One of the most common concerns parents have is how to keep the kids occupied while at home. Although spring may be just around the corner, there is still a high level of uncertainty globally regarding the spread of COVID-19, which may mean that we could continue spending more time indoors rather than out in the sun. All of this naturally means that the kids will have more energy accumulation that must certainly be released in a safe and fun way. So what can you do as parents?
There are plenty of brilliant ideas for spending time indoors with the little ones and all you have to do is do a bit of research. To help you save time and energy into browsing for ideas, we decided to make a diverse list that you can share ideas. In this article, you can find a range of games and indoor activities for kids that will make spending time at home fun, will work on a range of skills and will help with the development of your children.
If you’re in search of inspiration, you’re in for a treat.
Kids activities to try at home
There is so much that can be done between four walls. Don’t let your child’s motivation and energy drop but rather channel them appropriately to get the maximum results. Here are 16 suggestions that you could try when you’re wondering how to help your kids spend a great time at home.
- Create a masterpiece together
One of the best ways to get creative in the house is to create something from scratch. The simplest way to do this is to create an accessory or jewellery if your little one is a girl or a gift for a friend or relative. Use markers, glue, paint, paper, cotton, anything that you can think of that will come in handy.
- Make art using a diamond painting kit
Another awesome idea for indoor time with the kids is to get out a beautiful diamond painting kit of choice and create a stunning mosaic canvas for your little one’s bedroom. This activity is not only a brilliant way to stimulate creativity and art but is also useful for the development of motor skills, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills. It’s also a great way to share moments together and stimulate social interaction.
- Play board games
If you’re into spending board game nights with your adult friends you may wrongly assume that these types of games are too complicated for children. But you’re wrong. There is a range of board games specifically designed for kids at certain ages. You can choose from a ton of options depending on your kids’ age, interests, and preferences. What better way to spend time at home and learn new things together?
- Have a dance session
One of the biggest drawbacks of spending too much time at home is that the little ones can’t get enough physical exercise. This could have negative consequences on muscle development, the building of strength, and other impacts on the body. One way to solve this problem is to have a dance-off in the house. Teach your little one a few new dance moves or rely on an online video for some ideas.
- Have an indoor camping night
Children love to get cosy and pretend they’re in the wild, even if they’re actually in a handmade tent in their room. Their imagination is strong and can easily run wild with a little help from you. You can use pillows, blankets, or buy a pop-up tent to help them enjoy a full camping experience that they won’t forget.
- Get a jigsaw puzzle
Puzzles are not only fun but they also work on your ability to solve problems, to think outside the box, and to develop attention to detail. These are all skills that your little ones will need throughout life. Get a puzzle suitable for their age and simply leave it out in a visible place. You’ll notice that it will grab the attention of the kids and will keep them occupied for a while.
- Experiment by using science
Kids love learning new things and exploring the world around them. Combine some learning time with a fun activity by setting up a science experiment and showing them something new. If you’re short on ideas, you can always get some inspiration online. Some cool examples are building your own lava lamp, creating a storm in a glass, or marking a volcano at home.
- Have fun with colourful salt paintings
Everyone can create some form of art using paint and art materials. But not everyone has played with coloured salt to create a masterpiece. Teach your kids to think outside of the box by offering them several bowls or cups of salt in different colours and watch them as they play around to make their creations.
- Create your own laser maze
Don’t worry, this isn’t as hard as it sounds. Just hand the children a couple of rolls of crepe paper and masking tape and watch as their imagination and creativity comes alive. Design a fun laser maze together and go through it without damaging the paper that spans from wall to wall and offers a range of challenges to overcome.
- Storytime
Have you ever tried to create a made-up story with your kids from scratch? Try to let them lead and ask them to share with you a story about a fantasy character and a fantasy world. You may be surprised how many things you can learn about your little ones from this activity. You’ll be able to see what excites them, what frightens them, what type of values they’ve developed so far, and more. Help by playing along and supporting them with ideas and suggestions if they get stuck.
- Play alphabet bingo
Fun and educational, you can help the kids recognize letters faster and work on their memory by having a nice alphabet bingo session. This is a great way to spend some quality family time together.
- Learn origami figures
There is a range of fun origami figures that you can learn how to create online. This activity is fun both for children and parents and helps with the development of skills like problem-solving, patience, persistence, and attention to detail. Besides, there are so many beautiful creations that you can shape together and enjoy as decor in the house.
- Paint rocks
Here is a budget-friendly and extremely simple way to occupy the kids and ensure they have fun creating something from nothing. You can collect nicely shaped rocks from the backyard or purchase them online or from a store. Let the kids play around with the shapes and turn them into different characters or objects. For example, you can create a snowman, a house, different types of animals, and so much more. All you have to do is have some imagination.
- Have fun on the race tracks
Regardless of whether your little one is a boy or girl, everyone loves race tracks! You can create your own race tracks that glow in the dark and watch your children have the time of their life by building, combining, and playing with this cool toy.
- Try brain teasers
You can create your own brain teaser but it’s advisable to rely on one that’s already been made. For example, this could be a picture or art with a lot of tiny objects where the goal is to find a hidden object between them. This is another activity that certainly works on the development of valuable skills that will be used in life.
- Write letters together
We live in a digital world and it’s natural that old-school paper letters are out of fashion. However, it’s always nice to go back in time and dive into another world. One of the ways to do this is to write a letter with your little ones to a family member or a friend that lives abroad. This can work on your little one’s writing skills, ability to communicate and connect to others.
Diversify the indoor activities with your kids
These are just some of the ideas of indoor activities for children that you could try. What’s important is to keep your kids’ interest going by offering diversity and always surprising them with something new. Change up the routine at home and let them know that you’re there to support them with fun things to do when indoors. We hope that this list will come in handy for the days that you’re to spend at home with the little ones.
