3 Ideas to Do with Your Kids at Home
It’s always been a challenge trying to entertain kids at home. Whether you have toddlers or older kids, it can be incredibly hard trying to keep up with the housework while you have kids screaming that they’re bored. The pandemic has exacerbated this even more. However, there are some fun ideas you can do with your kids that will keep them entertained, happy, occupied, and maybe they can learn a few things, too.
- Start an Indoor Garden
This is an excellent and educational way for you to take your kids on adventures without even leaving the house. The best part is, it can be incredibly cheap, too! Bonus points for using recycled materials as planters. Try using old egg cartons to start seeds or old soda bottles for larger plants. If you don’t want to start seeds, head to a nursery and grab some seedlings. Creating an indoor garden is also the perfect method for teaching kids about planting, the earth, and how to instill responsible ideals in them from a young age.
Another bonus to trying this fun activity is that it helps teach kids patience by waiting for the seeds to grow and helps them learn some responsibility by watering them every day. If you don’t want to spend money on potting soil, grab some dirt from outside. The only thing that costs actual money is the seeds, and those are typically only a dollar or two per packet.
- Make Ooey-Gooey Slime
While making slime can be slightly messy, it’s a surefire way to mesmerize your kids and keep them entertained for hours. If you’re worried about spending a lot of money, there are simple ways to make slime from ingredients that you probably already have in your house-;that’s the best part! However, there are many different recipes to choose from if you want something a little more complicated or something that can be stored and played with again whenever the kids want.
You can also go all-out and purchase fun little knickknacks like glitter, stars, or other charms to put in the slime. Here’s a super simple recipe that only consists of cornstarch and shampoo, or add in some food coloring to make fun colors. It’s also an excellent way to teach your kids about science and how to accurately measure ingredients while keeping them entertained at the same time.
The Easiest Slime Recipe Ever:
- Gather a big mixing bowl, shampoo, cornstarch, and food coloring (optional).
- Mix ½ cup shampoo with ¼ cup of cornstarch in the bowl.
- Mix them thoroughly.
- Add two or three drops of food coloring if desired.
- Add 1 tablespoon of water and stir well.
- Add five more tablespoons of water, stirring thoroughly after each one.
- Mix and knead the slime by hand for about five minutes
- Play with your kids and enjoy!
- Decorate T-Shirts Together
This method is always super fun, and it helps children explore their artistic side, which is very important. The only two things you’ll need are fabric paint and t-shirts, but there’s plenty of other types of paint, glitter, patches, or iron-on decals to use. Try looking up some easy designs on the internet, or (after setting up some plastic or newspaper to avoid a mess) just give your kids some water-based paint and let them design whatever they want. Or, make family-themed t-shirts with the kid’s names on them. Don’t forget to include dad or the dog, if you have one.
Try These Fun Activities with Kids
Kids can be tough customers to keep entertained, especially now that the pandemic is forcing everybody to stay home. Start an indoor garden to teach kids about the science of growing, or make some slime to keep them entertained for hours and hours. Try making family-themed t-shirts with the kid’s names on them, or even let them draw whatever they want. No matter which activity you choose, it’s sure to keep the kids happy and give mom some free time while creating some fun memories, too.
