While the next few weeks are going to be challenging for all of us, with so many schools closed around the country it can be even tougher for parents with school-aged children.
If you find your school closed and have no clue how to entertain your children inside for such an extended period of time, don’t worry! Here’s a list of 20 indoor activities if you’re stuck inside with your kids for an extended period. ALL of these are activities you can do with items you most likely already have at home!
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20 Indoor Activities For Kids Stuck Inside During Coronavirus
1. Play dress up with your old clothes
Let your kids raid your closet and play dress up in some of your old outfits! Old formal dresses, stained suits and mismatched shoes are perfect for their imagination.
2. Create homemade clouds by putting a bar of soap in the microwave. Check out a simple how-to video here!
3. Have kids who love playing with cars? Create “roads” on your floor by using electrical tape. (This also works great on carpet!)
4. Same concept: make an indoor hopscotch board!
5. Make a target for paper airplanes using poster board, butcher paper, a paper shopping bag etc (anything you can easily cut holes in). Bonus: this is something even the adults can enjoy when you start to get really stir crazy.
6. Check out kid-friendly yoga and other exercise videos for free on YouTube. This one takes you through a Frozen adventure, and your kids can pretend they’re on the farm with the Three Little Pigs in this option!
7. Create paper flowers using food coloring or markers and coffee filters.
8. Make a calm down bottle to help keep your little ones relax during this anxious time.
Check out this list of 6 easy ways your child can make their own.
9. Experiment with creating water marbles.
10. Trace each other’s hands and decorate! Experiment with nail polish (under supervision), drawing creative tattoos and jewelry. (If you have a roll of butcher paper, you can even trace a whole body!)
11. Create slime from scratch (check out these 4 recipe options). Over the slime craze? How about home made dough?
(And if you’re feel really nervous about the germs, learn how to make your own DIY Hand Sanitizer Recipe)
12. Play free indoor games using your Amazon Echo/Dot or Google Home! Find a great list here.
13. Create a graffiti wall in your home by covering a wall with paper and letting your kids draw and color in that space. (I recommend using just crayons and color pencils unless you have thick paper, as markers might bleed through.)
14. Cut a pool noodle in half and make a marble racetrack.
15. Make your own family band! Challenge your kids to create instruments from found items around your home.
16. Enter the “Popcorn Olympics” with fun and easy games! Here’s a list of fun games for elementary school-aged kids.
17. Have spare change? Set up some plastic cups and use it for target practice. Just be sure your kids are old enough to know not to put the money in their mouth.
18. Grab some paper and markers and create your own version of Pictionary. Write down 5-10 topics on strips of paper and make teams!
19. Make a balloon ping pong set by using popsicle sticks, paper plates and a balloon.
20. If all else fails, grab a deck of playing cards. Play easy games you already know, like Go Fish and Rummy, or make ones up with your family. You can even use the cards to build a house.
I hope this list is helpful if your kids are stuck inside for an extended period with bad weathter during coronavirus. If you’re looking for more help about figuring out your day to day for the next few weeks, be sure to read 5 Tips to Survive the Extended School Closings.
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