Thinking up fun things to do with kid at home can be a challenge in normal times, but even more so if home is literally the only place you can be! Here are my 50 current favorite things to do with the kids, from my one year old on up to my big kid.
Fun Things to Do at Home With Kids
Keeping the kids entertained and happy is a tall order, but there are simple ideas you can use to make regular days a little more fun. These ideas use things you may already have around the house to create, play, and do together. None of them are very complicated, but each is an idea you can use when you run out of your go to kids activities.
TIP: Some of these may work better for your family than others depending on what your living situation is and whether or not you have a backyard.
Kids Activities to Do Outside
Get some fresh air and try these fun outside activities the next day that the sun is out. You can do most of them anytime of the year, though the water activities may go over better when it’s warm!
1. Color with Sidewalk Chalk
Make pictures or messages for each other or people walking by.
2. Make Chalk Hopscotch
Draw out a grid and show the kids how to hop from one square to the next. (Does anyone know how to do hopscotch for real?:)
3. Make Chalk Footprints
Draw paw prints, dinosaur prints, or any other prints to make a path down the walkway.
4. Blow Bubbles
Always a hit!
5. Have a Picnic
Spread out a blanket (and skip sweeping up the crumbs inside!).
6. Play in a Sprinkler
Classic fun for warmer weather.
7. Play with a Baby Pool of Water
Fill a baby pool (or baby tub) with a few inches of water, get out some plastic cups, and let the kids play how they like.
8. Wash Toys
Add plastic toys to the baby pool and a little soap and let the kids wash them with a sponge.
9. Water Plants
Let the budding gardeners help with plant maintenance.
10. Color Bark with Chalk
Pick up bark from around trees and color with sidewalk chalk.
11. Color a Tree with Chalk
Give a tree a rainbow of rings or any other design the kids like.
12. Play in the Rain
Get out the umbrellas!
13. Paint Giant Boxes
Let the kids paint boxes outside to keep the mess in the grass.
14. Paint the Driveway/House with Water
Water and a paintbrush are all you need!
15. Collect Leaves, Petals, and Sticks and Make Names to Glue to Paper
We love to this activity and it’s fun to see which shapes work best for which letters.
16. Collect Pinecones or Leaves
Pick something to collect and go look for it in your yard.
17. Make Bark or Leaf Rubbings with Paper and Crayons
Show the kids how to see the designs they’ve rubbed off.
18. Work in the Garden
Make a special area just for the kids or have them help with yours.
19. Read Books Outside
A simple change of scenery can help make it seem more fun.
20. Look at Clouds
Spread out a blanket and see what kinds of designs you can see.
Fun Things to Do Indoors with Kids
21. Have a Family Dinner Date
Make invitations and a menu and have a special dinner with your family.
22. Dress Up in Fancy Clothes for Dinner
Pull out your fanciest clothes, do your hair, and let the kids do the same!
23. Have a Dance Party
Turn on some tunes and dance together.
24. Do Yoga
Cosmic Kids yoga is so fun!
25. Make a Ball Pit
Fill a baby pool with balls and play!
26. Cut Out Melon with Cookie Cutters
Slice a melon into strips and let the kids cut out shapes to eat.
27. Cook Together
Pick a recipe for kids and make it together.
28. Chop Foods with Kid Knives
Practice the basics with kid safe kitchen tools.
Fun Pretend Play to Do at Home
29. Have a Stuffed Animal Parade
Set them up in a row and make some music!
30. Have a Picnic with Stuffed Animals
Invite the lovies along to lunch.
31. Play Tea Party
Set out a pretend (or real!) tea party.
32. Play Dress Up
Then pretend you’re going somewhere fun!
33. Play School and Read Books to Each Other
This works best if the reader is on a chair and the rest are on the floor criss cross applesauce style!
34. Play Kitchen and “Cook” for Each Other
You may be surprised at what the kids want to serve you.
35. Play Restaurant and Take Orders and “Cook”
Ask the kids to come up with their menu and restaurant name.
Fun Art Projects to Do at Home
36. Make a Mural on Kraft Paper
Cover the table with brown kraft paper and make a giant work of art together.
37. Paint Coffee Filters with Water Color Paint
Cut them into shapes or just flatten and paint. Then you can hang in windows like suncatchers!
38. Finger Paint
Always fun, always a mess!
39. Paint the Bathtub with Washable Paint
This works well if you’re worried about kids and paint in other areas of your house.
40. Paint with Dot Markers
Use them on paper, on cardboard, on egg cartons—they’re easy to hold and use!
41. Make Salt Dough
So fun if you have extra flour on hand.
42. Trace Your Hands
Then color them in!
43. Fill in a Cardboard Rainbow with Colorful Bits of Paper
This is such a fun idea from Art Bar Blog.
44. Paint Egg Cartons
Pull them out of the recycling and let the kids paint them however they like.
45. Color a Cardboard Box
This is a fun way to see how creative the kids can be.
46. Make Slime
It’s fun and weird!
47. Color Pictures to Mail to Friends
Snail mail is always a way to send more happiness.
48. Color Pictures to Decorate the Windows
For a holiday or just to brighten up the day.
49. Make a Puppet Theater or Show
And remember that it never has to be perfect!
50. Play with Stickers
Put them on paper, put them on yourself—it really doesn’t matter!
These are great! Especially helpful for these long quarantine days (CV-19)! Thanks for sharing <3
You’re so welcome!