Whether it’s due to illness, bad weather, school being closed, or you’re just trying to save some money, many of us are staying closer to home these days.
Kids are full of energy, so keeping them busy without leaving home can be a challenge.
Even adults can get bored when all you’ve got to do is watch TV.
If you’re looking for some ideas to keep your kids busy and maintain your sanity, you’ve come to the right place!
Here are ten fun ways to entertain the kids when you’re stuck at home.
1. Start a Garden
Kids love to garden and it’s the perfect fun activity for the whole family.
If you have a large yard, you could do a big garden in the ground or in raised beds.
If space is limited, create a vertical farm on your patio or grow some herbs on your kitchen windowsill.
Gardening is a great activity for teaching responsibility, as well as valuable lessons about where food comes from.
Whether you start your plants from seeds or purchase started plants at the garden center, cultivating and caring for the plants is a relaxing and fun activity for the whole family.
2. Clean Out Closets
Cleaning out the closets might not be the first thing you think of when it comes to fun family activities, but it’s all about attitude!
Many kids actually love going through stuff and discovering things they’ve forgotten about or haven’t seen before.
Let the kids help you pull things out and put them into piles to keep, sell, toss, or donate.
And then they can help you put it all back in the closet, too. And you don’t have to stick to closets!
You can tackle their bedrooms, the kitchen cabinets, or the garage together, too.
3. Send Letters and Cards
If you’re not doing as much visiting as you normally do, it’s nice to find creative ways to stan in touch with friends and family near and far.
Remember the day when we used to write letters or make cards and drop them in the mail?
Grandma would probably love a handwritten letter from the older kids or a colored picture from the little ones!
In fact, you could write letters to folks at your local nursing homes, military overseas, local first responders, or anyone else you can think of who might enjoy a card or letter.
It’s a great way for kids to express their creativity and do something nice for someone else.
And they can practice their handwriting and coloring skills, too.
4. Camp Out in the Backyard
Break out your camping equipment and set up camp in the backyard!
You can play games and hang out in the yard all day, make dinner on the grill, eat outdoors, and then sleep under the stars.
Don’t forget to break out the flashlights and read or tell stories before bed!
5. Play a Game or Do a Puzzle
It’s a shame that families don’t do puzzles or play board games very much anymore.
It’s a great way to spend time together and create lasting memories.
If you don’t have any laying around the house, check local thrift stores or ask friends and family members if they have any they would like to pass on to a new home.
6. Have a Dance Party
Everybody knows kids are full of energy and a dance party is a great way to burn it off without having to leave the house.
Choose some 80s dance music or some funny kids’ songs… or pull up a dance video on YouTube and try to follow along.
Whatever you choose, you’ll all be laughing and worn out by the time your dance party is over.
7. Have a Photo Shoot
Break out the camera and do a photo shoot. You can have everyone dress up in their nicest clothes or kick the fun up a notch and have everyone dress in something silly.
Or head outdoors and snap some candid shots of the kids running and playing outside.
A heavy rain provides the perfect opportunity to catch some creative and unique photos of the kids jumping in puddles!
And don’t forget to use a timer so you can be in the photos, too!
8. Have a Spa Day
If you’ve got some girly girls, set up a day spa and do each other’s hair, nails, and makeup.
Facials are also a great time and the perfect opportunity to get some hilarious photos.
Just be sure to leave anything involving scissors to the professionals!
9. Have a Cooking or Baking Competition
Kids of all ages love to cook and bake and a competition gives them the perfect chance to show off their skills.
Break out some age-appropriate cookbooks and let them decide what they want to cook.
Bonus points if you get them to prepare an entire dinner so you can take a night off.
10. Have a Scavenger Hunt
Getting outdoors in the fresh air and sunshine makes everything more fun, especially for the kiddos!
Kids will love a scavenger hunt in the backyard, or you can do walk through the neighborhood and look for a list of specific items.
Of course, you can do one inside the house too, if the weather won’t let you get outside. If you need some creative ideas, do a Google search.
You’ll find tons of ideas for an indoor or outdoor scavenger hunt.
Wrapping Things Up
From virtual field trips to audiobooks and streaming movies, there are tons of things to do online for kids, and many of them can be fun as well as educational.
Of course, you can also do video phone calls with friends and family if you’re feeling a little disconnected.
Nobody wants to be stuck at home, but it can actually be fun if you’re all willing to be creative and have a positive attitude.