“Mom, I’m Bored” and a Brief Survival Guide of Fun during COVID

Keep ‘Em Busy Activities

For parents who suck at on-the-spot-thinking-up-of-good-activities

· Make bookmarks

· Galaxy in a bottle http://onelittleproject.com/galaxy-in-a-bottle/2/

· Bingo (with cheerios or chocolate chips if feeling brave)

· Bow tie butterflies (use bow tie noodles; paint and glue on paper/whatever)

· Letter scavenger hunt; find 5 things that begin with ___

· Hand/foot art – pick an animal or just google and find what your fam loves

· Matching upper-case to lower-case letters (I put upper case on the wall; we shuffle lower case and then tape over the corresponding letter)

· Build something (wood glue is also your friend). I give my daughter 4-6 pieces of wood and she designs stuff. Mostly chairs and beds for her animals. I help with guide holes. She usually likes to paint the project after. My youngest just likes to hammer the wood; no nail or anything. You can also put a screw in a hole and let them work on it with a screw driver.

· Feelings chart – make one that works for your kiddo. Talk about what to do for the tough ones

· Lava lamp: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/36451078215383357/

· Make sock puppets and put on a show.

· Lava game (don’t step on the lava; or find a color that is “lava “that they can’t touch)

· Rainbow toy hunt – find a toy for each color; can also do in another language

· Patterns: make them with household items or pick up stuff in nature and make a pattern with it…i.e. pinecone, rock, flower, leaf, pinecone, rock, flower, leaf etc)

· Science experiments – we have kits that they get for them for Christmas, but google will give you 1,000+ for kids with simple household items

· Magazine cut-out – get old magazine and have them pick out their favorite pictures, cut them out, and glue a picture/collage

· Make play snow https://www.pinterest.com/pin/36451078214742079/ https://www.nobiggie.net/25-indoor-winter-activities-for-kids/

· Make up and costume day (usually needs a parade afterwards, or a dance party at the least)

· 5 square math fun on computer https://www.nctm.org/Classroom-Resources/Illuminations/Interactives/Five-Frame/

· Do a puzzle

· “I love you” scavenger hunt: cut out hearts, write a reason you love them and where to find the next heart

· Number Fun – Write #’s 1-5 on their own pieces of paper; then glue corresponding # of buttons, puff balls, whatever on that number (example: 5 would have 5 buttons, etc)

· Shape jump – cut out shapes, hang from door high enough that when shape is called, they have to run and jump to hit the shape

· Family names game- write Mom, Dad, kids names on labels; then divide a paper into parts, with a name at the top of each. They put the label in the corresponding square. Could also do with any word combos

· Make a pencil holder from recycling containers. Wrap paper around and decorate. Great gift or marker-holder, etc.

· Word Hunt – hide words (can be w/ simple pictures) around house. Give picture, and they have to find the word. Example: give picture of cat; they go and find CAT. I usually write everything on an index card and just tape in random places.

· Kids yoga

· Paint a sign on a scrap piece of wood

· Rhyming game – build a block on tower for every word that rhymes, till it falls

· Egg carton flowers – paint cartons to look like flowers. Can put on pipe cleaners.

· Bird feeders for outside – then can watch which birds like the most. Try to identify https://www.pinterest.com/pin/36451078210310121/ https://kidscraftroom.com/diy-bird-feeder-craft-kids/

· Lego math (easy to do halves, etc). We also do just plain ole lego contests

· Macaroni art

· Color mixing – food coloring, water, and clear containers of any sort. Entertainment for a shocking amount of time

· Cook something – anything. Sweets are our go-to because, well Me.

· Make a chain with construction paper strips – can write on them to make them meaningful: ways to be kind; family memories; things you’re thankful for; dreams, etc.

· Make an airplane https://handsonaswegrow.com/cardboard-airplane-craft/

· Gravity: what falls faster ; can also do density/what sinks. Have to collect things around house or outside. Need a test place. Make it a science experiment. Can draw what falls the fastest, etc.

· Write a letter to a grandparent, relative or friend!

· Fun cards – write a silly thing to do on each card. Each person draws does that thing. Like a super easy charades. (save cards for next time you do this one).

· Magic milk – so fun https://happyhooligans.ca/magic-milk-experiment-explosion-colour/

· Act out a book/scene

· Make a windchime – pintrest has 1,000 ideas depending on what stuff you have around

· Paint in salt (spread it out on a tray; make different designs. This was not long-lasting for my kids, but others may have longer attention spans)

· Body part boogie – basically variations of hokey pokey

· Glue together a monster out of nature stuff

· Sew something. May I suggest a bag or pillow. Those are easy enough that even I can do it. Sock puppets are also fun.

· Shine a penny – take old coins and clean them https://frugalfun4boys.com/2011/06/06/simple-chemistry-experiment-clean-pennies-with-vinegar/

· Plant something

· Dance party in kitchen. Who knows, you might even be able to cook dinner at the same time.