With school, sports, and pretty much every other recreational activity on hold due to the Coronavirus, we've gathered a list of some entertaining ways to pass the time at home with the kiddos!
Screentime Activities:
- Try stop motion animation with playdoh
- Watch Frozen 2 on Disney+
- Get binoculars and learn about the birds near your house, look them up on google and search for their birdcalls on YouTube
- There are a few easy "kitchen chemistry" type science experiments on Youtube that are easy to do, like making slime, baking soda and vinegar reaction, etc.
Here are some fun educational websites:
- Learn about amazing animals– thanks to Switcheroo Zoo
- National Geographic for Kids– thanks to National Geographic
- Reading comprehension for elementary school students– thanks to Into the Book
- Explore the world of geography by creating and analyzing maps– thanks to Into the Map
- Read and play games with the world of D. Seuss– thanks to Seussville
(Source: tonolatino/Princess-Awesome)
Screen-free Activities:
- Homemade gifts. Encourage your child to make a gift for someone or a greeting card. There are many ideas and instructions online, start searching!
- Reminisce. Sort through old photographs, make a scrapbook of memories. It might sound a bit old fashioned but it’s so therapeutic and you get to spend quality time with your kids.
- Organize. Get your child to sort through their belongings and throw out what they don’t need. Ask them to organize their room.
- Draw or create a family tree. Why don’t you even make an art gallery at home and show of your child’s artwork?
- Chat. Let your child spend time with their friends on Skype or phone. Teenagers especially, truly feel isolated if they aren’t in contact with their friends.
- Treasure hunt. If you are lucky enough to have a garden create an exciting treasure hunt with clues and home-made treasures for your kids to find.
- Get gardening. Show your child how to take care of plants and let them garden, too. If you live in apartment, go to your balcony plant some flowers in pots.
- Show time. If your children like performing, go through carnival/halloween outfits and help them to put on a show for the family. They can even work on some literacy skills in a fun way by writing a play script and act it out.
- Puppets. Make finger puppets and help them create their own puppet show. Make a theatre out of a box and get creative.
- Read. Start a family book club. Discuss what your favorite characters and what part you liked best and why.
- Picnic time. Have a family picnic indoors, on the balcony or in the garden.
- Adventure time. Go camping in the garden or the living room.
- Sports. Make your own mini-golf course in the living room. There are many online ideas you can easily recreate.
- Homemade games. In the evenings get the kids to design a game that you can make the next day – give them ideas to keep it simple such as a paper boat race in the bath or homemade skittles using a tennis ball and empty toilet rolls.
- Origami. All you need is paper and instructions which can be found online, will keeps kids amused and they will learn a new skill.
- Theatre. Encourage the kids to put on a play or a magic show. They could even use the dress up with clothes and props from around the house. If you have a camera, you can even film it to watch later or for some great memories.
- Games. Play board games, puzzles, and card games, I’m sure there are some lurking somewhere in the house.
(source: Saved You A Spot)