Fun Activities for Kids at Home
Keeping kids entertained or occupied for more than 10 minutes can be tough when you need some serious work done. Here are 31 fun activities for kids at home while you get things done.
While keeping our family healthy and stopping the spread of novel coronavirus is our priority, most of us are wondering how to keep our kids busy and entertained (so you can work from home!!) until school resume.
If you have a toddler, you already know how hard it is to get things done around the house. They constantly keep you on your toes and if you have to work from home or get serious things done, forget it!!
I manage my blog and chores around the house with a few minutes (10 or 20 min) uninterrupted here and there when my kids are busy doing some activities.
Over time I have realized that keeping them busy and entertained requires a routine. Kids like to follow a routine. That’s what they are used to in school. If you set up a routine for them to follow with fun activities planned for them, they will let you work from home!!
I am sure you have plenty of ideas to keep them busy, but as you know, they get bored easily with one thing. So, I have compiled a list of fun activities for kids at home to keep them active, engaged, and educated while they manage to work from home. Check out this page for other preschool activities for babies and toddlers.
1. Match the Colour
A fun way to teach colors to your toddler. Anything in your house that is color-coded works for this game. I use colorful pompoms. You will need to introduce this game and let them sort the color themselves.
2. Shape Sorter
My son easily spends 10 minutes sorting the shape and another 10 minutes throwing the shapes all over the place. Yes, this activity does require picking up shapes later because they aren’t going to clean up after them.
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3. Playdough
Kids can go as creative as they want with play dough. I like to give him a tray or let him play on the tablecloth to contain the mess. I also give him play dough tools to keep them occupied for a longer duration of time (25-30min).
4. Set up a Sensory Bin
I give my 2-year-old some beans, a spoon, and cups and he just has fun exploring texture. For some added fun, give them a funnel if you have one lying around the house and show them putting beans through it. This will occupy them for a good 20 min.
5. Bathtub time
Who doesn’t like longer bathtub time?
My little one easily spends 30 min playing in a bucket full of water with a tumbler and his bath toys.
You can also fill up the bathtub with a little bit of water, put some fizzy bath tablets in the water and give them their toys and bath markers; they will have fun for at least 45 min, if not more.
6. Camping tent in the house
Let your kids camp inside the house!! If you have a toddler or 5 years old, who doesn’t like camping with their favorite furry friends. My 2 years old spend minimum 20 mins in the tent with his car and a bear.
7. Paper and Scissors
If you have 4 or 5 years old, give them paper and scissors. This will occupy them for good 10 minutes.
8. Puzzles
Get some easy puzzles for your toddler. I like Melissa and Dough Puzzles; they are easy to do independently.
9. Latches Board
Try a latches board! Melissa and Doug make a nice ones. great for developing fine motor skills and brain development. My little one loves it.
10. Empty tissue box
Cut some pieces of fabric and put them in an empty tissue box. Let them take out and put in the pieces of fabric. What a fun way to keep them occupied!!
11. Pom Poms Through a Tube
Take a paper towel tube and tape it to the wall. Then have your toddler drop pom poms through it into a bowl. It is really fun activity for them. If you don’t have pom poms go for anything that goes through the tube-like baby forks, spoons, and Popsicle sticks.
To make it more fun, use multiple tubes or one tube cut in pieces and tape them at different heights and angles so the balls go through one and fall into another.
Instead of pom poms, you can use cheerios or marshmallows so it won’t matter if they eat them too.
We also used ping pong balls without a bowl for this activity. The ball falls through the tube and rolls off, they get to chase it down and start again.
12. Colander and Pipe Cleaners
Let your toddler stick pipe cleaners in the holes of a colander. Great way to develop fine motor skills.
13. Matching the lid
My son loves to play with kitchen utensils. When I need things done, I give him pots and pans. He spends much time matching pots and pans with their lids. He also likes to stack them inside each other. It could get noisy, but you will get uninterrupted 20 minutes for sure!!
14.Colouring
Give them crayons and coloring books with pictures. My son loves looking at the pictures and coloring with crayons.
15. Coloring on the Window
Sometimes coloring books are not sufficient to keep them occupied. I keep window markers on hand and let them color on windows when you are desperate to get things done.
16. Paint in Bags
Place paint in a gallon-sized Ziploc bag. Seal the bag, then tape them to a window. Let your toddler move the paint around in the bag using their fingers.
17. Cardboard Box
Give them a cardboard box and let them explore. I show him how to put his toys or stuffed animals into the box and then dump it. He keeps himself busy for good 10 minutes.
If you have 4 to 5 years old, have them color a cardboard box inside and the outside of the box, cut out some windows and doors and let them make it their own little home.
18. Waterplay in the Kitchen
If you are not bothered by mess, this will keep your toddler busy for a long time. Fill the kitchen sink halfway with water and provide their favorite water toys, measuring cups, and spoons, and let the fun begin!! Use a child’s step stool to let little one reach the sink. Caution: Do not leave your child unattended. You can supervise them while working on your laptop or cooking dinner.
19. Toy-Washing Bin
Let your kids wash their plastic toys. Add tear-free bubbles, sponges, towels and other supplies.
20. Plastic Cup Stacking
If you have plastic, paper, or Styrofoam cups left over from the party, then use them to your toddler busy. Show them how to stack a pyramid and let them do the rest.
21. Felt Boards
The Felt boards are both entertaining and quiet. My son loves to play with it. Felt is cheap and easily available. You can cut it the way you like it, or there are various felt shapes available on Amazon.
22. Make a Tape Road
To keep them moving throughout the day, make a tape road. Tape a road in the room and let them drive all day long.
23. Bean Bag Toss
Give them a bucket and let them through a bean bag in it. Or label your stairs with numbers or animal pictures and throw bean bags to land on each stair.
24. Make an Obstacle Course
Make an indoor obstacle course for your toddler to let all their energy out! Whether you set up a spy-themed obstacle course, or a safari-themed obstacle course, or a fairy-themed obstacle course, you can realize your child’s dreams.
Simply place a piece of rope or tape on the floor as a starting point for the course. Next, place blocks or hula-hoops into a pathway for your child to follow.
Hanging up ribbons in the arrangement of a spider web is also fantastic for your child to attempt to navigate, as it will keep them busy for a while.
Extend the course to provide amusing activities for your children, such as having a hula-hoop-off, a mini basketball shoot-off, or a toss-the-ball-into-the-basket challenge.
25.Science Experiments
Science experiments with 5 years old will be fun!! This activity does require supervision. For this experiment in the video, you need bowls, water, food coloring, and paper. Do this experiment with them first, and then let them explore independently.
26. Have a Fashion Show
What excites children more about trying on their mom and dad’s “grown-up” clothes? So why not keep them busy for an afternoon and let them browse through your closet? Blast some music and let them try on some of your clothes. They can boost their imagination and pretend to be models for the day. These memories will certainly be joyful not only for you but also for your children when they get older.
27. Dance Party
What better way to exercise your children’s energy than to host a dance-off? The best part of this activity is that it requires minimal setup and cleanup!
All you have to do is use some activity DVDs or Elmocize -if your little one is under 2- and let them have some running around time, and you have some distractions free time.
28. Skating with Paper Plate
Get a couple of paper plates, step on them and skate around the house to burn loads of energy!!
29.Make an Indoor Scavenger Hunt
Kids love searching for things. So, what better way to have fun than to make an indoor scavenger hunt? All you have to do is hide some small objects (like their favorite toys) around a room, such as under a table, chair, bed, or sofa. Whether your children are toddlers or in elementary school, they will enjoy this activity. Plus, participating in a scavenger hunt has been scientifically proven to not only improve problem-solving skills but also sharpen critical thinking skills. The feeling of accomplishment that follows this activity will make your children’s day. Now that Easter is just around the corner, check this post to plan Easter activities at home for them.
30. Spooky Scavenger Hunt
Hide the objects around the house and turn off the light. Give your kids a flashlight and have them search for objects.
31. Make a Time Capsule
Not for toddlers, but older kids can certainly enjoy making time capsules!!
A classic favorite is always making time capsules. All you need to do is grab a large cardboard box, or a large container and then start filling it with all sorts of memories like pictures, pieces from newspaper articles, or even objects like clothes or toys.
To increase the amount of time spent on this activity, have your children write a letter to their future self and make a painting or a sketch of their dreams for the future.
Make sure to include all your chosen time capsule treasures; seal your box once you’re done. It is nice to wrap your box like a present and decorate it. Oh, and don’t forget to label it with your name, the year when the box can be opened, and by whom. Now hide it away and try not to peek until the chosen time arrives!
32. If all else fails
There are times when nothing works, and they want your attention. It’s okay to give them iPad time or TV time. There are a few free educational websites for kids to explore and learn while you get some uninterrupted time.
Whether your children are toddlers or in elementary school, I hope you find something to keep them busy while you manage to work from home.
What other activities do you do with your children to keep them busy? Share in the comments section below.
