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If you’re out of ideas and trying to be budget conscious to keep your children busy, this list is for you. Parently Ready thought of cheap home activities to entertain kids of various ages from toddlers to teens. Next time the kids dare to say: ‘I’m bored’ during a rainy or stormy day, you will know exactly what to prepare for them. The best part is that these activities can all be done with things you already have at home. GENIUS right?! No need to use your wallet.
1. Button art or popsicle stick art
Make your child create a colorful collage with what you have in your drawers. If you have popsicle sticks, they can even recreate the whole family with glue and a few markers.
2. Make a cardboard house or tunnel
You will need to participate in this activity. Carve a few windows and a door in the bigger box, or if you have a smaller box, transform it into a tunnel for their toy vehicles.
3. Cookie decorating
This can be a great bonding moment for parents and kids. It’s also an activity kids can do alone at the table if you need time to yourself. If you don’t have any sprinkles at home, use chocolate spread or fruit and yogurts to transform cookies into mini fruit tartes. If you don’t have cookies or cookie dough, there’s always graham crackers : )
4. Cleaning / Fixing tasks
Kids tend to observe what adults are doing especially their parents. Use this time to educate them on the best way to use tools, and explain any safety concerns as well. Make them participate at an early age so it becomes natural as they grow and you don’t need to force them to do chores like vacuuming or taking trash bags out.
5. Pretend Play: doctor, teacher or more
This can be done alone, no supervision needed. If you have accessories to make it realistic, they will be more likely to play longer. For example: bandaids, a thermometer, a small pencil case and a face mask for a nurse or doctor play time.
6. Car roads with duct tape
Create a road on your floor with duct tape and add a few boxes to represent the gas station, repair shop and home / work places. Let their imagination do the rest with a few toy cars.
7. Paper Crafts
Teach them how to make a paper airplane, or create paper flowers.
8. Talent Show: dancing, singing, tumbling
Turn on the music. Let them choose a song and surprise you. If you have multiple children, let them alternate to be the audience and participants.
9. Obscacle Course
It’s time to create tunnels with all the benches and coffee tables around you. You could also include hoops to jump into. Depending on their age, give them a time limit to beat to make it even more exciting.
10. Treasure Hunt
Hide a few of their favorite toys. Like the Easter hunt tradition, they just need a basket to collect them. For younger tots, you can use colorful stickers instead that are easy to identify (same color or shape), and spread them around the room.
11. Write letters to family
Perfect time to give news to your family. Let them draw or write a message on a handmade card. You will make everyone happy and they will feel proud. The best part is when they get to add a stamp and carry it to the mailbox themselves. Mission accomplished!
12. Make shadow puppets
It’s a fascinating way to share a story with your little ones. Make them guess different animals once you’re good at it. You will discover what you’re capable of with your own fingers. It’s never too late to learn some tricks! Help them create their puppet as well.
13. Draw portraits of each other
This is time to make memories that you might be hanging on the wall. Draw them, and let them draw his or her family. The end result will often spark a discussion.
14. Build a ramp for toy cars
It does not get any easier. Find a board or a giant plastic lid from storage boxes and make it stand on the couch to land on the ground. Your kid will enjoy using his cars or stuffed animals to pretend it’s a ramp or a slide.
15. Sink or float guess game
Every small or medium size object in your house would be a fit for this game. Collect a variety and put them in a box. Now find a tall tupperware box, a fish tank or flower vase that you will fill up with water. Next your kiddo will need to sort out the different objects with his guesses: left for sinking, right for floating. And he’s now ready to do the experiment one by one. If he guessed right, count the points.
16. Let them take photos with a tablet
Show them the mechanism, and give them a mission. This should be interesting when you two sit down to look at what picked their interest.
17. Collage and decoupage
It’s an easy way to let their creativity shine. Glue is all you need and some colorful materials to cut. Felt, foam, paper, newspaper will work well.
18. Construction site with Cereals
You will need a large storage box that you can fill up with cheerios or fruit loops. Children can use trucks and spoons to play construction site.
19. Trash day pick up with old newspapers
Use some newspapers or old mail that can be put in mini plastic cups along your hallway and let your kid be the garbage truck driver for once and pick up all the trash.
20. Rock painting
Finally, another soothing activity to channel feelings and relax the mind is painting. Rock painting will take less space than canvases and your kids’ work of art can actually be showcased on your patio or porch once it’s dry.
