How to Keep Your Kids Entertained When They’re Stuck Inside

With school closures in effect because of the coronavirus, most parents are scrambling to find activities for their children. And depending on where you live, the weather might not always be cooperative so your children can get out to play. Don’t worry though, there are still plenty of opportunities to keep them entertained while they’re inside. Better yet, you can even sneak a few educational moments into these playful tasks. 

Don’t Knock the TV

When people talk about kids watching TV, thoughts of idle, stagnant brains often come to mind. On the contrary, you can use the television to your advantage with the help of a streaming device. With a streaming player, you can access videos for arts and crafts as well as fun playtime videos. As Childhood 101 explains, dance and exercise videos can keep them active for extended periods of time, and they may even learn a thing or two. These options are especially appealing if you have more than one child to entertain since they can interact with each other while enjoying these videos. 

When you compare streaming devices, the right model depends on the type of television you have. Make sure to do your research so you’ll have a device that’s a good fit and suits your budget. 

Consider Individual Tastes

While video-related and group activities can be great, it’s not always possible to find something that appeals to everybody. When this happens, you might be better off catering to individual interests. For the little reader in your life, you can find a few age-appropriate books. Books like the Magic Tree House series can be good for six-year-olds, but for older children, maybe Roald Dahl and the Harry Potter series are now worth exploring. 

Another idea is to help them write their own book. According to Love to Know, your child would need some quality paper for writing as well as some assistance assembling their handmade book. Whether or not you offer corrections for grammar depends on the child’s age and abilities, but don’t get too caught up in that. 

Bring on The Science

This could be a great time to explore a few home-based science experiments with your kids. Some can get a bit messy, but it’s a small price to pay for having your children learn while having fun. Some experiments you can try are making expanding soap, a lava lamp, and an invisible extinguisher. When they’re finished with the experiment, be sure to get them involved in the clean up as well. 

While it’s more longer-term, another great science-based project is giving them an indoor plant to take care of. According to Balcony Garden Web, some of the best ones for kids are the Christmas cactus, Boston fern and Jasmine. 

Explore Their Creative Side

You can also plan a few creative projects for your kids. In some cases, you might already have the tools around the house, but you may have to buy a few items for more intricate projects. For example, they can make wind chimes out of cans and paint rocks to resemble animals. They can even use bubble wrap and paper plates to create fun animal shapes. Older children may also be able to make vases and bowls with small trinkets. 

If your kids are more interested in fashion, how about planning activities where they make a bag or transform some old shoes? Younger children can create a fashion board using cuttings from magazines. Or if you have budding models, put on a fashion show! Let them delve into some wild outfits they put together and top things off with some costume jewelry. Be sure to keep your phone handy for pics!

It can be a challenge to keep your kids occupied when they’re stuck inside, but with the right activities, you can be more than prepared. When you have several kiddos, the right group activities can be great for keeping everyone engaged, but don’t shy away from giving individual children tasks that suit their interests. 

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