9 things you can do to keep your kids entertained while stuck indoors

How can you keep your high-energy child occupied when you can’t leave the house? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here are nine things you can do to keep your child entertained.

1. Play games. The first few days – or maybe even hours – might seem easy. But your child will eventually say the famous words, “I’m bored!” Games can become your go-to solution. Puzzles are great to keep kids—and adults—entertained for hours. Puzzles stimulate problem-solving skills and boost memory. You should also consider science kits. These are fun and a great way for kids to learn about how things work.

2. Get creative with play dough. This one never fails. Play dough is actually easy to make at home. You probably already have most of the ingredients on hand. It’s a great way to get kids’ imaginations going. You can challenge them to make something specific or let them get creative on their own.

3. Create your own coloring books. You can’t go wrong with coloring books. If you need a last minute coloring book, you can download and print images from home. Coloring reduces stress and anxiety, improves motor skills, helps with better sleep and increases focus.

4. Read books. Staying home for long periods of time is a great opportunity to grab a book and get reading. Revisit your book library and choose a couple of books together with your child. To make it more fun, you can set aside time each day to go over what your child has learned during their reading time.

5. Build toys. LEGO, of course, is the classic go-to. But consider other safe things around your home that kids can use to build structures for a few hours of fun. Building activities help kids with critical thinking and can teach important lessons about engineering.

6. Use a tablet. Whether you like to admit it, there will be a lot of screen time happening during your child’s time off. Instead of cringing at the thought of your child spending a large amount of time with their tablet, think of ways you can leverage this. You can download Amazon FreeTime Unlimited or other educational apps so that you don’t have to feel guilty about letting your kids zone out in front of a screen.

7. Bring out the art supplies. This is a good time to bring out the markers, crayons and other art supplies to keep a child busy for long stretches of time. Art supplies can spark creativity and get them excited about completing an activity. Pair the supplies with a couple of white sheets and watch the magic happen.

8. Do activities together. Cooking is a great opportunity to teach kids a new skill and get them involved. Give them their own tools, ask them to help you find the right ingredients and let them do some kitchen experimenting for delicious creations. Like cooking, cleaning as a group can also become a fun task when done together.

9. Get active. At some point, you will all want to get moving. It’s easy to feel frustrated or bored if you’re not being physically active. Try some creative exercise ideas, like setting up an obstacle course in the backyard or in your living room. You can also try some micro-exercises, such as jumping jacks, running up and down the stairs or dancing around to music.

For whatever reason you might be stuck indoors, it can be challenging for individuals and families. But this time can also be an opportunity to find new ways of enjoying the simple things in life — for both you and your child.