A Parent's Guide to Keeping Kids Busy
When I woke up this morning, I couldn’t help but feel excitement and dread, knowing that spring break was fastly approaching. As a kid, I loved the week of spring break, but as a mom, let’s just say my feelings are a bit more complicated.
As a mom, the last thing you want is for your child to sit on the couch and watch tv or play video games all day—so I’ve compiled a list of 82 awesome activities to do this week (indoor & outdoor) for your convenience!
Make your own sundaes
Make your own pizzas
Build a LEGO tower
Play computer games
Face painting
Make a music video
Watch a movie
Do a craft project
Re-do their bedrooms
Playdate with friends
Build a fort with blankets and pillows
Have a family movie night (and don’t forget the popcorn!)
Lay out sleeping bags for a living room slumber party
Tackle household chores together (washing the car, giving the dog a bath, etc.)
Play classic board games like Clue or Monopoly
Reminisce by looking at old home videos or photos
Test out a new recipe
Host a fashion show to mix-and-match fun outfits
Practice a new skill, whether it’s making paper airplanes, juggling, or doing magic tricks
Plan an at-home spa day
Have a photo shoot throughout the house
Whip up some homemade slime
Create paper bag puppets—then put on a puppet show for the whole family
Play “floor is lava”
Find a cool recipe and make it at home
Puzzles
Crossword puzzles
Madlibs
Play video games (more than usual)
Game day (bring out all the board games and play all day!)
Make a castle out of a cardboard box
Create homemade cards for friends and relatives
Get excited about learning with interactive STEM activities
Design a time capsule about your family—then bury it in the backyard
Set up an obstacle course (you can do this indoors or outdoors)
Throw a dance party with your family’s favorite tunes
Try out an online exercise video
Sleepovers with friends
Read a book
Plant an edible garden
Make a lemonade stand
Play with bubbles
Sleep underneath the stars by camping in the backyard
Plan an outdoor scavenger hunt
Break out the bonfire pit and make s’mores
Decorate the driveway with chalk
Make a collage with nature (twigs, leaves, flowers, etc.)
Jump rope
DIY bird feeders to hang in the yard
Paint rocks to use as decorative paperweights
Water balloon fight
Wash the car (amazing how kids get such a kick out of this)
Learn classic yard games like Red Rover, Hopscotch, or Kick the Can
Go bowling outdoors; you simply need some bottles and a ball
Host your own family Olympic games in the backyard
Go on a scavenger hunt (parents make it up!)
Go to the zoo
Go bowling
Go to indoor or outdoor mini-golf
Go to the park
Go to a trampoline park
Go Roller skating
Go For A Bike ride
Go swimming
Go to a local Children’s Museum
Go out to lunch
Walk along the beach and throw rocks into the water
Play baseball with friends
Nature walk in the woods
Find a local YMCA camp for the week
Learn to fly a kite
Have a picnic in the park
Fly a kite
Visit grandparents (if live locally)
Pick up basketball games
Day trip to out and about your local City
Head to the local mall
Find a local theatre and see if any plays or presentations are going on
Haircuts
Manicure/Pedicures
Find a local amusement park that’s open
Head to the park and feed the ducks
We’d love to hear about the laughs, memories, and experiences you’ve created together. Please share your stories and tell us what you and your children enjoyed doing together. We can’t wait to hear about the fun and unique twists you added to the above activities!