In California, we all have to stay-at-home this spring. Here are 31 ideas for kids activities that do not include playing video games or watching TV. (Although there will be video games.)
Arts & Crafts
1) Coloring books
Coloring books are a time honored way of distracting children indoors.
2) Shadow tracing
Trace the shadow of your own shadow to make a silhouette picture. Or trace the shadows of toys, such as animal or dinosaur figurines. Fill in the rest of the picture yourselves.
3) Make a box house
You can build a dollhouse from a cardboard box. Then decorate it anyway you like.
4) Shadow boxes
Another box related activity is shadow boxes. Make a 3D image inside of a small box. Every time someone opens the shadow box they will see the special surprise inside.
5) Paint rocks
Paint rocks to decorate the garden. Or place them around the neighborhood for people to find.
6) Make jewelry
Design jewelry out of everyday materials such as string, buttons, macaroni, or paper.
7) Origami
Fold paper into creative shapes , such as the easy origami swan. There are many instructions and tutorials online about how to make all kinds of animals.
8) Toy cars
Build a transportation system for your toy cars, such as a cardboard garage for organization. You can build a ramp by cutting a pool floating tube in half longways.
9) Yarn weaving
Weave a simple tapestry out of colorful yarn then display it on the wall.
10) Puppet shows
Make finger or sock puppets. Write a play, then perform the show at home for the f amily.
11) Macaroni mosaics
Make a beautiful mosaic picture from dried goods, such as pasta and beans. Stick the macaroni to the paper using glue. Make it look extra sparkly by adding glitter.
Life Skills
12) Camp in the backyard
Teach kids survival skills with a backyard camp out. Roast s’mores and hot dogs over the backyard fire pit, tell ghost stories, sing songs, and look at the stars.
13) Photo albums
Family photo albums teach children about where they come from. They also teach them about the precarious hold each of us has on our own mortality.
14) Play with blocks
Building with blocks teaches children a lot of important skills. These include problem solving, spacial reasoning, creativity, organization, spatial reason, communication, reading comprehension, and following instructions.
15) Cooking food
Cooking food is not only a fun activity with a delicious ending. It also teaches kids to prepare food for themselves.
16) Board & card games
Board and card games, traditional not electronic, teach kids communication and problem solving skills.
17) Build a fort
Building a fort is a way of creating a shelter. This could help in survival situations later on.
18) Design a maze
Design a maze that really works. Draw it on a piece of paper, or lay it out on the floor with masking tape.
19) Build a model
Building a model teaches kids to follow instructions. Plus they have to read in order to understand the instructions. This helps kids be more mechanically inclined later in life.
Math & Science
20) Build a robot
Robots are the future. There are a lot of simple designs for robots you can build your self at home out of materials such as construction paper, paper clips and batteries. Or buy a kit.
21) Stargazing
Look at the stars and pick out the constellations. Talk about the difference between a planet, a star, and a satellite. Discuss the possibility of alien life in the universe.
22) Make “fossils”
Make fossils by pressing dinosaur toys into play dough. The shapes will dry in the clay forming fossil like art objects. You could even hide them and have a treasure hunt.
23) Blow bubbles
Build bubble wands and then use them to blow bubbles. Show them how a bubble is formed.
24) Bird feeders
Make bird feeders for the local wildlife population. Hang them in a place you can observe. Then teach kids to identify the different types of birds and animals that stop by.
25) Family genealogy
Draw a family tree that teaches kids about their lineage. This might be a good time to tell them about genetics if they are mature enough to handle it.
Physical Exercise
26) Trampolines
Even the most high energy children can have hours of fun jumping up and down on a trampoline. Obviously it is more fun if it is a large trampoline.
27) Hide & seek
Play hide and seek in and around the house. Children will get exercise as they wander around searching for you upstairs, downstairs and in the garden.
28) Kids yoga
Do some kids yoga, taking care to do easy yoga poses that will not over strain any young muscles.
29) Wrestling
Wrestling is fun for young people (within reason). Even animals wrestle. It’s self explanatory. Perhaps your family are fans of professional wrestling matches on TV.
30) Dancing
Turn on some music and dance around like those happy families in the movies. You can choreograph a dance routine, or do dance aerobics.
31) Play sports
Of course there is always tossing a ball around in the yard. You can play basketball in the driveway. Or organize a family flag football match.
Nothing is more important than family activities at home. That’s why we love helping families find new houses, condominiums, and mobile units. Contact us to talk about your family’s dream home.
