Don’t fret about having to be home. There are some fun ways to keep your kids busy when you are stuck at home.
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During an unprecedented time, having your kids home all day can be a challenge. There seems to be no where to go, and nothing to do to stay busy. Having them at home is a significant challenge.
You hate to see them sit in front of the TV all day long, but you hate to hear them whine about being bored even more.
No one is completely happy about the current circumstances, but as a parent, you have the responsibility to navigate this challenge with your children.
Use these ideas to keep your kids busy at home:
Have them write stories or a journal.
- Most kids love to write stories, make lists, and record ideas. If your child is one of those that likes to write, give them a writing task.
- Tell them to write a scary story about two friends lost in the woods.
- Write a story together. Take turns writing a couple of sentences. The next person has to pick up where the last person left off.
Do art projects
- Regardless of age, there are many people that like to draw, paint, sculpt, color, or cut and paste. Have an art hour each day.
- Watch a video on how to draw a face and practice together.
- Give your child some chalk and tell them to play in the driveway.
Garden together.
Gardening can be a lot of fun. It’s exciting to plant seeds and watch them grow. Flowers, vegetables, berries, and herbs are all options. Try planting some foods that your child loves to eat.
Get outdoors and hike.
Get out of the house and hike in the woods. Many parks have walking or hiking trails. It’s great exercise and an easy way to change the scenery for an hour or two.
Bake together.
Kids love to bake. Depending on their age, some children need more help than others. Bake a cake. Make some cookies. Allow your child to fix or help with dinner. Try some new recipes, or create some new recipes of your own.
Remodel or update a space.
Let your child remodel their room. It might be time for a new color or a new desk. Perhaps the artwork on the walls is getting a little old. A new lamp? Give your child some freedom to make their own choices.
Watch old movies.
Has your child ever seen Goonies, The Karate Kid, or the original Star Wars? Honey I Shrunk the Kids? Relive some of your favorite childhood movies with your children.
They might laugh at the special effects found in a movie from the 70’s or 80’s, but that’s part of the fun. Talk about some of the differences between these old movies and the ones they normally see today.
Get out the old toys.
Pogo stick? Hula hoop? Hopscotch? Old board games? Or maybe pull out some of their old toys from the attic, basement, or garage.
Build together.
Build a birdhouse, tree house, doghouse, or a fort. Build something out of popsicle sticks. Construct a raised flower bed. Build some shelves.
Spend some time on Zoom
While there are many platforms for holding virtual meetings, Zoom has become especially popular these days. Set up a meeting for your kids and their friends. They can spend time together and catch up with each other’s lives.
If you’re running out of ways to keep kids busy, you’re not alone. It’s not easy to keep your kids occupied in a healthy way. However, there are plenty of things your kids would enjoy doing that they’ve never even considered.
Put on your creative hat and give them a few things to do that will benefit them more than watching TV or playing video games. You’ll all be glad you did!