Do you get shivers down your spine every time your kids start saying they are bored? You’ve probably come up with plenty of games and activities for them already, but kids oftentimes need extra guidance when it comes to activities. And as moms (and dads!), we can always use more ideas for activities, especially ones that don’t involve screens. Since your kids’ education is not limited to the classroom, creative games and activities at home help to exercise your kids’ imagination and get them to learn outside a structured environment. If you need some inspiration, take a look at these ideas perfect for kids of all ages and interests.
Here are some creative games and activities to spark your kids’ imagination and learning at home.
If your little ones are obsessed with Marvel or DC superheroes, try to leave existing characters in books and movies and come up with your own heroes. Kids love to play pretend, and that activity is very healthy and beneficial for their brains. Not to mention that also it fosters creative intelligence.
Transforming into unique characters like superheroes and coming up with specific powers allows children to exercise their imaginations. And pretending to be superheroes also ensures they get some physical activity in as well.
Discuss your kids’ superpowers, come up with costume designs if you can, and create catchy names. Now they’re ready to play out their wildest superhero fantasies!
Encourage Building Games
Building blocks and LEGOs are a great way to discover your kids’ architectural tendencies and beat boredom in a healthy way at home. Toys like these are very beneficial for creative play since they allow kids to create, transform, and reuse various elements. And these games have no specific end point. So children can play for as long as they like and make up stories around whatever they build.
If you don’t have any building blocks at home right now, you can create various buildings using straws, toilet paper tubes, paper towels, popsicle sticks, and similar household items.
Play an Instrument (or Learn to Play or Sing Virtually)
Playing an instrument is not only good for developing creativity, but it’s an amazing exercise for the brain as a whole. If you have some skills to pass on to your kids, and you own an instrument, make sure to start practicing today. All of you will love this little family activity. It will allow you to recreate your favorite hits and even create some of your own.
Even if you don’t know how to play, there are amazing online tutorials that will teach some basics to your kids in no time. And if you don’t own instruments, you can find virtual keyboards online to play simplified versions of songs. Also, there are plenty of YouTube tutorials that will teach you how to play.
If that’s not for you, you can always just improvise with lyrics and melody by singing. And letting your kids write their own songs and melodies is fun for the whole family!
You can also find singing tutorials on YouTube from real voice teachers. Don’t forget to throw in some fancy dance moves as well—that will definitely shoo away the boredom and tire out your kids.
Engage in Arts and Crafts
When you’re stuck at home, there’s no better way to have fun and be productive than to engage in some arts and crafts. If you need some inspiration, there are amazing crafting projects for kids you can make at home with only a few tools and materials.
DIY projects are great for developing creativity, but they can also help practice motor skills and communication. So, find some art ideas, set aside one “boring” afternoon, and get crafting!
Looking for some ideas? Check out our crafts section here for plenty of DIY fun.
Read Every Day
Reading is a great way to bond with your kids, but it can be so much more than that. Reading and listening build imagination and spark creativity. So find some age-appropriate books and make it a tradition to read every day.
You can even organize a kids’ book club with other families from school or neighborhood and you can share stories (virtually for now!), impressions, and book recommendations.
In order to make each book even more special and memorable, you can come up with a related task. For instance, if you’re reading James and the Giant Peach, you can find a tasty peach cobbler recipe and enjoy it as you read.
Source: Lina Kivaka
Shoot a Movie
If your kids are always stuck to your TV screen, that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. In order to turn the attention from existing TV shows, bring Hollywood to your living room and shoot your own show or movie.
Come up with an idea as a family, assign roles (actors, directors, camera operators), and spring into action. You’ll have a ton of laughs and put your creativity to good use just by getting dressed up in your costumes.
If you think this is too ambitious for you, opt to recreate your favorite music video. And you can simply film the family dancing to your favorite song. Once it’s time to screen your masterpiece, don’t forget to make a special night out of it and dress up fancy!
Start a Family Blog
If your kids have a lot to say to the world, why not provide them with a platform that will allow them to practice their creative freedom?
Design a family blog, and give your kids a place where they can share their stories. And it’s another way to keep family and friends updated on their hobbies and accomplishments and show everyone their new toys, crafts, or skills.
You can even use your blog to document your trips, parties and events. However, make sure to always be present when kids are posting something online. And remember not to post anything too personal.
With these amazing ideas, you’ll almost totally forget all about that nasty little word called “boredom.” While many parents never want to hear their kid say “I’m bored,” remember that boredom gives kids time to explore new interests and learn plenty of new things. With you as a guide, your kids will get to develop their creativity and discover many new and useful activities they can do at home.
Which of these kids’ creative activities to do at home is your favorite? Did you try any of these with your kids? We’d love to hear from you! Share with us in the comments below.
Want more ideas for games and activities to play with kids indoors? Check out our 7 indoor games and activities for parents and kids to beat boredom.
About the Author
Morgan Rose Elliott is an aromatherapist, yoga instructor, animal lover, a happily married mother of two. She enjoys reading biographies and writing poems, sunny days on the beach and any shape and form of vanilla. Crazy about the ’80s, her favorite band is Duran Duran and she is obsessed with Netflix original Stranger Things. Find her on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/MorganRoseElli1