As someone with two young kids who works from home and also has a part-time job, the next few weeks won’t be easy, to say the least.
We are currently experiencing times that are going to hard for many of us. Although I consider myself to be an introvert, avoiding other people in real life sounds so strange.
Social distancing is our new reality.
Having the kids home for several weeks with no museums, no play groups… well, let’s just say it will be a time of character building for us all as parents.
I’m sure even the most creative among us will eventually run dry on ideas, so I’ve pulled together a list of things you can do with your kids.
Arts & Crafts
Arts and crafts is wonderful for children to open up and express themselves in different ways and contexts. It offers the chance for self-expression and for them to determine their own narrative.
1. Making Rainbows
Recycle some cardboard from a box and cut out a rainbow shape. Cut some coloured paper into small squares, then the kids can apply glue to create a colourful rainbow.
2. Turtle Craft
Great easy activity to get the kids into!
All you need is:
🐢 Three paddle pop sticks
🐢 Glue
🐢 Green felt pen
🐢 Black felt pen
🐢 Coloured Yarn
TIP: Prep the paddle pop sticks ahead of time by sticking them together with glue and letting dry (this way the kids can get stuck in and create our little friend without waiting for the glue to dry).
The kids can colour it in with the green felt pen, then draw on a face and feet with the black felt pen.
I bought a multi coloured ball of yarn to get this result, (for $2 at the cheap shop) as my girls are rainbow obsessed!
3. Easter Colouring Cards
Your kids can colour & create beautiful handmade Easter Cards with love!
Write a special message inside and give to teachers, grandparents and friends. Grab yours here!
4. Create an Easter Basket
Make your own Easter Basket with my FREE Printable. You can download it here!
It’s super fun and easy to create, Print it out, colour it in, cut it out and glue it together.
5. Easter Egg Potato Stamping
Cut potatos in half lengthways to end up with an egg shape. Cut patterns in the potato. Add some paint, and stamp onto the paper!
6. Painting with Recycled Materials
We love finding different items to paint with other than paintbrushes!
These toilet rolls give a cool flower or fireworks affect.
7. Paper Plate Crowns
Simple to create with whatever bits and pieces you have, this activity allows your child’s creativity to shine!
On the bottom of the paper plate, use a ruler to mark out lines, which will form the points of the crown. Carefully cut along the lines and bend them outwards. It is now ready to be decorated.
Games
Children can be quite good at using their own imaginations to create fun games, and whilst they are in this creative flow, embrace it!
However here are a few game ideas you can use for those times they are looking to you for inspiration.
8. Cooking
Kids could make some yummy (and healthy!) treats, like these Healthy, Freezer-Friendly Snacks.
9. Treasure Hunt
Kids love a good treasure hunt, especially if there is a treat to be found! Download my Free Treasure Hunt Clues.
10. Scavenger Hunt
Play a game of hunting for certain items from around the house. Weather it be shapes, unusual things, edible things possibilities are endless! Download my Free Scavenger Hunt Printable.
11. Colour Sorting Game
Give the kids different coloured containers and ask them to collect toy items of that colour.
Educational Apps and Websites
Please note: These programs are not affiliated with Creative Mum Life in anyway.
12. Scholastic Learn at Home
Even when schools are closed, you can keep the learning going with these special cross-curricular journeys.
There are some great activities, books, videos which are free to access here.
13. Out and About Sight Word App (Free)
Give your child a flying start in literacy by helping them practice their sight words with this bright and fun app when out and about. View here.
14. Story Box Library
Some favourite stories read by our best storytellers. Free 30 day trial here.
15. Teach Your Monster To Read
A game that makes learning to read fun. Computer version is 100% free.
16. Cool Maths
A range of maths games for kids. Free, but you can pay to go AD free.
17. Starfall
Children have fun while they learn – specialising in reading, phonics & maths – educational games, movies, books, songs, and more for children K-3.
18. BrainPOP
A variety of learning areas for children K-6. Join for Free here.
19. ABC Splash
A variety of learning areas for children K-10. View here.
20. Mandala Colouring Online
Mindfull mandala colouring page online. View here.
21. Imagine This
This podcast is suited to kids aged 4 and up, though all mebers of the family are sure to learn something!
22. Study Ladder
Mathematics, English, Science and more! A comprehensive program of online educational activities for students aged 4 to 12, mapped to the curriculum.
Sensory Play
Sensory development is one of the important development stages that needs to be nurtured for children.
It is something that will help them not only through their childhood but also into their adult lives.
23. Playdough Shapes
Learning shapes through play, with playdough and coloured sticks.
It’s so important for kids to learn about shapes, as recognising shapes is crucial for learning numbers and letters.
If you think about it, numbers and letters are really just a different type of shape.
24. Sensory Messy Play
Guaranteed fun for the kids, while they experiment with fizzy colours and textures! My girls always enjoy this one!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
25. Rainbow Rice
Making your own rainbow rice is super fun and easy, and is an activity in itself. Kids as young as 2 years old, would love to get stuck in and help.
Once it’s ready, toddlers and preschoolers will have hours of fun using it for sensory play.
Just use:
🌟 1 cup of long grain white rice
🌟 Small amount of either liquid or gel food coloring
🌟 1/2 tsp of white vinegar
Make your colours in separate containers, put the lid on and give it a good shake (the kids and you can have a colour each)
Sit it in the sun to dry, and it’s ready!
26. Rainbow Worms⠀⠀⠀⠀
These rainbow worms are simply made by colouring spaghetti!
🌞 cook the spaghetti until just softened (al dente)
🌞 using sandwich bags add spaghetti and a few drops of food colouring
🌞 give it a shake
🌞 then ideally add it to a bucket of sand (but we ran out this particular day so it was dirt).
Kids love to get the worms with tweezers! Making it a great fine motor development activity.
I hope this list of activities and online educational resources helps you and your children find some fun learning support.
If you know of any other fantastic resources you recommend, please get in touch so we can share with other mums in our community!
Nicole is a mum of two girls aged 5 and 3, made to order cook, cleaner, crafts organiser and family budget manager. In between cups of coffee, you will usually find her assisting a toddler with the toilet, cleaning food scraps off the floor and basically trying to keep her mini-me’s alive. She knows all too well that if you don’t keep them busy they will find their own busy-ness, by doing something mischievous!
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