During lockdown or even just over Winter for that matter Mums are desperately scrambling around for indoor activities for Kids. For me, it’s one of those things that during the day, when they are hanging off my legs and whinging about what to do I can’t think of anything. However, once they are in bed looking all angelic I think of the hundreds of things I could have suggested that would have led to a much less stressful day for all of us.
To prevent this nightmare from repeating itself it’s best to have a list of ideas ready at hand. Better still, there are a number of businesses that literally send out packs containing something to entertain your monsters when you need a bit of peace and quiet.
Here is a list of indoor activities for kids, some are simple, some a bit more adventurous, and also a couple of the pre-made packs I mentioned above.
indoor activities for kids…
toucanBox
I have started with the 1 thing that has really helped us during lockdown #3. toucanBox is a personalised pack that contains 2 crafts, a magazine, and stickers. It is sent out monthly on a subscription basis but you can cancel anytime. The crafts inside are suitable for children aged 3- 8 years. The theme of the crafts varies, we have designed a planet poster, created a mini garden, built a gingerbread house, and made a jeweled crown. You can check out some of the crafts we have done on my Instagram or in this blog post.
I am also able to offer you an exclusive discount code of 50% off your first box by following this link and entering code “toucanshire” on the homepage.
Balloons
Whenever my kids see a balloon they go a little crazy like they have just discovered something magical for the first time. They fight over who is going to hold it first which results in them getting great joy smashing it across the room as far away as possible from their brother. This can keep them occupied for way longer than it should!
If you like this post then check out:
Educational Activities for Toddlers That Don’t Require Prep Work
Indoor Play Centres, Northamptonshire
Indoor Tent
An indoor tent is a great way to keep the kids contained to one area. It does however often lead to every cushion, pillow and duvet in the house being dragged into the tent and it can take up a lot of room.
Indoor Picnic
Instead of eating lunch or dinner at the table why not set up a picnic. All it needs to be is a blanket on the floor and some consideration into what food can be easily eaten this way without making a mess!
Board Games
A classic but one that is overlooked. When the board games are shoved away in a cupboard they get forgotten about. Just pull one out and let them discover it again. If your needing to add to your collection check out this post on the Best Board Games for Kids Voted By Mums
Usborne Books
In lockdown #1 I went crazy over Usborne books. I bought a load to support my eldest boys’ home learning but also a number of activity, pop-up, and question and answers books. Some of the ones I bought were
365 things to do with paper and cardboard
Question and Answers – we have the ones about feelings, poo, and sleep.
Rubber Stamp / Fingerprint Activities
Little Cooks
A new subscription box we have just started is Little Cooks. It contains a recipe and all the dry ingredients you need for that month’s bake. All the ingredients are healthy and organic. Also included in the box is a recipe for a savoury meal, a sticker for your child to add to their Little Cooks record book plus some extra games or activities that spark creativity and imagination.
You can get 25% off your first box by following this link or read my review here.
Water Bowl
My 3-year-old absolutely loves when I fill a washing up bowl with lukewarm water and throw a load of random toys into it. I ended up buying this set of fine motor tools on amazon and some small balls and he loves fishing them all out.
Flower Pressing
This one might be a bit thicker in Winter but why not take a walk, collect some flowers then get your child to press them while you enjoy your cup of tea. There are flower pressing kits on amazon or some tips on how to do it yourself with what you might already have at home here.
Five Minute Mum
I bought this book in lockdown #1 and it’s such a handy book to have on the bookshelf. It has over 150 super easy activities for toddlers and preschoolers. Nearly all the activities use items you most likely already have at home and literally take only 5 minutes to set up. Five Minute Mum book is available here.
Act out a book, put on a play/ puppet show
Take your child’s favourite book and get them to act it out. Alternatively, put on a play or puppet show.
Slime baff
Slime Baff is something my younger two (ages 6 & 3) both love but I never think to do in the day. A bit of water in the bath, add the slime making powder and they can sit there for ages. You can also get Gelli Baff and Crackle Baff.
Chores
As far as indoor activities for kids go this one seems a silly one. However, my 6-year-old recently went through a phase of wanting to do chores. Turn it into a game and not only are the kids occupied but they are also ticking things off your to-do list.
Cardboard box
What kid doesn’t love a large cardboard box. If you ever get a parcel delivered in a large box, keep the box to one side for moments when you need some quiet. Throw the box in the middle of the roam and let the kids go to town with it.
Keep ’em Quiet
I only recently discovered this and feel I should have known about it ages ago! There are various pack sizes that contain books, activities, and snacks for your child. It was originally designed for long journeys but has not been adapted for kids stuck at home. You can check them out here.
Dance party
Declare you are having a dance party, get the kids (and yourself) dressed up in your favourite party clothes, dim the lights, whack on some tunes and dance your heart away.
Treasure Hunt
Recently one of my 6-year-olds homeschooling lessons set by his school was for me to hide some fruit around the house. Then give him clues as to what it was and where it was hidden. It only took me 5 minutes to set up and he loved it. It doesn’t have to be with fruit, of course, use whatever you like.
Listen to a book
If your child isn’t keen or able to sit and read a book then why not download an audiobook for them.
Orchard Toys
It is most likely that any household with small kids has at least one Orchard Toys game in the cupboard. I recently put the question out on to my Facebook group about which are the most popular of the Orchard Toys games and put the results together in this post.
Bubbles
This one is similar to the balloons suggestion. Kids love bubbles. As soon as they see them they are solely focused on getting amongst them and popping as many as they can. Prevent yourself from getting dizzy by investing in a bubble machine that will do all the work for you.
Lego
Another classic but so versatile and never-ending. If you have tonnes of lego then check out my post on 20 Of The Best Ways To Store Lego.
Write a letter to a friend/ relative
A great one for lockdown or friends/ relatives that you don’t see often. Get your child to write them a letter. It could be a simple letter of what they have been up to or they could get a little more imaginative and write a story.
Magic Painting
This was another of the Usborne books I bought in lockdown #1 but deserves an individual mention. I am ashamed to admit that when my kids ask to do some painting my heat sinks. I hate the faff of getting it out and the cleaning that is involved in putting it away. These Magic Painting books just require a small amount of water, a paintbrush, and depending on your child, create next to no mess.
Jigsaw puzzle
Another great one for developing fine motor skills and giving the brain a work out is a puzzle.
Science Experiment
A sneaky way to get in some homeschooling there are loads of simple science experiments you can do at home, just search Google or Pinterest for ideas.
Do you have any other great ideas for indoor activities for kids? Let us know in the comments below!
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