can select their own skill to learn, or you can pool your suggestions and work on learning something new together.
Listen to a Podcast
Promote active listening, imagination, curiosity, and more by having your children listen to age-appropriate podcasts. There are so many different podcasts availableLinks to an external site., from educational to entertainment and across all ages groups, so you are sure to find something you approve of that also sparks interest in your child.
Have Fun
Finding the right activities to keep your children engaged and entertained can be tricky, but there are so many ways to fend off boredom, have fun and maybe even learn a thing or two. Whether you are trying to fill a rainy afternoon or an entire school break, these activities can keep your children entertained and create memories.
