We’re all in the same boat right now, staying at home and staying safe due to COVID-19. But staying at home all day can get old. Here are some ideas to keep the kids (and yourself!) entertained. These ideas are also great for just daily fun and interaction too, virus or no virus.
Activities:
- Read a book together
- Make a scavenger hunt with clues
- Create a dance to their favorite song
- Pick one of these 201 free and cheap indoor activities
- Make popsicles, cookies, or other treats
- Make play dough
- Make fake snot
- Make edible finger paint
- Make your own 3-ingredient sidewalk chalk
Games:
- Hide and seek
- Sardines
- I spy
- Hopscotch (if you can go outside, use chalk! if not, you can use masking tape on the floor or carpet)
- Hot and cold
- Card games (think easy games like Go Fish, B.S., War, Concentration, etc.)
- Simon says
- Limbo
- Hokey pokey
Paper & Pencil Games:
- Make a crossword puzzle (keep it easy)
- Tic-tac-toe
- Hangman
Arts & Crafts:
- Make crafts out of items usually thrown away
- Make a galaxy jar
- Make your own sun catchers
- Play your own crated balloon tennis
- Draw animals from shadows
- Make simple toys together
- Make a color sorter
- Make egg carton flowers
- Paint pictures
- Do finger painting
- Make a wind chime
- Help them make a photo puzzle for mom or dad!
- Create a marble maze!
Games for 3+ people:
- Telephone
- Duck, duck, goose
- Kick the can (and other night games)
- Follow the judge
- Capture the flag
- Musical chairs
- Red rover
- Sharks and minnows
- Ninja
- Mother may I
- Red light, green light
Get to know them:
- Ask questions — you can ask them about their favorite foods, what their favorite color is, which sports they like to play, who their heroes are, what dreams/goals they have for the future, what animals they like, what their extended family is like, and more!
- Let them teach you a skill
Tell them about yourself! Here are some talking points:
- Your country’s holidays and traditions
- Your family’s traditions
- How your family celebrates holidays
- Stories (family stories, your favorite books or movies, etc.)
- Jokes
- Hobbies and interests
- What your daily activities are
- Your friends, family, and/or pets
- Your future plans, etc.
- What your hometown is like and how it compares to their city
Other helpful resources:
- Matangi Lemon (Check out DIY or Play) — there are a ton of cool ideas and sensory activities!
- Kid Activities
- Kid Activities Blog
- Indoor Kid Activities from Fun Cheap or Free
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