Owing to the current situation schools and educational institutions have closed down prior to their scheduled spring breaks. Even moms and dads are working from home. So, this means for the next 3-4 weeks you will get to spend some quality time with your entire family. However, with no outdoor activities, it can become quite a challenge for parents to keep their kids busy and engaged throughout the day. We also have to make sure they continue to learn and stay active without leaving the house.
So, to help you out, here are 10 fun activities that will not only keep your kids engaged but also allow them to learn new things.
The Arts & Craft Hour
Colors, glitter, ribbons, chart papers, paintbrushes, pencils, and crayons, etc. are just some of the things kids enjoy. These are also some of the best ways to keep your kids busy for an hour or two. You can set up an arts & craft corner where your kids can paint, draw, scribble or do anything they want. You do not have to give them a product roadmap to create specific projects; it is just about letting them be creative.
An hour or two of this every day or even on alternate days, can help them learn about colors and shapes and keep them busy while you get a few things done.
The Baking Fun Time
Kids love to eat cupcakes, muffins, cakes and everything baked. This means you will have to do a lot of baking at home, so why not turn it into something fun for the kids too. You can make it even more interesting by playing bakery. You can create different baked products such as cupcakes, cakes, and breads. You can tell your kids to act as bakery owners, product managers, or delivery guys, etc. By getting them involved in baking, not only will you keep them busy but also have some help in the kitchen.
You can also add an element of learning to it by asking the kids to read the recipe out loud. This will give them some good reading practice and kids will feel more involved. Once the baking is done, you can even have the kids help you out with cleaning by turning it into a cleaning contest or game.
The Holiday Journal
If your kids are at an age where they can read and write, keeping a holiday journal could be an excellent way to practice reading and writing skills. You can ask them to write about everything they did during the day or just mention the fun activities. This can be a good way to practice essay writing.
To make things more interesting, you could also ask them to decorate their journals. This could be an arts & craft project, which would encourage creativity.
A Clean Up Treasure Hunt
Who says you need to go outdoors for a treasure hunt! You can easily create one at home. You can do so by hiding items around the house and then drawing a map. It will be fun for the kids and they could even learn how to read a map too. To make it more productive, whenever your kids reach a milestone, the map could give them a chore to do, for example, fold up your laundry before you proceed or wash three dishes, etc. This could prove to be an excellent way to combine work and fun.
Board Games
You can also do it the old-fashioned way. A board game is a great way to keep the kids busy. You can also turn them into a fun family activity. Plus, there are many board games that can help your kids learn as well such as Scrabble. If you do not have any board games available, you can create your own games. Remember, it is not about which game you are playing, it is all about getting the kids together and doing something fun.
Audiobooks
This activity is ideal for kids, especially if they are too young to read. You can download audiobooks and let your kids enjoy different stories. This will allow you to have some time to yourself and work from home without any distractions. Another advantage of audiobooks is that they are a good way to improve your child’s listening skills. They can also help improve concentration and vocabulary.
DIY Recycling Projects
Do-it-yourself projects can be great fun for kids. You can take everyday items from your house and turn them into fun objects. For example, you could take an empty tissue box and make a jewelry box out of it. You can also make jewelry from macaroni, pasta, and other unused items such as beads. This will give your kids a chance to be creative and learn about recycling.
Prepare a Tableau
This may not be an everyday activity for your kids, but it can be an exciting event for them. You can select a scene from any movie or cartoon and ask your kids to perform it for the entire family. This will involve preparing for the skit, making costumes, and other props. Preparation for a tableau can keep kids busy for days and in the end can give them a sense of achievement.
The Reading Hour
You can set aside an hour each day for reading. Your kids can pick up their favorite books and read it for an hour or so. At the end of the session or the day, you can ask them what they read. This will keep your children interested in reading and help them improve their reading skills.
Indoor picnics
You do not have to go outdoors to have a picnic. You can create a basket and head to your sunroom or patio to have a nice little picnic with your kids. To make it more interesting, you can even ask your kids to prepare the basket with you.
The goal of these activities is to get your kids busy and create an environment at home where they can learn in a fun way.