Keeping your kids entertained can end up taking more time and money than you have available. This list of 40 kids’ activities is easy on your budget and schedule, but encourages creative play for your children — and you!
1. Create a simple indoor “house” with a length of fabric and a few tension rods.
2. Put together a story bag from items you already have, then take turns pulling one out and telling a story based on what you get from the bag. (Or tell one long, connected story together!)
3. Teach your child how to finger knit (great for travel or rainy, cold days).
4. Or get them started on embroidery with felt, an embroidery hoop and thread, and a large, blunt needle.
5. Do a giant dot-to-dot puzzle. It doesn’t have to make a picture. Just use butcher’s paper, wrapping paper, or a disposable tablecloth, draw out dots, and number each one.
6. Build a simple, homemade catapult together and then do some target practice, indoor or out.
7. Get a garden hose and some PVC pipe and put together a ride-through bike (or scooter or tricycle) wash in the driveway.
8. Can’t get outside? Set up a mini, indoor car wash for toy cars inside. All you need are a pan or bowl, water, bubbles, and a few towels nearby.
9. Make cool, custom designed t-shirts together out of old shirts and school glue.
10. Go on a nature scavenger hunt. Make a list that works with the season. You don’t have to hide anything! Just go and find.
11. Kids will love this balloon dart board.
12. Let your kids get messy with squirt gun painting.
13. Have a sandbox? Hide a few items in it (coins, shells, small toys) and then sit back while your kids dig for buried treasure.
14. For indoor fun, gather up pipe cleaners and make cute critters, like this guy:
15. Make an outdoor “river” with a roll of foil and some water. Kids can send their boats and small toys floating down. Make two shorter rivers for river races.
16. Help kids make their own boats for the river! Use egg cartons for the ships and paper for the sails.
17. Use painter’s tape to create a maze on the floor for cars, trains, or just kids.
18. Go for a nature walk. Take along a magnifying glass and a sketchbook. Gather up interesting leaves, twigs, and rocks to bring home.
19. Use some of those leaves you gathered to make a leaf collage.
20. Then let them paint the rocks you collected on your walk.
21. Go on a picnic for dinner, or make it a picnic brunch on the weekend.
22. Let your kids use marshmallows and toothpicks to build cool structures.
23. A glow-in-the-dark bath time! Are you kidding me? How simple is this: non-toxic highlighters and water for hours of awesome.
24. Have a big cardboard box in the garage? Dust it off and transform it into an awesome fort or playhouse.
25. Pick up a few packs of cheap sponges at the store, cut into strips, and have a tower building contest.
26. Help your kids set up a post office. Then they can create and can send letters, flyers, and all sorts of mail to each other.
27. Send them on a nature color hunt in the backyard. Paint the inside of an ice tray or old egg carton with different colors for a color list and carrying tray.
28. Make finger paint with simple ingredients you probably already have, then get out of the way and let the art happen.
29. Get out glue, fabric scraps, and any paper and craft supplies you have. Add in a few cut-out photos of your child. Collages are good for any skill level.
30. More than one child to entertain? It’s group collage time.
31. Kids old enough to safely use scissors can turn a pile of empty cardboard boxes and containers into a city.
32. Puppet shows are fun, but not everybody has the space for a puppet theatre. Help them set up a tiny version with a couple of handkerchiefs, let the kids make puppets out of paper or craft sticks, and then they can create show after show.
33. Make a set of these “Get Up and Move” dice to encourage physical activity. Once they’re made, kids can play with them anytime.
34. On a warm day, set up a tub of water, some empty containers, brushes, sponges, and spoons for fun and easy water play.
35. Younger kids love activities that allow them to work on those fine motor skills. Sorting pom poms and using tweezer, tongs, or spoons to move them around is great for learning and play.
36. Kids can decorate their own drum set, then put on a concert.
37. Pull out the Legos for a marble maze. Multiple kids? Each one can create a maze, then race to get the marble through.
38. This cool, easy bubble blower requires only an empty cardboard tube and some dish soap.
39. If you have bits of fabric and ribbon around, this simple weaving set-up will let your child have lots of creative time with no extra expense.
40. Gather up some play dough and blocks so kids can “lay bricks” and build roads and towns.
Featured photo credit: tienvijftien via flickr.com
