If your kids are home because schools are closed, you’re probably scrambling to find ways to keep them occupied when they’re not being homeschooled. I’ve seen quite a few posts around the internet from well-meaning parents suggesting activities that are indeed fun for kids but are also almost guaranteed to leave your house a wreck.
If you’re fortunate enough to have a job that lets you shelter in place while continuing to work and look after the kiddos, the last thing you need is an extra mess to clean up at the end of the day. I can’t save you from the endless “Mommy, Daddy, look at this! Look at this!” But here are some ways to keep your children engaged, occupied, and having fun without turning the house into a mad science laboratory. Some of these suggestions may require a few minutes of adult guidance, but once pointed in the right direction, kids of the appropriate age should have no trouble.
We have several other guides that might help you as a parent, from instructions on caring for your child if you have Covid-19, educational games and kids podcasts to keep them entertained, and more tips you can read in this sprawling guide.
When you buy something using the links in our stories, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
-
Photograph: Getty Images
Foster Independent Play
It’s Important
The goal of the following suggestions is twofold. They buy you time in your day to get work done, or just to carve out a few minutes for yourself. Don’t discount the importance of that. But they also help foster what education experts call independent play.
That is, let your kids choose what to do. The younger your children are, the more it helps to limit their options so they aren’t overwhelmed by choice, but don’t be scared to get some of these materials and let your children loose without any clear goals or anything specific to make. The goal is the process, not the end product.
Don’t be scared to do nothing. As Dr. Amanda Gummer of Good Play Guide points out, “children need to get bored to learn how to entertain themselves.” Start with small blocks of time, and then increase the amount of time before you step in and make suggestions on what your child might like to do. Gummer also suggests that having “a selection of different play types allows children to find an activity that suits their mood and energy levels.”
-
Photograph: Amazon
Draw With Water
Ooku Watercolor Pencil Set (48 Colors)
These look like ordinary colored pencils—and they can be used that way if you want—but add water and they’ll behave just like watercolor paint. The first time you use these is a little magical. If you want something a little fancier, this 72-color set from Castle ($35) is also nice. Got several kids who will fight over single colors? Crayola has a classroom set ($49) with fewer colors, but plenty of each color to eliminate sibling conflicts. My kids have been using these to follow along with Mo Willems’ Lunch Doodles.
Ages 4+
-
Photograph: Amazon
Paint Without the Mess
Sargent Art Tempera Paint Sticks
Tempera paint sticks are a bit like oversized crayons, but instead of wax, you’re smearing tempera paint around. It’s fast-drying (about a minute and a half), easy to clean off most surfaces, and there’s no brushes or other mess to clean when your kids are done. As with the watercolor pencils, there are sets of all sizes. We started with this 12-piece set but have since expanded to a 32-color set ($43).
Ages 3+
