48 Activities to Keep Your Kids Occupied at Home

By Olivia Manthey

“I’m bored.” “What can we do?” I’ve said these myself more times than I can count, so you know the kids are probably wearing them out during this stay-at-home mandate! Let’s face it; we are all going a little stir crazy. Well, we’ve called in some reinforcements—old-school moms! Moms who raised kids “back in the day,” when there were only three channels to watch on the tv and cartoons only came on once a week on Saturday mornings. Moms who raised their kids pre-video games and pre-social media. Moms who sent the kids outside to play where they could tap into their own creativity and soaring imaginations. We have tapped into this wisdom and polled some moms to get insight on the best boredom beaters that don’t involve plopping the kids in front of the TV. It’s time to make old-school new again with this creative list of 48 activities to keep your kids occupied at home!

Build a fort or treehouse.

Make a bird feeder.

Assign Daily chores.

Make homemade slime.

Foster or adopt a pet.

Get creative with Play-doh.

Do a science experiment/project.

Build something out of Lego bricks or blocks.

Create and hand out goodie baskets with homemade baked goods.

Read a book.

Jump rope or play double dutch.

Work a puzzle together.

Roller skate.

Tie-dye a t-shirt or a bandana for your dog.

Play Tag.

Play Outside.

Have a Squirt-gun war.

Draw or paint a nearby landscape instead of taking a picture.

Play a board game.

Prepare your own lunch or snack/food prep.

Plan a themed Dinner (Mexican night while dressing the part).

Balloons! Balloons can entertain for HOURS.

Practice reading, writing, and math.

Get a big box and make an indoor fort or playhouse.

Phone a grandparent or friend.

Go for a walk or bike ride.

Try Crossword puzzles or word searches.

Have a campfire and roast marshmallows.

Have a movie theater night (watch movies in the dark or on a projector).

Camp out inside the house—Bring the pop-up tent in the living room, then Grab the sleeping bags and some popcorn!

Make homemade ice cream.

Color a coloring book with crayons.

Put together a care package for Grandparents (drawings, movies, snacks, pictures).

Play hide and seek with pet or siblings. Better yet, wait until night time and turn out all the lights and play hide and seek in the dark!

Practice or learn how to play an instrument.

Play music loud and have a dance party.

Get up and exercise.

Make funny home videos.

Color Easter eggs.

Look at old pictures.

Cook or Bake their favorite food.

Go through toys and just keep their favorites. Give the other toys away or donate them.

Write a letter.

Practice self-care: Shower, brush teeth, clip nails.

Bathtub paint.

Blow Bubbles!

Create a masterpiece with Sidewalk chalk.

Read Bible stories and sing songs to Jesus.

What are a few of your favorites? Tell us on Instagram @viemagazine!