200 Ways to Entertain Your Kids When You're Stuck at Home

200 Ways to Entertain Your Kids When You're Stuck at Home | Design Confetti

As we’re encouraged to consider social distancing and spend more time at home due to the current situation with Coronavirus, aka Covid-19, families are gearing up for a lot more together time. While we love our children oh so dearly, between school closures, employees being encouraged to WFH and many canceled events in the Bay, the question on every parent's mind right now is how do I keep these kids entertained? What’s more, how do I keep them entertained, get my work done, and maintain my sanity? Since this is very much my situation at this very moment, I thought I would do what I do best then share the results with you all: brainstorming, researching, and making one serious list. Hopefully, a few of these ideas work well for you. I’m attempting to keep the focus on affordable activities that don’t require a ton of prep or cleanup because, well, that’s the last thing anyone needs right now. And if all else fails, don’t forget, it’s totally ok to just not entertain your kids for a bit. I’m a huge believer in the idea the boredom fosters creativity and that playing alone for periods is actually really healthy.  

*This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links, click here for our full policy and disclosures. 

200 Ways to Entertain Your Kids When You're Stuck at Home | Design Confetti

MAKE

1.make a rainbow crayon out of broken pieces

2. sculpt something with air dry clay

3. press flowers, you can speed up the process with this microwave press

4. make friendship bracelets

5. have a painting party with watercolors and coffee (or wine) for you, hot cocoa for them

6. make watercolor art with a straw

7. do a coffee filter craft

8. make pasta necklaces

9. make masks out of paper plates or felt

10. paint rocks, this kit makes it easy or use what you have on hand

11. make cardboard binoculars with a paper towel roll cut in half and some tape

12. teach them to weave paper

13. collage cutouts from old magazines

14. make crayon drip art with a hairdryer

15. make a calm down jar with a plastic Voss bottle: our favorite is just Ikea beads and baby oil

16. use rubber stamps

17. make your own potato stamps

18. try sponge painting

19. make folded butterfly paintings

20. make a paper plate tambourine

21. make a coffee can instrument

22. make a town out of cereal boxes

23. create a paper chain garland 

24. cut up old magazines

25. mystery crafting (use a precut project, provide instructions and don’t tell them what it is)

26. roll out butcher paper for big collaborative art 

27. make paper crowns with gem stickers 

28. decorate a tee shirt

29. make a progressive drawing 

30. try using watercolors on paper towels and watch the colors spread

31. make paper snowflakes: wax paper and round coffee filters work well

32. plant a terrarium 

33. try jewelry making (string beads, buttons, macaroni)

34. make a gratitude tree or jar 

35. make cards to mail to relatives

36. learn origami, we like these jumping frogs

37. decorate flower pots

38. decoupage something with Mod Podge

39. make paper dolls

40. make button art like these cute cupcakes

41. make negative space art with painters tape

42. make macaroni art

43. use stencils

44. make a paper boat to sail in the tub

45. do a craft kit: we like this one

46. make a felt board

47. make paper bag puppets

48. make paper and popsicle stick flowers

49. draw your own cartoon strips

50. do Shrinky Dinks, yep- they’re still around

200 Ways to Entertain Your Kids When You're Stuck at Home | Design Confetti

LISTEN

51. pick a theme and have a read-a-thon

52. listen to a stories podcast: we love Little Stories for Tiny People

53. listen to kids books on Audible: they have full-length Disney stories 

54. FaceTime with family and friends, ask them to read to or sing with your kids

55. interview your kid and record it 

56. play a silly game of would you rather

57. speak in pig latin

58. do Madlibs 

59. play “I Spy

60. start a family journal, this one has prompts to get you started

61. sing karaoke

62. tell a progressive story, one person starts out telling it then the next person takes over, and back again

63. tell knock-knock jokes, here are a few to get you started

200 Ways to Entertain Your Kids When You're Stuck at Home | Design Confetti

PLAY

64. rotate toys to keep things interesting

65. make a busy board

66. blow bubbles in the tub, this bubble bath comes with a wand

67. use glow-sticks (or these cubes) in the bathtub and turn out the lights

68. do a puzzle together 

69. play kid-friendly board games 

70. do shadow puppets on the wall

71. play with magnets; if you don’t have a fridge they will stick to, you can use a dry erase board

72. make glow stick balloons

73. make a cootie catcher/fortune teller

74. play with water beads

75. let them loose with post-it notes

76. make a tot-friendly toy with these paper straws in large plastic Voss bottle

77. make a sensory bin

78. use a muffin tin for sorting objects, my kid loved sorting these fish

79. make a sticky wall with contact paper taped to the wall facing out and let them stick paper cutouts and lightweight objects to it

80. draw on glass with window marker

81. stick gel clings to the windows (you can find them in Target’s dollar spot)

82. stickers, stickers, and more stickers: we like these sticker kaleidoscopes by Mrs Grossman

83. practice cutting with scissors: this workbook is a great place to start

84. let them loose with dot stickers a la Yayoi Kusama

85. finger paint in the shower

86. save bubble wrap and let them pop it

87. make a photo booth with a background, grab some props then take pictures

88. do a popsicle bath

89. play tick-tac-toe

90. send a slinky down the stairs

91. have a ”yes” day, ask your kid what they want to do and say yes (within reason)

200 Ways to Entertain Your Kids When You're Stuck at Home | Design Confetti

PRETEND

92. play baby with a doll and a real diaper, bottle, etc

93. play library: make library cards and let them “check out” books, then read them together

94. play dress up

95. have a tea party, bonus points if you make cucumber sandwiches 

96. play grocery store with canned goods from the pantry and monopoly money

97. let them wash things in the sink (dishes, toy trucks, a water-friendly doll)

98. have a spa day and paint their nails

99. wrap items and give them to one another as gifts, act really, really surprised

100. play salon and braid or style each others hair, don’t forget to accessorize

101. make a pretend garden by planting paper flowers in rice

102. play mail: write letters, place in envelopes and take turns delivering them

103. do face painting- even if it’s just eyeliner cat whiskers

104. play with finger puppets

105. let the kids play dress up in your clothes

106. make sock puppets and put on a puppet show

107. have them put on a play

108. play architect and help your kids draw their fantasy house, a room filled with puppies or a giant ball pit are both a totally acceptable use of space

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BUILD

109. build something out of legos 

110. build the tallest block tower ever, then knock it over

111. try some marshmallow and toothpick construction 

112. get creative with a cardboard box and markers, you can even up the ante with this cardboard construction kit

113. line up dominos and knock them over

114. build a fort and decorate it

200 Ways to Entertain Your Kids When You're Stuck at Home

LEARN

115. sprout a bean or avocado pit

116. plant a kitchen herb garden or mushroom farm

117. write and illustrate your own book together

118. turn out the lights and use flashlights to explore

119. look at family photos together

120. practice picking things up with tweezers or chopsticks 

121. look at things under magnifying glass 

122. roll coins/sort change

123. lookup places around the world on Google Earth

124. make a family tree

125. make a telephone with two cups and string

126. play sink or float with objects in a clear bin of water

127. test to see what you can pick up with a horseshoe magnet

128. make a mystery box and have the kids guess what’s inside based on touch

129. make slime with all the add-ins

130. create a resist with watercolors over white crayon

131. make crayon rubbings with different objects

132. let them help with chores- even if it actually takes a whole lot longer

133. learn a magic trick 

134. do a science experiment

135. follow a drawing tutorial 

136. make (or draw) a Rube Goldberg machine

200 Ways to Entertain Your Kids When You're Stuck at Home | Design Confetti

COOK

137. have a movie night with popcorn

138. make an ice cream sundae bar and let them choose their own toppings

139. make play dough, this is the recipe we use

140. decorate cookies

141. make a special snack: fruit in ice cream cones, or this spin on ants on a log 

142. make personal pizzas

143. make a mug cake

144. have them help shell peas or shuck corn 

145. let them practice measuring with measuring cups, spoons and dry ingredients like beans and rice

146. let them ”cook” with expired food

147. serve snacks in a muffin tin

148. make s’mores, if you’re not comfortable letting them roast marshmallows over the stove, try microwave s’ mores or this dip

149. make one-ingredient banana ice cream

150. set up a blanket and have an indoor picnic

151. set up a cereal bar and let them mix them all together to make their own

152. bake a treat for your pet

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MOVE

153. have a dance party

154. have a family jam session with toy instruments a la Jimmy Fallon

155. built an obstacle course, we love this tunnel from Ikea because it’s so easy to store

156. blow up some balloons and try to keep them off the ground

157. do kid-friendly yoga

158. practice tumbling: summersaults, handstands, etc., we use this gym mat from Ikea

159. play some music and learn a new dance move

160. make your own music video or cooking show then watch it back

161. play hide and seek

162. sing Ring Around the Rosy and London bridge

163. have an indoor scavenger hunt

164. hula hoop, this one comes apart for easy storage

165. make paper planes and have a contest

166. pretend like the floor is hot lava and jump from couch cushion to couch cushion

167. try bowling with paper cups and a toy ball

168. play some waste paper basketball

169. do a freeze dance: someone plays a song, and when they pause it everyone has to freeze mid-dance

170. make a ball run out of cardboard tubes

171. set up a blanket and have an indoor picnic

172. have a photoshoot and take turns taking pictures of one another or create scenes with their toys to photograph

173. get a mini trampoline or let them jump on the bed to burn some energy

174. have a treasure hunt: hide things and make a map 

175. have an easter egg hunt by hiding toys or treats around the house

176. use painters tape to play indoor hopscotch

177. let them try bathtub diving with snorkel and goggles 

178. do a challenge: how many times can you... (jumping jacks, spin around, etc.)

179. make a cardboard beanbag toss

180. play Simon Says

181. play monster, take turns growling and chasing each other around

182. play charades

183. race toy cars

184. play pin the tail on the donkey (with tape) 

200 Ways to Entertain Your Kids When You're Stuck at Home | Design Confetti

BACKYARD

185. blow a ton of bubbles, we love this inexpensive bubble machine

186. plant some seeds

187. make a sidewalk chalk mural

188. play hopscotch

189. jump rope

190. go on a bug hunt

191. make liquid watercolors in spray bottles and hang a drop cloth then create some Jackson Pollock style art

192. mix up this recipe then make some giant bubbles

193. make a bird feeder or hummingbird food (just make sure you change it regularly)

194. make mud pies

195. start a rock collection 

196. try backyard camping with a real tent

197. make a little fairy garden

198. paint with petals

199. try tie-dying some tee shirts

200. plant garlic or a potato from your pantry

If you have any other ideas or suggested activities for kids at home, we want to hear them! Leave a comment below.

*This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links, click here for our full policy and disclosures.