100 Activities to Do With Kids – Whether you’re stuck inside, on a school break, or filling up your summer, here are lots of ideas to do with your kids! (+a Free Printable List!)
Like most of you, I’m in the middle of social distancing with my kids during this coronavirus quarantine. In between learning & education options (maybe I’ll do a post on this soon?), we need LOTS of screen-free ideas to help pass the time without parks, playdates, and school to keep us occupied.
In case you’re in the same boat, I’ve rounded up 75 ideas you can do with kids while on quarantine. Most don’t involve a lot of extra set-up, equipment or fancy skills. Just easy ideas you can pull out when people are getting stir-crazy or you need to shake things up a bit.
Here are 100 activities to do with your kids…
CRAFTS & CREATIVITY
Beyond just coloring or free drawing, here are some great ways to engage your kids’ creativity…
- FOLLOW FREE DRAWING TUTORIALS AT ART FOR KIDS HUB
- PAINT WITH WATERCOLORS
- EXPERIMENT WITH SALT PAINTING
- MAKE CRUMPLED PAPER ART
- PAINT KINDNESS ROCKS
- CREATE STAMP ART WITH FRUIT & VEGGIE SCRAPS, EMPTY TOILET PAPER ROLLS & OTHER SPARE OR RECYCLED ITEMS.
- MAKE COLLAGES WITH MAGAZINES, SCRAPS OF PAPER, FABRIC, BUTTONS & MORE.
- CREATE ROCK ANIMALS
- STRING BEADS ON YARN, THREAD, RIBBON OR PIPE CLEANERS
- COLOR WITH SIDEWALK CHALK
- MAKE RAIN DROP SUNCATCHERS (OR USE THIS TECHNIQUE TO MAKE OTHER SHAPES/STYLES!)
- DYE COFFEE FILTERS (THIS IS A CUTE WAY TO DO IT!)
- MAKE LACING CARDS (OR PRINT THESE CUTE ONES)
- MAKE PAPER PLATE RAINBOWS
- CUT OUT SHAPES & CREATE MONSTERS OR BUGS
- LEARN BASIC STITCHING WITH THESE DIY STITCH CARDS OR THESE PRINTABLE CACTUS STITCH CARDS
- TRY SCRAPE PAINTING (+TURN YOUR CREATIONS INTO CARDS!)
- MAKE SOCK PUPPETS OR PAPER BAG PUPPETS
- PLAY WITH PAPER MERMAIDS & BUILD THEM AN OCEAN!
- PRACTICE SCISSOR CUTTING SKILLS BY CREATING CHALLENGE CARDS
- PRINT OUT COLORING SHEETS:
- WRITE A BOOK OR MAKE UP A STORY. (If you can’t think of an original one, just make your own copy of a favorite story, like Goldilocks or Little Red Riding Hood or put a funny spin on a classic tale, like Three Wolves and the Big Bad Pig.)
- GATHER LEAVES AND DO LEAF RUBBINGS.
- CREATE A BOARD GAME & MAKE UP YOUR OWN RULES.
- MAKE YOUR OWN PAPER DOLLS. Dress them up with things from around the house, nature, or make your own outfits!
- PAINT WITH WATER ON THE SIDEWALK, YOUR BACK PORCH, OR ON COLORED CONSTRUCTION PAPER.
- MAKE SILHOUETTE ART. DO YOUR KIDS’ SILHOUETTES OR TRACE FAVORITE OBJECTS AROUND THE HOUSE.
- TRY MORE ORIGAMI PROJECTS LIKE HATS, ANIMALS, BOATS & MORE.
- CRAFT YOUR OWN POPSICLE STICK PUZZLE (OR PAPER PUZZLE!)
BUILDING & STEM IDEAS
Put your kids’ minds to work with some of these science, technology, engineering, and math ideas. (Don’t worry, they’re all fun!)
- BUILD WITH MARSHMALLOWS & TOOTHPICKS – HERE ARE LOTS OF IDEAS TO GET YOU STARTED.
- BUILD WITH CUPS & PAPER – Try layering with paper for even more stable structures!
- LEARN THE CUP GAME
- MAKE SLIME WITH ONE OF THESE 10 COLORFUL RECIPES
- BUILD CARD HOUSES. ALL YOU NEED IS A DECK OF CARDS!
- MAKE TOY CAR JUMPS WITH THINGS AROUND THE HOUSE
- USE RECYCLED ITEMS TO BUILD BOATS. TEST WHAT MAKES THEM FLOAT BETTER!
- BUILD A CEREAL BOX VILLAGE OR CARDBOARD FARM OUT OF EMPTY CEREAL BOXES OR SHIPPING BOXES
- BUILD & DECORATE “CARS” MADE FROM EMPTY BOXES FOR A “DRIVE IN” MOVIE. KEEP IT AS SIMPLE OR MAKE IT AS INTRICATE AS YOU WANT!
- FOLD PAPER JUMPING FROGS AND HAVE A JUMPING CONTEST
- BUILD A FORT OR TENT.
- PLAY “TENS GO FISH” (A MATH SPIN ON GO FISH)
- MAKE ORIGAMI PAPER BOOKMARKS
- WORK WITH CLAY, MODEL MAGIC OR TRY HOMEMADE PLAYDOUGH (THIS ONE’S MADE FROM JELLO!)
- BUILD A BALL OBSTACLE COURSE. (ADD A MATH COMPONENT IF YOU WANT!)
- PUT TOGETHER A SENSORY BIN WITH RAINBOW RICE, DRIED BEANS, LENTILS, CORN KERNELS OR ANYTHING ELSE YOU HAVE ON HAND!
- DESIGN A MARBLE MAZE
- MAKE PAPER AIRPLANES (OR USE THIS TEMPLATE FOR A FUN STYLE!)
- USE PAINTER TAPE TO MAKE A ROAD FOR CARS, “LASER MAZE,” ETC.
- PLAY A BRAIN-BOOSTING PAPER GAME! THESE ARE ALL FUN!
- USE HOUSEHOLD OR RECYCLED ITEMS TO MAKE INSTRUMENTS & PLAY ALONG TO YOUR FAVORITE SONGS! HERE ARE SOME IDEAS TO GET YOU STARTED.
- TACKLE ONE OF THESE 30 LEGO CHALLENGES. LET YOUR CREATIVITY GO WILD! (THERE’S A FREE PRINTABLE TO GO WITH IT!)
ACTIVE GAMES & ACTVITIES
Even if you’re stick inside, there are still lots of ways to help your kids get some movement! Here are some of our faves…
- COSMIC KIDS YOGA – FREE!
- DANCE PARTY. PUT ON YOUR FAVORITE MUSIC AND DANCE!
- PLAY “SIMON SAYS.”
- TRY “MOTHER, MAY I?”
- PLAY “WHAT TIME IS IT MR. FOX?”
- PLAY MUSICAL CHAIRS.
- ANIMAL WALK. HAVE ONE PERSON CALL OUT ANIMALS ONE AT A TIME AND HAVE THE OTHER PLAYERS WALK ACROSS THE ROOM LIKE THAT ANIMAL (i.e. Elephant, frog, bear, crab, snake, etc.)
- TAKE COUCH CUSHIONS OFF THE COUCH TO JUMP ON THEM
- PLAY “THE FLOOR IS LAVA” WITH PILLOWS, CUSHIONS, ETC.
- RIDE BIKES OR TAKE A WALK (IF PERMITTED IN YOUR AREA)
- GO ON A ROCK HUNT (IF PERMITTED IN YOUR AREA, OR JUST IN YOUR BACKYARD)
- FREEZE DANCE. TURN ON MUSIC & DANCE TILL THE MUSIC IS PAUSED. EVERYONE HAS TO FREEZE. WHOEVER KEEPS MOVING IS OUT. THE LAST PLAYER STANDING WINS!
- BLOW BUBBLES OR MAKE YOUR OWN BUBBLES.
- HAVE A BIKE OR TOY WASH IN YOUR BACKYARD, ON YOUR BALCONY, OR EVEN IN A BATHTUB (FOR TOYS).
- PLAY FOLLOW THE LEADER. (ONE PERSON IS THE LEADER AND EVERYONE MUST COPY THEM. TAKE TURNS BEING THE LEADER!)
- BLOW UP A BALLOON & TRY TO KEEP IT AIRBORNE, PLAY INSIDE TENNIS WITH PAPER PLATES, ETC.
- JUMP ROPE. WE HAVE THESE AND LOVE THEM.
- PLAY WITH WATER BALLOONS – WATER BALLOON FIGHT, WATER BALLOON TOSS (WITH TOWELS TO CATCH), THROWING CONTEST, ETC.
- TRY A NEW MINUTE TO WIN IT GAME. THIS LIST HAS TONS OF IDEAS!
- DO ONE OF THESE FUN GO NOODLE DANCE & MOVEMENT VIDEOS. WE LOVE THE TROLLS ONE, FROZEN 2, AND THESE GUIDED DANCES.
- MAKE YOUR OWN BALL TOSS WITH PAPER/PLASTIC CUPS & A SOFT BALL OR STUFFED ANIMAL. TRY TO KNOCK DOWN THE CUPS IN ONE THROW!
- HIDE & SEEK OR SARDINES. (WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU TRIED THIS!?)
- PLAY “RED LIGHT GREEN LIGHT” (HERE’S HOW TO PLAY)
- HOPSCOTCH. Use sidewalk chalk, painter’s tape, or even sticks or rocks to outline the hopscotch, then play!
- PLAY “PIG” OR “HORSE” WITH A BALL OR STUFFED ANIMAL + A BASKET INSIDE.
MORE IDEAS & GAMES:
- COOK OR BAKE SOMETHING. HERE ARE 20+ EASY RECIPES TO COOK WITH KIDS.
- PLAY BUTTON, BUTTON, WHO’S GOT THE BUTTON? (HERE’S HOW TO PLAY)
- PLAY HOT & COLD. (ONE PERSON–THE FINDER–LEAVES THE ROOM AND ONE PERSON–THE HIDER–HIDES AN OBJECT. WHEN THE FINDER COMES BACK INTO THE ROOM, YOU SAY “WARMER” “COLDER” “HOT “COLD” DEPENDING ON HOW CLOSE THEY ARE TO FINDING IT. (HOT = FOUND)
- TAKE A LONG BUBBLE BATH WITH YOUR SWIM GOGGLES ON, WITH A SET OF MEASURING CUPS & BOWLS, WITH TOYS, WHATEVER!
- REORGANIZE YOUR BEDROOM OR PLAYROOM. NOW IS A GREAT TIME TO GO THROUGH CLOTHES, CLOSETS, TOYS, BOOKS, ETC. YOU CAN REDISCOVER FORGOTTEN FAVORITES, OR PACK UP WHAT YOU DON’T NEED TO DONATE.
- HAVE A TEA PARTY OR PICNIC (INDOORS OR OUTDOORS). JUST CHANGING THE SCENERY CAN MAKE THINGS SO MUCH MORE FUN!
- MAKE A FORTUNE TELLER. YOU CAN ADD FORTUNES, ANIMALS THE PERSON HAS TO ACT OUT, GAMES TO PLAY, ETC.
- PLAY CHARADES. HERE’S A BIG LIST OF CHARADES IDEAS FOR KIDS, OR YOU CAN COME UP WITH YOUR OWN!
- LISTEN TO A PODCAST.
- MAKE A BUTTERFLY FEEDER OR A BIRD FEEDER.
- READ A BOOK. YOU CAN CHECK OUT SOME OF OUR FAVORITE BOOKS HERE.
- MAKE SHADOW PUPPETS WITH A FLASHLIGHT OR LAMP IN A DARK ROOM.
- DO A MAD LIB. PINTEREST HAS TONS OF IDEAS, OR YOU CAN CREATE YOUR OWN!
- MAKE & SEND LETTERS OR CARDS TO FRIENDS & FAMILY.
- TAKE SLOW MOTION VIDEOS ON YOUR PHONE OF FUNNY FACES, FANCY TRICKS, KNOCKING DOWN TOWERS, ETC.
- FACETIME OR VIDEO CHAT WITH FRIENDS OR FAMILY.
- HAVE A SPA DAY. PAINT NAILS, DO MANICURES OR PEDICURES, RUB LOTION IN, TRY A DIY FACE MASK OR SCRUB, DO A FACE MASK, PUT CUCUMBERS ON YOUR EYES & LISTEN TO SPA MUSIC, ETC.
EVEN MORE GREAT IDEAS TO CHECK OUT:
- HOMEGROWN TRADITIONS – Brittney put together 30 (5-Minute!) Games that take almost no set-up at all. Love these!
- SIGN UP FOR FREE DAILY CRAFTS & LEARNING IDEAS AT RAISING WONDER. We’ve loved these so far!
- BRAVERY MAGAZINE – Bravery is offering FREE 4-week curriculum via email featuring brave women plus LOTS of ideas + activities to go with it.
- LEARN STOP MOTION FOR FREE – Stop Motion School is running a promotion for free stop motion classes for kids! Check out her instagram for the details & coupon code.
- HELLO, WONDERFUL – If you can only start with one post, I recommend these 50 Easy Indoor Activities for Kids.
- WHAT MOMS LOVE – This list of 87 Energy-Busting Indoor Games is a winner!
- LUNCH DOODLES WITH MO WILLEMS. This free series from The Kennedy Center features one of our favorite authors/illustrators teaching you simple doodle skills!
DOWNLOAD A COPY OF ALL 100 IDEAS
I wanted to make it easy to keep all these ideas in one place. You can get a printable copy of the list here.
p.s. looking for even more ideas? You might like:
Oh this is such a great list! This will be perfect for afternoon ideas once the school work is done!
Fingers crossed there are some good ideas for your family in there! 😉