As a mother of two energetic boys, I know firsthand the challenge of keeping them entertained indoors without relying on screens during the holidays. Here are five fun kids activities that my boys and I love to do together, which not only keep them engaged but also help them learn and grow. It’s been raining a lot so these activities are perfect for the season!
Indoor Obstacle Course
Creating an indoor obstacle course is one of our favourite kids activities. It is pretty easy to set up using household items like pillows, chairs, and blankets. I arrange these items to create tunnels to crawl through, hurdles to jump over, and lines to balance on. The boys have a blast racing through the course, and it helps them burn off energy while improving their motor skills. A lot of the time they like to set up the obstacle course themselves and with a little imagination and pretend-play it’s a lot of fun!
Craft Time Kids Activities
Craft time is always a hit in our house. My boys love to paint so I always have some easy-to-clean paints around. We either paint on plain A4 sheets or colouring book pages. I have noticed that they enjoy painting more than colouring so we take out pages from our colouring books and paint them. I have saved up tutorials to make things like paper plate masks or handprint animals but we haven’t dived into them yet. Pinterest is a good place to look for kids’ craft ideas if you feel lost. Crafting not only keeps them busy but also enhances their fine motor skills.
Cooking Together
Cooking is another fantastic activity that we enjoy. My boys love helping me in the kitchen, even though I tend to shoo them out most of the time. During the summer holidays though I have times when we make things together especially baking. Whether it’s mixing ingredients, cutting out cookie shapes, or decorating cupcakes, the boys love helping especially because they get to lick the spoon. Baking teaches them about measuring, following instructions, and patience. Plus, we get to enjoy delicious treats together at the end!
Story time Adventures
Story time isn’t just about reading books; we turn it into an adventure. We often select a number of books we want to read and then hop into bed and I read the stories to them. Even though my 5 year old can read now he loves it when I do the reading. I always animate the voices to keep it exciting and build suspense. The boys love it because it makes reading more interactive and fun. This kids activity fosters their love for books and boosts their language skills.
Science Experiments
Simple science experiments are a big hit with my boys. We do things like making a volcano with baking soda and vinegar, creating slime, and building simple robots. These experiments spark their curiosity and teach them basic scientific concepts in a fun and hands-on way. I learn most of the things we build from Pinterest and Instagram. If you would like a collection of the ones I use you can let me know in the comments section. I must warn you that sometimes theres a bit of cleaning to be done after these activities so choose your project based on your energy level lol.
These kids activities not only keep my boys away from screens but also help us bond as a family. They offer a mix of physical activity, creativity, learning, and fun, making our indoor time enjoyable and productive. When kids are not in school it’s good to keep their minds curious till the next term begins. Which of these activities will you be starting first?
