70+Ways to Keep You & Your Kids Busy While Normal Life is on Hold

It’s officially happening. Schools all over the country are closing for several weeks because of how quickly COVID19 is spreading. Whether you think this time at home with your kids is going to be a great thing or you’re dreading the long days, I’ve got a list of fun and even educational things to save your sanity if you’re homebound more than usual.

Arts & Craft Type Activities:

• Rock painting.
• Print free coloring pages.
• Coral reef craft using coffee filters
• Creative Arts and Crafts Notebook from The Good and the Beautiful (we LOVE this book and use it often)
• Art Play
• Life sized character drawings from @lifemadewithloveblog on IG
• Spring crafts – lots of fun crafts & activities on this Pinterest board
• All the Kids Crafts you could ever want
• Use paint samples to make a few of these crafts
• Melted Crayon Art from The DIY Nuts
• Watercolor Art Projects for Kids from The DIY Nuts

Educational:

• Practice letters, shapes, site words by drawing these out using shaving cream and your fingers.
• Write letters and send to relatives and friends.
• Cook together — Raddish Kids Monthly Cooking Subscription Box is full of fun, education, and recipes that kids of all ages will enjoy.
• IXL – Comprehensive K-12 curriculum and learning
• Math for all ages using Khan Academy
• National Geographic for Kids activites
• Learn how to type – we love the Typing curriculum from The Good and the Beautiful
• Literature Based Units & Printables from Homeschool Creations
• Printables from Homeschool On
• Handwriting Activity for Preschoolers from Normal Life Mom
• Duolingo – learn a new language!
• Exploring Nature with Kids from Raising Little Shoots
• Atlas of Adventures book
• Learn in Color – a wonderful resource from a friend with lots of ideas
• Easy Peasy All in One Homeschool for K-12
• Family Games – to keep brains having fun and learning at the same time
• History to Go Audiobook Bundle
• Toddler Alphabet Games from Fort Birthday

Outdoor Activities:

• Sidewalk chalk
• Paint cinderblocks, wood fences, or sidewalks with water.
• Ride bikes
• Visit your favorite parks
• Go on a hike
• Create a ninja warrior obstacle course in your backyard.
• Collect leafs and do leaf rubbings.
• Have a water balloon fight
• Make a bird feeder
• DIY Backyard Game of Tic Tac Toe

Media Related Activities:

• Schedule movie/tv show time into your day at an appropriate time so kids look forward to it. Did you hear that Disney+ is releasing Frozen 2 three months early (with a release date of 3/15) just so families could have some fun and joy during this challenging season? Way to go Disney!
• Go on a virtual museum tour of 12 famous museums.
• Osmo
• Art for Kids Hub

Around the House Activities:

• Spring cleaning
• Start planning your garden/plant
• Bake together – subscribe to Raddish Kids Monthly Cooking Subscription Box
• Board Games — lots and lots of board games. Here are some of our favorites.
• Read new books together, aloud, or quiet reading times. Here are a few of our favorite children’s books. If you’d like older kid book suggestions or read aloud suggestions, just ask.
• Make a fort.
• Have a talent show with each family member.
• Decorate and get creative with cardboard boxes.
• Have an indoor campout/sleepover in the living room together.
• Wingspan – the game
• Dye Easter eggs
• Indoor Sensory Bins for Toddlers from Normal Life Mom
• Homemade Ice Cream in a Bag from The Denver Housewife

Other:

• My big list of homeschool resources over on Amazon
• Use your library card to download books and audiobooks via Hoopla or Libby
• Find a good podcast for your kids. A few of our favorites are: Wow in the World, Smash Boom Best, Brains On, Ted Talks Kids & Family, and Six Minutes.
• Use the National Day Of calendar to plan activities around whatever “National Day Of” it is
• St. Patricks Day fun – lots of ideas on this Pinterest board
• Fun Things for Kids – a TON of ideas on this Pinterest board
• Quiet Time Activities – another great Pinterest resource
• Some of these Summer Fun Activities would be great of these few weeks that you have your kids at home – even though it isn’t summer yet (plus there are quite a few indoor activities listed)
• Easter Ideas & Crafts
• Are you a boy mom? These are some great ideas!

Other Blog Posts with Ideas:

• No Prep Activities for Kids from Babies to Bookworms
• Indoor Scavenger Hunt from For Mommys Dragons
• DIY Bunny Stamp for Kids from For Mommys Dragons
• Anything from Homeschool Creations – such a sweet friend who has so many resources for all ages
• Anything from 1+1+1=1 – such a sweet friend who also has so many resources for all ages — but especially the tot school, preschool, and elementary age kids
• Any units from Gather ‘Round Homeschool. We recently received the Africa unit and cannot wait to dig in!
• Fun activities for Kids from Normal Life Mom
• Tips and Tricks for Teaching from Home for 3 Weeks from A Sprinkle of Joy
• 21 Free & Frugal Kids Educational Websites from Sweet Frugal Life
• 5 Paint Projects for Toddlers from Califf Life Creations
• 13 Indoor Activities for an Active Toddler from Califf Life Creations
• Nature Crafts from Califf Life Creations
• Lent for Preschoolers from Mare Bears Mom
• Baking Soda and Vinegar Science Experiment for Young Learners from Daily Momtivity
• Coronavirus Survival Guide from Okayest Moms
• At Home Learning Schedule from Lipgloss and Crayons
• Extended Spring Break Schedule & Printable from The Samantha Show
• Things to do When You’re Stuck Inside from Northern Nevada Moms
• Emergency Preparedness for our Family from Love Ravayna
• It Came in the Mail – A Storytime Activity from My Mountain Wild

I’ll be adding to this list throughout the next few days, so make sure you check back. If you have any tips, links, or resources to share, please do so in the comments of this post. Stay safe and healthy, friends.