Fun ways to spend time with your kids during the quarantine

What's Covered

We’re in a pandemic caused by a virus that is so virulent, it’s dangerous to even cough or sneeze outside! The Corona Virus has infected more than a hundred nineteen million individuals, out of which, 2.6 million are dead. One infected person who is unprotected (i.e., without a mask or face shield on) could infect 3 to 10 people! Hence, the tagline and number one rule for this pandemic are to stay home. But staying home can be quite a challenge, especially when you have your kids with you.  What can you do during this time?

Fun parent-initiated activities you can do with your kids during the quarantine

1.    Make a schedule and stick to it!

It’s one thing to be spontaneous, it’s another thing to run out of spontaneous things to do indoors with your kids. Yes, we all like a little spontaneity now and then, but then it can’t be sustainable when the pandemic is going on and on and on and on. It is good to have surprises as it keeps the dynamics exciting and flowing. But it is also good to stick to a schedule or a plan to reduce mistakes, prevent wasting resources, and maximize the time used. Planning makes you more efficient and effective when it comes to doing fun activities with your kids.

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Magnetic Dry Erase Monthly Calendar
This is a great visual for your schedule of activities that can be mounted on the refrigerator. This keeps everyone in the loop.

This is an organized timetable that will show how your week or month will go. This will keep your family members updated on the activities and remind them as well on what to prepare.  Keeping a schedule of things will not only make you use your resources wisely, but it will also prevent you from committing mistakes when it comes to preparations, maximizing all your resources to good use.  This will make you efficient in all your endeavors for the month, thereby decreasing any stress of planning and making your quarantine worthwhile. You won’t have to worry about what you will do tomorrow with your children since everything is organized.

Moreover, to get an idea on what to do during this quarantine, it would be best to read up on it. You may try reading this comprehensive book, since it has a lot of activities and games for your kids and your family.

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Great Big Book of Children's Games
This comprehensive book about games and activities can guide you in coming up with fun activities with your family.

2.    Educate your kids on Corona Virus

It’s a scary world out there, what with all the infections and asymptomatic patients not getting tested and wearing masks.  And it’s doubly scary for the kids to be hearing about a disease that kills. Even my eldest child doesn’t want to go out without a mask because of fear of dying. During quarantine, it would be best to educate them on what’s going on around them. This will be like an empowerment model of education wherein the participants are being empowered with bits and pieces of knowledge, as students become the initiator of education, hence there is empowerment.[1]  These students learn actively since they take on the role of educating themselves about health. Translating it into educating them on the pandemic, you can present them with IEC materials that they can understand, ask questions about, and later on learn actively from.

3.    Set a treasure hunt or a maze

Treasure hunting and solving mazes are fun games for kids. These could last you a day, depending on the items that you hide as prizes or how complicated and fun the maze is. You can set the clues in various places in your house. And you can hide your prizes in inconspicuous places. You can even use the whole house.  You can give them maps or clues as they go through the treasure hunt or maze. Children who can use maps or navigate through them have shown good cognitive and planning skills.[2]   The treasure hunting game can also enhance the kids’ spatial thinking and memory, which they cannot primarily learn in school.[3]

4.    Read to your kids or set a storytelling time

Parents reading to their children foster language development early on.[4]  Moreover, it also enhances literacy and comprehension as children as read to between ages 1 to 3 years old.[5]   This will not only benefit the child, but it will also be beneficial to the family dynamics.  The bond between the parents and the children is strengthened since this activity creates a venue for them to talk and ask and discuss things as they read.  And nothing can stop a child from asking, believe me!

5.    Download and print out printable

There are many educational printable on the internet today.  And since school is still out, you can easily download all the possible modules for your children.  Take this time to be their teacher, tutor, or professor, or whatever they may call you inside the make-shift classroom.  This will be a lot like homeschooling. The advantage this time is that you can monitor and control what they are learning and you can teach them what you want to teach them. 

6.    Create a learning space or a little classroom

Moving on from the printable, it’s time to take it to the make-shift classroom.  It would be the substitute for the formal classroom but since the children cannot go out, it would be best to create an alternative learning space, taking a semblance of the normal daily activities for these children.

7.    Give recess time between “classes”

Being the teacher at home, you can tailor-fit their “classes” schedule to their preference. Setting recess in between these classes will bring fun into this since recess time will be enjoined by you.  You can prepare their snacks and then put them in their lunchboxes, giving it the school vibe.

8.    Teach them checkers or chess

You will need checkers or a chessboard. Technically, this involves just 2 players. But you can assign coaches per team (team child 1 versus team child 2, with both parents as coaches for either team). You have to be knowledgeable enough about checkers or chess to teach this game, though.  Who knows? You might just have a chess master in your midst!

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Chess Armory 15
This high-quality chessboard and pieces are great for teaching your kids about the mind-boggling game of chess.

This game enhances critical thinking and reasoning.  This can teach your child how to strategize and how to plan a course of action. You can also learn a thing or two from this game. If you are not well-versed with the game, you can make learning fun by playing with your child.

9.    Teach your kids household chores

Let me reiterate this: children learn social responsibility, and later on accountability through chores.[6] It is best to take advantage of this stage, them being young and eager to learn. Kids at this stage are always excited to offer help, join you in whatever you do, and eager to ask and learn. It will be beneficial for everyone if they learn these chores early on. They can be self-reliant and independent when they grow up, and won’t have to rely on you to do things for them or on other people, for that matter. You can start with the easy chores like making their bed after waking up, cleaning their rooms, packing away their toys, sweeping and mopping the floor, arranging the table, folding the laundry, watering the plants, or packing away their toys. This is like hitting two birds with one stone: keeping the house clean and bonding with your children over it.

10.    Paint and repair your kid’s toys

Kids can be so playful that their toys end up without legs or heads, or loose parts as they play with them.  And yet they still keep these toys and play with them. What you can do is set up a clinic for these damaged or broken toys. They can line up their toys as if they are patients waiting for the clinic to open shop. You can ask them to help you repaint or repair these toys (as long as you are not using anything sharp or no hammering is involved). The kids will be so grateful that you are taking the time to help them fix these precious toys.

11.    Throw an online quarantine children’s party

When partying physically is not achievable, you can always turn to the new normal, which is throwing an online party. You will need party props for the backdrop, cupcakes, loot bags, goodies or candies to be put inside the loot bags, small toys, school supplies, games logistics, among others. You can send an e-invite to your neighbors or your children’s friends, specifying the date and time for the online party. Then you provide them the link for the party itself. The preparations can include a host (or you can do this yourself), a game master (or you can do this yourself also, but you will have to double your effort on coming up with games that can be played online by a lot of kids), and a schedule that will be provided to the online guests so they will know what to expect from the online party.  Set a theme for this party and have your children dress up for the event.

Fun parent- or children-initiated activities that you can do this quarantine

12.    Have a picnic in your backyard

Picnics are always fun. However, with the pandemic, it is not advisable to be sunbathing with a crowd of asymptomatic strangers. Hence, you can do it in your backyard. Set up the barbeque grill and start flipping those patties.

Sale
Intex Rectangular Frame Above Ground Outdoor Child Safe Splash Swimming Pool
This is a great alternate for swimming pools. Great for all occasions, great at storage, too.

This rectangular pool is the best alternative when you have no swimming pool at home.  This is easy to set up and it is safe for your kids.  You can join them while they swim around in your new pool. You can lounge in the pool as the kids enjoy your company and the pool, bonding with your kids like no other time than this quarantine period.

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Royal Gourmet 30
This is a great cooker for outdoors, especially for picnics in the backyard. It is easy to use and uses coal for grilling.

Take charge of cooking for your wife and your kids by using this easy-to-use griller as they enjoy the picnic in the backyard. You can cook whatever you want. If you are health conscious, you can cook your meats here, without using oil. Healthy food at your convenience anytime.  You can keep your family healthier with this. And you can just leave your food on the grill, too, giving you more time to bond with your family. 

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Merry Garden Kids Wooden Picnic Bench Outdoor Patio Dining Table,
Give your kids independence when eating their food with this picnic bench set out just for them. This is great for outdoors.

Giving them their own space in your picnic is a good way of teaching them self-reliance and independence.  They can eat on their own. They will feel like grown-ups given a task like that. They will be responsible for their table and food. You just have to guide them when you see that they need your assistance. Aside from that, you will have happy little picnic buddies.

13.    Make a fort

Gather all your blankets and cardboard boxes, and make a competition out of making the biggest and strongest forts right inside your living room!

Princess Castle Tent for Girls by Tevelo
Your little highness’ fort for the day can enrich your daughter’s imagination and creativity as she goes into her royal fort of forts. Set this up in the living room with all the other forts, making an empire of forts.

Your little girl will be so excited to see this! Not only will she be creative but she will also be responsible in her little fort. You can bond with her while you decorate this princess fort. She will feel so special when she sees this! Your princess will love playing with you. You can read books inside, or just talk about her dreams. Your little princess will surely appreciate your time with her.

Kizihaus Fort Building kit (Balls and Sticks Kit) with Storage Bag
This is a good kids’ fort for those who wants to build it into different shapes and sizes.  This is good for bringing out the creativity in your kids.

This is an easy to assemble fort.  Your kids will have fun building it into whatever shape or form they want.  They will put into good use their teamwork, creativity, spatial thinking, and problem-solving skills. You can guide them or help them build this fort. Not only is this fun, but educational, too. You can leave them for a few minutes as they build their fort and you can do other things like errands or chores. This will make fort building worthwhile because all of you will have fun building this.  You won’t even have to worry about safety because this is generally kid-friendly.

Happitry Kids Tent Indoor Playhouse, Kids Pop Up Play Tent
Another fort that you can have can be made out of this tent. Indoor or outdoor, this tent is a versatile fort for your kids. This is very easy to assemble and very fun to use.

This tent can be your secret clubhouse or whatnot. You can have your pretend clubhouse meetings inside with your kids (or snacking). You can let them read or play inside this tent.  Your happy little campers will enjoy playing pretend all day. You will not have a chance to bond with your kids like this, as what you have now.

14.    Watch family TV shows or movies

Now is the time to sit down, get the popcorn popping in the microwave, set the soda cans in your cooler, and make a footrest out of it. Movie and TV marathons are always fun when you are with your kids. You can take turns choosing what to watch. Make a list of all the shows that you wanted to watch with your family and make them choose which ones they want to watch first.  Nothing more relaxing than lounging all day on the sofa and watching TV with your family. 

Projector Screen with Stand 120inch Portable Projection Screen
A very good alternative to the big screen is another screen that can be set up indoors or outdoors. This is great for watching movies with the family, making the movie experience enjoyable.

Wider screens make the movie-watching experience more appealing.  Your kids will feel like they are in the movie house, except, of course, they are still the comforts of your own home, sans the virus. You can prop your feet up on the sofa, or lie down with your kids while watching movies.  This will take your bonding with your kids to another level. They would want to watch more! Family dynamics with this experience will be stronger and more fluid. 

15.    Bake or cook together

My eldest daughter is aged 7. And she has started to pick up a broom or a mop or put soap on the dishes after she eats. She regularly asks, “What are you cooking?” or “Can I help?”, which I believe is due to her wanting to learn about things that we do around the house.  Children learn social responsibility, and later on accountability through chores.[7] This is a simple way of giving them that education.  Hence, this quarantine is the most perfect time to start teaching them about things around the house—starting with baking or cooking. 

Tovla Jr. Kids Cooking and Baking Gift Set with Storage Case
This complete baking set for children is safe to use and easy to clean. This will help them bake or cook since these are customized for kids’ use.

These are safe, non-toxic baking tools for your kids to use in the kitchen. You can give them tasks to do as you supervise their baking or cooking.  Children are happy once they can comply with their tasks or fulfill requests made by their parents. They feel independent and empowered by making things on their own, especially when these are appreciated. They say food tastes good when you put your heart into it. I’m sure the food that will come out of that kitchen will smell and taste good. Your kids will enjoy helping in the cooking. You will most definitely hear them say, “I made that!”, proudly, I might add.

Tovla Jr. Knives for Kids 3-Piece Nylon Kitchen Baking Knife Set
This set of knives is safe to use and efficiently made for kids. This will help them cut their vegetables nicely and safely while protecting their tiny hands from nicks and cuts.

Our main worry, when we have our children in the kitchen, is that they will harm themselves in the process of cooking or baking.  But when you have accessories such as these, tailor-made for kids, your worries can be set aside. You can enjoy teaching them the proper way of cooking or cutting the ingredients, may it be fruits or vegetables. Every slice is a little achievement by your kids. Praise them and encourage them as they do the tasks you give them. Your children will enjoy it so much, that cooking time can be one of the bonding activities that you can enjoy as a family, until much later on.

16.    Train your pets

You can train or teach your pets new tricks, with your children as your assistants.  This is fun since the pets are mostly owned by the children.  This activity can take up a whole day.  You can build an obstacle course in your backyard for this.  Of course, your children will be your little helpers.  They can assist you by holding the prizes as positive reinforcements for your pets when they can comply with the tasks.  They can also demonstrate to the pets what is being asked since pets mostly follow their owners.  This activity will be like play therapy for both the children and the pets. 

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Prevue Pet Products Catville Tower
This obstacle course for your pets can boost playfulness and activity in your pets.  They can play or get frisky with other pets as they go through the ups and downs of the obstacle course.

Your kids will enjoy watching your pets go through this. You can coach your pets or teach them tricks through the reward system that you can incorporate into this.  Your kids will also learn how to handle your pets as well as have fun playing and watching them. 

17.    Do science experiments

You will need protective gear for this activity.  You can set a list of experiments that you can do with your children, as long as it is safe and it won’t burn your house down! Or you can make a science competition to see who comes up with the best science project!  This will surely hype up the children. But of course, you would have to have prizes. You know that, don’t you?

Doing experiments at home with your children will entail a constant interaction between the parents and children.  And this social interaction between them is essential for learning and development.[8] This is a fun bonding activity for quarantine. You can have all the time in the world to teach your kids about science. And having science experiments can boost their curiosity and eagerness to learn more. You will also, as a parent, learn a thing or two about science, with the help of your kids. It’s an opportunity for learning to bounce back and forth between you and your children.  Not only will you make learning fun, but your kids will be able to approach you whenever they will have any shortcomings in school since you bonded something that is supposed to be done in school.  All these will be translated into trusting you with their school worries, with you taking the cue in assisting them however you can, just like in doing these experiments.

18.    Learn Tiktok dance moves

This form of social media requires you to make videos in under 5 minutes. There are dance challenges on Tiktok, which you could ask your children to teach you, or you could learn with them! This is fun since children love to dance.  Just create a profile and voila! You’re in! look for wholesome dance challenges that your children can participate. 

Selfie Ring Light with Tripod Stand & Cell Phone Holder
This cell phone stand and holder will make your life easier when you try to learn those Tiktok moves with your children. This is easy to use, set up, and very minimal on the storage area.

You won’t have to hold your mobile phone the entire time you and your kids are trying to learn those Tiktok dance challenges.  You can dance and laugh and be goofy all at the same time and not worry about your phone falling or you’re not able to record the videos or your child cannot see the video.  Everyone can participate in this activity because all your hands are free.  What a fun way to enjoy learning and streaming your videos!  Your kids will be happier seeing that you are dancing with them as well. Let out those dancing shoes and start dancing!

19.    Have a DIY arts and crafts day

If you have female children, this would make their day. Let your creativity flow with this activity.  You will need construction papers, stickers, scissors, glue, glitter, and a lot of other stuff! Go crazy on your designs, or help your children with theirs. This is a relaxing activity for your children (and maybe for you, too!).

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FunzBo Arts and Crafts Supplies for Kids
This art and crafts supplies kit has it all.  Let your imagination run wild and have fun with your arts and crafts with your family.

Art therapy for families is effective in illustrating their feelings and thoughts that they may not feel comfortable sharing in a normal setting.[9] You can communicate more deeply and freely when you have art as an outlet for your true feelings. Some kids are not verbal or affectionate when it comes to other members of their family, but it can still be illustrated through art.  Not only are you having fun making art, but you are learning about each other through your works of art. Preferences, dislikes, thoughts, fears, and emotions may be shown through art therapy.  There are no right or wrong answers when it comes to art. Hence, children are more themselves when they are doing this with their parents.

20.    Video call other family members

Nothing beats loneliness other than phone calls from family members you haven’t seen or heard from for a while. And while this pandemic is creating a big enough gap in physical space and relationships, it helps to get a call every now and then from someone far away. With the technology now, it is easy to see people you are calling. Video calls are easier since you can see the person you are talking to, making communication more visual and more fun. 

21.    Make your DIY playdough

Here, you will need flour or cornstarch, food coloring, water, vegetable oil, a large bowl, and measuring cups.  First, you will mix the flour, cornstarch, and oil.  In a separate bowl, you can add the food coloring into the water. When you achieved the desired color or shade, you can then pour the colored water slowly into the flour mix.  Add more flour in increments to achieve your preferred consistency.  You can use cookie cutters to make shapes out of the dough. This exercise lets your children develop hand dexterity, hand and eye coordination, and makes them feel more relaxed. 

22.    Create a DIY slime

Another stress reliever is slime. Here, you will need liquid glue, baking soda, water, shaving cream, contact lens solution or borax, and food coloring. You can take turns in mixing or putting the ingredients into the bowl.  You can let your child squeeze the glue into the bowl (because this sounds more fun), and then you can pour in the water. Then your child can put in the color, then you can put in the borax or the contact lens solution. Stir until the slime comes together. 

23.    Play board games and cards

There are a lot of board games and card games that you can play with your children. You can do this during snack time or even after dinner.

Sale
ThinkFun Zingo Bingo Award Winning Preschool Game
This board game is good for critical thinking skills for kids. It also develops reading skills, builds language and matching skills in preschoolers.
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Hasbro Monopoly Junior Board Game
This classic board game is good for enhancing the kids’ math skills. It’s a fun way to teach them about counting and simple transactions that involves math. This also helps the kids stay focused and engaged in the game.

Play therapy in families can enhance emotional openness, communication, and understanding between the parents and the children.[10] Like in art and crafts, playing with your kids can give you additional time to talk and bond.  Kids would want nothing more than to bond with their parents through play.  This makes the experience more enjoyable for them because you are actively participating in their activities. Playing with them stabilizes the dynamic in the family. It can strengthen trust and confidence between family members, making the unit very strong.

Hoyle 6 in 1 Fun Pack - Kids Card Games
These playing cards for kids has it all. You can play a variety of card games with this set.

Card games, like board games, can enhance memory skills and cognitive skills in children. You can also learn while having tons of fun with your children. You can get a lot just by playing with your kids. You make your kids happier. You help them learn, at the same time, you can also learn from this experience.  You will get to talk more with your kids, they get to see more of you.

24.    Put a puzzle together

For this activity, you have to set a goal for the whole family. The more participants, the more fun it’ll be—and the sooner you’ll complete a puzzle. You will need a big puzzle made up of plenty of pieces.  The goal is to get the whole thing done by the end of the day.  Whoever gets to put in the last piece wins a prize (so you have to be prepared!).

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2-Pack of 1000-Piece Jigsaw Puzzles
This 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle will make your time filled with confusion and fun. This is a perfect activity for non-stop bonding for your family.  This will not only improve your family dynamics, but will also be good for the brain development of your children.

Being able to solve jigsaw puzzles have increased metarepresentational abilities of children, even less than 4 years of age.[11] Puzzles do not only enhance cognitive development for children, but also encourages their understanding of how things are put together or work together.  This also translates into problem solving skills that children can possess early on.

25.    Go for a walk around your house

With this quarantine, you will have a lot of time to explore places in your house that you haven’t explored yet. Take your kids with you. Rummage through your garage or in your attic. Look at old pictures or stuff that have been in your house for years.  Each piece may have stories behind them.  Declutter. Ask your kids what you should and shouldn’t keep. 

26.    Play charades

For this game, you will need two teams. List down categories and titles for each category in little pieces of paper, then put them in a bowl. Ask the opposite team to pick 1 paper for you. You have to act out what is written on the paper so that your team can guess what it is. This is a fun activity since you can not tell what you are acting out.

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Family Charades
This is a truly enjoyable game for your family game night. This will help develop communication skills and non-verbal communication skills in children. It also encourages the players to think outside the box and to be able to recognize cues.

Once your family gets the hang of how this is played, everything will be in sync. Playing live actions will be funny on the surface, but deeper than that, it can help your kids develop skills in communication and non-verbal communication. Recognizing body language is important as you interact with your children, and recognizing cues and signs can be helpful in most situations where children cannot verbalize their emotions.  This is one way of keeping the communication lines open.

27.    Host a paint night

A paint night would consist of murals, cardboards, and paint panels.  You can also use blank sheets of paper. Ask your children to paint a picture of you. This will be fun since you will be able to see how they see you through their artwork.  You can also ask your kids to paint freestyle, as some would want to paint whatever is in their minds. 

28.    Play dress up

Decide on a theme for the day and ask them to dress up however they want, according to the theme set. It will be like Halloween, only in March. Help them make their costumes. Let them help you hang the decorations and make the snacks.

29.    Create an animal fact sheet

You will need construction papers, pens, markers, coloring materials, stickers, glue, scissors, pictures of animals.  You can ask your children to decide which animals they want to include in their fact sheets. For every page, paste a picture of the animal, write the name, any nice-to-know facts about the animal chosen. You can let them write at least five facts per animal. Your role will be that of a fact-checker, an assistant (with sharps or glue), and a content contributor. This is a chance to teach your children about animals, familiarize them with the species and the like. They can be as creative as they want to be.

30.    Make your own cardboard game

You will need dice, cardboard, markers, stickers, and tiny toys (i.e., soldiers or animals or shapes).  You can collaborate or pick on your children’s minds on how they want the game to play out. Will there be consequences involved? Will there be prizes? Let them create a scene on the cardboard.

31.    Ask questions about each other

Another interesting way to spend time with your kids is by rediscovering each other.  You might have been too busy to notice things happening in their lives, so take this time to ask them about anything. How they feel, what they see, what they want, ambitions, dreams, or preferences. Tell them things about yourself. Tell a story that you have wanted to tell them. Fun times like these stay with them.  Have a conversation over dinner or snack time.

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Conversation Cards | Let's Mingle Kids Card Game
This is a great conversation starter for kids. They can ask their parents questions from a deck of cards.

This creates an opportunity for the children to know their parents more. This is also a great avenue for the parents to actively converse with their children. You can tell all the epic stories and experiences that you have had in your life. This activity will surely be memorable to your kids since they will get to know more about you.

TABLETOPICS Family: Questions to Start Great Conversations
This is a great way to engage your kids in conversations. You can do this during mealtime or at bedtime. You can do this regularly. It’s a great tool to learn about each other.

The more questions asked, the more you will know about the members of your family. The more open the communication lines between you and your family, the lesser conflicts will appear, making your family happier as is.

32.    Start a book club

This book club would be a different book club. Since this will include your kids, most of the books that they will probably read are fairy tales or storybooks. But the fun part is, you get to spend your time with them while rediscovering your youth through their favorite books. Tell them about your favorite books and maybe one day, they might have a copy of that, too.

33.    Try origami

Origami is the art of paper folding. You can learn with your kids via watching videos for beginners, or if you already know how to do this, then you can just teach them. You will need lots and lots of paper or construction paper.

Gamenote Colorful Kids Origami Kit
This Origami kit comes with instructional guides and origami paper. This is a great tool for spending quality time with your kids.

This enhances the cognitive skills and fine motor skills of your children.  What is more fun is that you learn as you go through with the manual. You can create anything. It might not be easy at first, but at least your children are learning with you. The children will get to show you what they have accomplished and you get to guide them through the process of folding paper into something beautiful.  This is a great opportunity to teach and learn with your kids.

34.    Make a Youtube channel

Do your kids like being in front of the camera? Make a Youtube channel! Find their niche or their interests, come up with scripts or go live, you can make vloggers out of them these days. You can be a director and cameraman at the same time. They can talk about anything under the sun. It would be fun for them to watch their videos, uploaded or not. You might even make some income from this.

35.    Learn musical instruments

Quarantine is like the golden opportunity to do all the things that you haven’t had the time to do.  Why not take up piano lessons? Or guitar? Or flute? Or clarinet? Or the ukulele? You can join your kids in learning.  You can even create a band if everyone gets in on the action.

36.    Bird watching

For this activity, you will need binoculars, a folding bed or chair, sunglasses, books, iced tea, and a few finger foods to keep hunger at bay.  You can set all these in your backyard, and encourage your kids to join you lounge there. You can make them identify the birds that they can see (of course, the variety will be limited, but still, this will be fun for toddlers since they are the ones who are mostly interested in these animals). While waiting for birds, you can talk or play or swim in the pool.

37.    Make soaps

You will need soap molds, coconut oil, vegetable oil, olive oil, lye, distilled water, and other organic ingredients that you wish to make your soaps out of.  It will be like creating slime or play dough, but this time, you can use this at home or give them out as gifts. You can add colorants or fragrances if you like. This is a fun activity to be doing with your kids.

38.    Get plenty of sleep

When you are tired of doing all these activities, take a day off. Roll around in your bed with your kids, doze off, eat, play, watch tv, then get some more sleep.  Change your sheets, fluff your pillows, and let your kids jump into the bed.

39.    Learn, teach, or create a new language with your kids

A lot of new things to learn during this quarantine period. One of them is to learn a new language. Learn with your kids or teach your kids, it’s the same thing. You can have fun while learning and speaking it in your home. You can create a special language for just your family and try to use it when you can go outside. It would be like a secret coded language.  I can just imagine your kids giggling over the confused faces of those who don’t understand.

40.    Make a garden

One of the best things about having your kids at home is that you can get them to help you out with your activities at home—or the backyard. You can create a garden or a vegetable nursery. Teach them how to plant trees and get excited with them as they watch this grow into big chunks of wood.  Fruit-bearing trees or plants are especially exciting since they will be so eager for these plants to bear fruits.  Fruit picking can be another bonding activity with your kids, and you can do it right there in your backyard. The fun thing about doing this with your kids is that they are not that picky or artsy with what they have in their hands—be it worms or insects. So take advantage of this time and create your garden that you know you have wanted to make for so long.

41.    Make a vision board

A vision board is the visualization of your goals or plans for the future. You will need an illustration board, coloring materials, pictures, pins, scissors, construction paper, stickers, glitter (if you will), and glue. Ask your children what they want for their future lives. Ask them how they think they can achieve that. Take a video or pictures of your activity and put these up so that they will be reminded of how they see themselves—with the highest esteem. Contribute advice and share your experiences with them. They will listen. Some kids have ambitions at quite a young age. Others change paths. But whatever they want to do when they grow up, it would be best to just support them. Nothing is more valuable to these kids than your utmost support of their goals and dreams.

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MAGNIFICENT 101 Vision Board Kit
This vision board kit has it all—from pictures to embellishments you need to complete that future self-visualization.
Quartet Cork Board Bulletin Board
This bulletin board is sturdy and can be mounted. You can transform this into a platform of your goals and dreams, and mount it on your wall so you will be reminded every day that you are worthy.

It’s good to visualize yourself in the future. It is said that vision boards have the power to lift you, since it’s your presentation of your future self, with goals and dreams in place.  Teaching your kids to dream is a good way of giving them hope. Let that be a legacy; it lasts.

42.    Make a sensory bag

You will need a hair gel, hand sanitizer, or oil, a bag that can be sealed, water or glass beads, buttons, stickers, erasers, glitter, and sealers. Fill in the bag with hand sanitizer or hair gel or oil, make sure to put in just a little, not too much so that you can seal the bag without spilling the contents. Squeeze in your beads, erasers, or buttons. Add on the stickers or glitter, and then seal those babies up. They can use these to improve gross motor skills, dexterity, and cognitive skills. Fun and educational!

43.    Make a family scrapbook

Alex Craft Eco Crafts Scrapbook
This scrapbook kit for kids will bring out the creativity and the crafting skills of your kids. This will make rediscovering and connecting with your family more memorable and fun.

Everything you need for a scrapbook is here. You just have to look for your old photos and your kids’ photos, as well.  Your kid’s baby stuff that is not in use anymore can also be used. Cut out parts of this old stuff that you think have stories attached to them. Include also the things that are memorable to you as a spouse and as a parent.  Collate all these and create your family scrapbook.  Scrapbooks preserve all the beautiful memories that you have, not only in photos but in other things as well. Your children can go through it to learn more about you as their parents. It would be very exciting to discover things about their parents. It would make them feel closer to you now that they know you much more.

44.    Help your kids clean up their rooms

You can make this activity fun by helping them. Let them take the lead in cleaning up their rooms. Allow them to decide which toys are going and which ones they are keeping.  This way, they are empowered to make that decision for themselves, and maybe carry on the trait in the future.  Ask them also about the arrangement of the furniture like the bed or the desk.  Maybe they have better ideas for arranging their rooms. After all, it is their room. They are the ones living in it. You can input a little advice here and there. At the end of the day, teamwork will always get the job done.

45.    Take virtual dance classes

There’s a lot of tutorial classes streaming on Youtube. I bet your kids can dance along with all the dance classes they are giving out on Youtube. You can do this routinely in the morning or the afternoon. You can do this in the comforts of your home. You can even choose what you want to learn—it can be jazz or modern or ballroom or even ballet. It’s time to get your body moving! And what’s great is that your kids can join you!

46.    Learn about the human body

Be Amazing! Toys Interactive Human Body Fully Poseable Anatomy Figure
This educational interactive human body model can help your children understand their bodies more. This interactive human body model will make the learning enjoyable for the kids.

One of the many things that you have to teach your kids is the parts of their bodies. This is especially important since most pediatric patients do not know how to verbalize pain or symptoms accurately.  Teaching them the parts of the human body early on can work to your advantage. You can create games out of this activity and the results will still be the same—they will still learn about the human body. You can also use this time to teach your body-conscious adolescents about their different body parts. You can inject reminders such as, the hot spots (i.e., areas which are not supposed to be touched by anyone else without their consent), and red flags (i.e., body parts that would need emergency attention if damaged).

47.    Build a Lego tower

It’s always fun to build Lego towers or castles or Lego anything. Legos can bring out the creativity in your children.  Lego construction can influence the mathematics performance, spatial thinking, and problem-solving skills of children.[12] Not only do these toys improve cognitive abilities, but their gross and fine motor skills, as well. The colors are visually attractive and stimulating, making this activity very entertaining for your children.  This can also bring out the creativity in you!

Lego Avengers Tower
This is a fun activity to do with your kids: building the Avengers tower! The kids will surely enjoy completing this with you.

48.    Go camping in the backyard

Coleman Dome Tent with Screen Room
This huge tent is good for a family camping. You can just be comfortable in this huge tent while having fun with your kids.

Camping in the backyard with a campfire and storytime is always fun. Ready the marshmallows and chocolate bars, and you’re all set.  You can just be in your pajamas for this camping activity.  The kids will love being out at night with you (even if it’s in the backyard). There’s a sense of liberation from being cooped up in the house for all these months. Prepare camp games so your kids will feel as if you’re on real camping (don’t forget to lock your doors!).

Final recommendations

I recommend, this all-inclusive must-read book for what you can do this quarantine Great Big Book of Children's Games. Next, this alternative pool Intex Rectangular Frame Above Ground Outdoor Child Safe Splash Swimming Pool, since kids enjoy being in the outdoors and swimming. Lastly, this classic board game Hasbro Monopoly Junior Board Game can be the highlight of your family game nights.  The bottom line is, you being present and actively participating in any activity will make the experience extra enjoyable for your family, especially your kids.


[1] Hagquist, Curt, and Bengt Starrin. “Health education in schools—from information to empowerment models.” Health promotion international 12.3 (1997): 225-232.

[2] Sandberg, Elisabeth Hollister, and Janellen Huttenlocher. “Advanced spatial skills and advance planning: Components of 6-year-olds’ navigational map use.” Journal of cognition and development 2.1 (2001): 51-70.

[3] Lin, Chien-Heng, Chien-Min Chen, and Yu-Chiung Lou. “Developing spatial orientation and spatial memory with a treasure hunting game.” Journal of Educational Technology & Society 17.3 (2014): 79-92.

[4] Whitehurst, Grover J., et al. “Accelerating language development through picture book reading.” Developmental psychology 24.4 (1988): 552.

[5] Dickinson, David K., et al. “How reading books fosters language development around the world.” Child development research 2012 (2012).

[6] Klein, Wendy, and MARJORIE HARNESS GOODWIN. “chores 6.” Fast-forward family: Home, work, and relationships in middle-class America (2013): 111.

[7] Klein, Wendy, and MARJORIE HARNESS GOODWIN. “chores 6.” Fast-forward family: Home, work, and relationships in middle-class America (2013): 111.

[8] Balzano, Emilio, and Rossella Parente. “Science laboratory activities for kids and parents in Naples.” Home, school and community: A partnership for a happy life (2011): 24-25.

[9] Lowenstein, Liana, and Trudy Post Sprunk. “Creative family therapy techniques: Play and art-based activities to assess and treat families.” Die Skriflig (2010).

[10] Lowenstein, Liana, and Trudy Post Sprunk. “Creative family therapy techniques: Play and art-based activities to assess and treat families.” Die Skriflig (2010).

[11] Doherty, Martin J., et al. “Piecing together the puzzle of pictorial representation: How jigsaw puzzles index metacognitive development.” Child development 92.1 (2021): 205-221.

[12] Nath, Swiya, and Dénes Szücs. “Construction play and cognitive skills associated with the development of mathematical abilities in 7-year-old children.” Learning and instruction 32 (2014): 73-80.

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Author

Diana Lucas

Diana Lucas

Hi, Diana here. Welcome to my blog and hope you like my sharing. I am a mother of 2 boys, 3 years old and a 1 year old. I dedicate my career in child development research and I focus on parenting tips, positive parenting, educational toys for my babies. Your time here means a lot to me! Diana A. Lucas

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