70 Creative Activities for Kids at Home {+Free Printable}

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These days, we are spending more time at home than ever. Sometimes, it can be hard to come up with things to do to keep the kids busy! Here are 70 activities you can do with kids from home -indoor & outdoor activities to do in your yard, too! Free printable!

Indoor Activities…for How Long?

Do you remember a few years ago… somewhere around mid-March 2020?  I think we all feel like we can remember where we were when we first heard about Covid.

We all had different levels of emotions regarding all the chaos –  fear if things would ever go back to normal. Or fear about the financial impacts. Or just the weirdness of it all.

Here we are, years later, and you know what hasn’t changed?

Keeping our kids busy at home.

We’re still just trying to figure out what the heck you’re going to do with the kids home for long stretches of time or on rainy days or when summer boredom kicks in.

We get tired of playing camp counselor and coming up with fun outings every. single. day of summer. 

Sometimes we just want some fun, easy activities without leaving the house (Hand raised!)

Boredom Busters without Leaving Your House

Well, I’ve put together 70 ideas that can help. You can do almost of these right in your own house, yard, or street.

This list is NOT meant to make your life more complicated. Hopefully, the things on here are EASY for you to do and will keep your kids HAPPY and you SANE. 

It’s not a bucket list or a check-off-to-do list. It’s just here for options.

I’m adding a free printable at the end because I do so much better with a paper in front of me than trying to track down where I saw it and saved it on my phone or computer.

And if it’s summertime by you, this summer bucket list might help.

There is some overlap with the options here and on that list, but the bucket list is especially geared for summer, where there might be some restrictions.

Again, not another to-do list, just more options for keeping the kids busy without screentime while making memories in the process. There’s a free printable for that as well.

Mama, I hope this helps. 

We’re always saying life is so busy and we don’t have time. I’m also praying you end up making some amazing memories and have a big smile at the end.

70 Activities for Kids You Can Do At Home

 

 

You can read through the items for helpful tips and links for each activity –

or just scroll to the bottom to get the free printable!

Indoor Activities

1| Make a craft

There are a MILLION crafts on Pinterest to choose from, for every age level. For low prep, just leave some craft supplies on the table and see what they create themselves!  (My sons loved doing that at preschool!) A quick Dollar Tree run can help with supplies and some more ideas!

2| Rearrange the bedroom

When I was a kid, I LOVED doing this. Just moving a few pieces of furniture can make it feel like a whole, new space.

3| Clean out & donate clothes

This is a great time to switch from winter to spring clothes and clean out whatever they’ve outgrown or don’t wear anymore.

4| Clean out & donate toys

Same goes for toys! Have the kiddos sort through (and clean up!) the toys and donate whatever they don’t play with.

5| Take apart old electronics

If you have an old radio, landline phone, VCR laying, give the kids a chance to take it apart and see what’s inside. Maybe even challenge them to build a robot out of the parts!

6| Play a board game (+ tournament)

Board games are a great way to bond and pass the time. You can even make it a tournament! Here’s some help in arranging a board game tournament.

7| Play a card game

There’s a card game for every age level – Go Fish, War, Spit, even Solitaire.  And don’t forget the old standby – Uno.

8| Film a movie

You can have the kids make up their own movie script or recreate one of their favorites.

9|Make a silent, slow-motion movie or video

My sons LOVE to film their cars on the race track in slow motion! You can have them do something like that with fast-moving toys, or they can recreate some fun ‘fight’ scenes from movies in slow motion. Super-fun to watch!

10| Have a photoshoot

In our selfie age, what kid doesn’t like to take pictures of themselves? They can dress up, make their own props or come up with a theme. Which leads to the next item…

11|Have a time period party

Pick a certain time or place in history and plan a party around it – Wild West, the Roaring 20s, the 80s… this can even coincide with what they’re studying in school. Choose food, activities, decorations, costumes… you can even dress up like famous people from that time period!  (And film it and take pictures, of course).

12| Have a tea party

Most of the time this is pretending, but it’s a perfect time to do the real deal!

13| Make your own pizza

There pretty much is nothing a pizza party can’t fix. Personal pizzas with all kinds of toppings… yum.

14| Have an ice cream party

In times like these, ice cream is definitely on the table. An ice cream bar to break up the monotony will do wonders for everyone’s attitude.

15| Indoor picnic

This is another thing my boys love-  just spreading a blanket on the living room floor and bringing lunch in on paper plates seems novel and fresh, even though it’s so simple.

16| Inside games (Hide & Seek, nerf gun wars, Red-Light-Green-Light)

On a day when you can’t get out to the yard, here are some old standbys that are super-fun. They can be noisy, but desperate times… And if you want to throw some Minute To Win It Games in the mix, here are a bunch of great ones! Also, ask what they play in school. Chances are they have a few good ones you can play at home, too!

17| Living room campout

If you have a tent, pull it out! Pretend you’re in the wilderness. They’ll love having a cozy little den of their own. And if you don’t have a tent, bring out the sleeping bags and pretend you’re sleeping under the stars.

18| Indoor exercise or dance

Yes, they will need to get their wiggles out, and so will you! There are some great online exercise videoes on YouTube or Roku (GoNoodle) if you have it! If you have a Wii, this is a great time to pull it out if you haven’t used it in a while. Or just put on some music and dance!

Here are 15 amazing & free YouTube exercise workouts that moms and kids can do together! My boys love doing them, especially #7 !

19| Hot & Cold Game

This is another fun inside game – just have a family member hide something and let the gang search for it. This can keep you busy for a while!

20| Foreign country armchair travel

Pick a country and use it as a theme for the day. Have food, do activities, make crafts, dress up – all around a certain country’s culture. This can also coincide with what they’re doing in school.

21| Indoor obstacle course

Along the lines of exercise, create an obstacle course. Set up an obstacle course in your house. Create a course to complete and then have a competition. Here are some ideas to get you started!

22| Family project

Here’s a time to bring everyone together. Do you have pictures you need sorted and put into albums? Or create a photo album online? Have you wanted to create a family tree? Or, you can even do a DIY or woodworking project together.

23| Art time: coloring, painting, drawing

This is a real easy activity – pull out the coloring books, paper, markers, crayons, colored pencils, paint… We print out pages to color from the internet all the time. You can also get canvases for a $1 at Dollar Tree to throw something new in the mix!

24| Fix-it | DIY projects around the house

If you’ve needed things done like painting or fixing, this is a great time to get the kids involved in that, too. With 2 weeks off (minimum), there’s no rush. And it’s a great time for kids to learn some of these home renovation | fix-it type skills. I know it requires more time and patience to involve them, but it’s so worth it for them to get those skills.

25| Make cards for grandparents

Chances are, the grandparents are feeling the stress of trying to shop, maybe being isolated from family too – a card or picture to let them know they’re not forgotten can really cheer them up!

26| Washi tape race track

Let the kids have at it with washi tape (or painter’s tape or even masking tape ) and create a track that goes around the house…for their cars, trucks, trains…anything with wheels. You can even let them line their cars up on the tape, too – a good activity for little ones.

27| Do a puzzle

There are puzzles for every age. To really challenge your older ones, get one with a lot of pieces, lay it on a table or floor, and have your kids work on it throughout the week. It’s also a great team-building activity, too.

28| Care package for service member

Times are crazy for us here, but our service members live under constant stress. You can make them a care package and send it. This is a great site that instructs on what to send (and not send), and reputable places to mail them.

29| Make no-sew pillows from old clothes

If there are certain articles of clothes that are special to you, why not make pillows? You can make large or small ones using fabric glue, pillow stuffing (or cotton balls, if they’re small enough!

30| Make a potted garden

You can find terra cotta pots and seeds at Dollar Tree. This is a great time to make an indoor garden for flowers, vegetables or herbs!

31| Redecorate bedroom

This is another way to give a bedroom a refresh. You don’t need to buy all new decor or paint (unless you want to!).  See what kinds of things the kids can make like wall art, crafts, stickers… just adding a few new things can be a fun project! Lots of easy DIY projects on Pinterest, too.

32| Play with old games|toys from back of the closet

This is a great time to dig in the back of the closet or basement and find some old toys they haven’t seen in a while. Even if my boys were bored with a toy, when they see it again, it’s like falling in love for the first time!

33| Build a fort

Pull out the blankets, pillows, sheets, chairs, and build a secret (or not-so-secret) fort. This can also be a great spot for a reading nook or other quiet activities.

34| Make holiday|seasonal decorations or craft

Spring? Easter? Summer? 4th of July? There’s always a holiday to celebrate and a cooresponding craft or decoration to make! Since Mother’s Day is coming up, here are  25 Mother’s Day crafts for all the important women in your child’s life. And here are some Father’s Day gifts and craft to make, too!  And for a list of some of those random holidays, take a look here! It may spark some creativity!

35| Bake or cook together

I know moms sometimes want things simple and clean in the kitchen, but this is a great time to teach them to cook or bake. They will love it – and some might even be really, really good at it (which will pay off for you later!)

36| Cupcake decorating

You can do this with cupcakes or cookies. Bake together and let them do the decorating. You can add some drama by making it Cupcake Wars (or maybe you don’t want extra drama during a lockdown? Totally get it. I take that back.).

37| Pull an all-nighter

Most kids love the idea of staying up really late! Let them do it! Most probably won’t make it the whole night, but let them try and have a lazy day the next day!

38| Have a movie marathon

What are your favorite movies? Now is the perfect time to binge-watch. Even better if it’s a series like Star Wars or Lord of the Rings or The Avengers!

39| Binge watch favorite TV series

Does your family have a favorite TV series they love watching? Binge watch the whole thing, every season!

40| Spring clean the house

Well, since you have to be home anyway… get the kids involved. There are lots of tasks they can easily do, and it’s good character-building. I especially like this one from Coffee, Pancakes and Dreams.. the tasks are broken down into small, manageable ones, perfect to get little ones involved! It’s the one I have hanging in my kitchen.

41| Cook & dress up for a fancy dinner

Let the kids plan a ‘fancy’ dinner and cook! Use the good China, special silverware, everyone dresses up – like a really special occasion!

42| Paint rocks

This is a fun activity they can do at home, and then at another time, they can leave them in different places all around town.

43| Make illustrations for an audiobook

Have the kids listen to an audio book and create illustrations for it as they are listening. Or, have them write and illustrate their own children’s book.

44| Color pictures for a nursing home

Most nursing homes are cut off from visitors right now. Have the kids color pictures and send them in the mail.

45| Make a scrapbook

Have each child create their own scrapbook book. They can print off photos and include special art projects from school, awards, programs… they can decorate it and make it all their own.

46| Make a time capsule

One day, we will all look at this and laugh, right? Create a time capsule from this time in their lives. This site has a great guide for what to put in a time capsule, as well as free printable sheets to go with it!

47| Create a puppet show

Grab some brown paper lunch bags or socks, paper plates with sticks and make some puppets! Have the kids write the script.

48| Lego contest

Legos have already come to rescue in my house! The boys have been busy for HOURS! Even more fun if you challenge them with a contest!

49| Playdough creation contest

Like the Lego contest, see what kinds of things your kids can create with PlayDough. If you don’t have any hand, here’s a great recipe if you don’t have cream of tarter around (excellent tips in the comments, too!

50| Create the family menu for the week

You probably need to meal plan with what you have in the pantry since grocery shopping is a little bit of a challenge – why not let the kid come up with meals? Breakfast, lunch, and dinner!

51| Create a map of your town

We did this with my boys at 4 years old, and it was a hit! They knew so much of the layout of our town! It’s a super-fun project for any age. We did our on a huge piece of cardboard and they drove their cars around on it. So fun!

52| Create a word search

Give your kids a theme, have them write down words, and then put them in a word search. They can even swap and do each other’s puzzles!

 

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

53| Yard clean up

This is a great time to spruce up the yard…paint the fence, rake the leaves, pull weeds, turn over flower beds, plant flowers… and it’s good to have them get their hands dirty!

54| Obstacle Course

While you can do one inside, you can also set one up outside, too! Here’s a fun one to give you some ideas that’s super-low prep.

55| Clean car, inside & out

Chances are, most of the mess in the car is from them anyway, so have them help out! If it’s warm, do a car wash. If it’s still too chilly, they can still help with vacuuming, dusting, windows, and clearing out the clutter.

56| Go for a walk

You can do this in your neighborhood, a walking path, a hiking path, a state or local park. As long as you keep your distance, you’re good. Fresh air will do wonders for everyone.

57| Go for a bike ride

Same rules as above apply! For littler ones, you can even find an empty parking lot to ride.

58| Go on a scavenger hunt (walk or drive)

I know we aren’t supposed to be interacting too much w/ the public here, but walks through the woods or neighborhoods are options. And, so are car rides! You can create your own, or here are some scavenger hunts you can do while in the car, walking through a park, or even in your house (numbers 1, 2 and 5 in this post!)

59| Geocaching

This is a fun type of scavenger hunt you can do outdoor, finding secret containers with your cell phone! This involves minimal interactions with others but gets you out of the house. Just remember the sanitizer. Here’s a place you can find some geocaching activities in your area.

60| Play with bubbles

You can get all kinds of bubble apparatus from Dollar Tree, that go beyond just your regular bubbles. If you have a bubble machine, even better! And this activity is super-fun and takes it up a couple of notches, especially for the older kids.

 61| Sidewalk chalk creations

Let the kids loose with chalk on the driveway or sidewalk. They can write messages, draw pictures…or…

62| Play hopscotch

Hopscotch kept us busy for a good long while when I was a kid! It’s a great chalk activity that also gets them moving. With chalk, you can also…

63| Create chalk racetrack

This is super fun for boys and their cars or trucks, or if you have the room, the kid can ride their bikes through it!

64| Jump rope

Good old-school jump rope. If your family is big enough, set up a big rope with 2 people twirling. So many games for that! Or just let them have at it individually.

65| Games with balls: soccer, baseball, football

So many games you can play with balls! Even just having a catch with a baseball and glove! Don’t forget about wiffleball, kickball, and SPUD! If you don’t have a yard big enough, see if there’s a field nearby or even the school grounds.

66| Throw things outside: nerf balls, frisbees, rocks, foam or paper airplanes

What kid doesn’t love to throw? I’m constantly saying, ‘No throwing in the house.’ Well, get them outside to throw. Just be safe and have designated areas if they’re throwing rocks!

67| Outdoor picnic

The novelty of eating outside has always been fun for kids! You can do it at your outdoor patio table or go to a grassy field or park, or even your front or back yard.

68| Catch the sunrise or sunset

Plan to get up early and see the sunset. If your yard isn’t conducive, drive to a good location. You probably won’t see many people! Or, find a good spot to catch the sunset. Pack some snacks, and you’re good to go!

69| Stargaze

On a clear night, let them stay up late and look at the stars! Drive to a place with no artificial lights if your yard is too bright. If you have a telescope, even better.

This is a great guide to see what is visible in the night sky every night and here is a constellation guide that also has some activities and lesson plans available, too. This is an almanac site that has great info about the night sky, geared just for kids!

70| Scenic Drive

Maybe this one is more for mom? To clear your head? Let the kids zone out or watch a movie or have device time? You can make this about the scenery or you can make this just about getting out of the house for a while. It will still benefit everyone.

And if you want the printable for these activities so it’s right in front of you for quick reference (no searching through your phone screenshots or Facebook saves or Pinterest boards), just fill out the box at the end of the post to grab it for free!

 

We Will Survive. Promise

We will get through, moms. We were made for hard stuff like this. Try to enjoy the ride!

More Ideas for Boredom Busters

If you need some specific crafts or activities with instructions, check out a few of my other favorite posts by other bloggers!

22 Indoor Activities to Do With Kids (both quiet ones and ones that get energy out!)

87 Energy Busting Activities for Kids

35 Activities for Kids at Home (and You’re Out of Ideas)

Low Prep Stem Activities for Kids

Low Key Activities for Kids

100 TV Free Activities for Kids

Seasonal Bucket Lists for Families (with Free Printables)

Summer Bucket List  (a summer family planner might help!)

Fall Bucket List  

Christmas Bucket List

 

More Fun Ideas for Kids

Creative Camping Photo {& Selfie!} Challenge + 18 More Free Printables!

Best Out of Waste Ideas: Easy & Fun Crafts for Kids

Creative Ways Your Kids Can Give Back

Life-Saving Summer Schedule for Kids Printable Templates

 

Grab your Kid Activities Free Printable here!

Don’t forget to get the free printable to have all of these ideas right at your fingertips! Just fill out the box below!

 

Thoughts? I’d love to hear them! Leave a comment below!