What do you do when you can’t get outside?
Nothing replaces being outside… NOTHING! The fresh air, greenery and Vitamin D are so so good for the heart, mind, and soul. I mean getting outside for a good walk and ending with a playground meetup that wears out the kids… talk about #winning.
But what do you do when that’s not an option?
Over the past few weeks, the kids and I have not been able to get outside to enjoy our usual outdoor playtime and activities. Not only are we in the midst of a heat wave with the humidity off the charts, Ā your girl is also a new mom of 3. And as much as I would like to live by the pool, and take the kids to our fave indoor playground… Ā we are not outside this summer as expected.
Don’t worry, it is well with my soul.Ā
As a SAHM/Homemaker/Homeschool mom I’m no stranger to curating a fun and engaging environment for my kids at home… INSIDE the house. So I decided to kick it up a notch, to make sure our summer was still one that the kids would remember!
So here I am, Ā “sharing the wealth”.
This post is for anyone who may find themselves struggling to find things to do at home with their kids, especially when getting outside just isn’t ideal. Ā Below you will find my list of 11ish Fun & Easy Things to do at Home with your kids in the house, #6 is an in-house fave! This list is good for days when it’s rainy, too hot, too cold, or when you simply just want to do something fun at home with your kids. Enjoy!
1 Indoor Obstacle Course
Indoor obstacle courses are probably the easiest ways to help your kids burn off a good amount of energy. Ā The key is to add in a bunch of different activities that will get your little ones moving. Our courses typically consist of These balance steps, a slide, a basketball hoop and some balls. Ā I set them up in different formations and le the kids go at it. Ā Oh, and don’t forget some sort of timer, and most importantly… YOU. Because what kid doesn’t love having their grownup as the encourager/referee lol.
If you don’t want to buy anything or feel like you don’t have anything fun at home to make this happen…. think again!
Grab some cans of beans, blocks, plastic cups and create a course where the kids have to run from one end to the other and stack them. Incorporate a fam fave song, and end the course with your kids doing some sort of dance moves. Seriously, Ā you don’t need much to have a good time. I promise you, the kids are mostly just looking to engage with you!
2 Indoor Gymnastic Competition
So you may notice a theme. I take the items I’ve purchased for the kids and often turn it into a game/activity. Take this indoor jungle gym for example. There are sooo many ways for the kids to swing, climb, Ā and balance on this thing, that sometimes I’ll turn it into a gymnastic competition.
Think… “who can balance for 30 seconds”, or “who can do an upside down flip“. Basically assign an age/skill appropriate act/move/task to each child and watch them work! They love it!
Another great way to get the kids flipping, is to remove the couch cushions, place them on the floor and let the kids jump, bounce and roll around. Works like a charm.
3 Indoor Sports Fun
Give my kids a target, and they will rarely miss. This is why basketball and corn hole are such great sports in our home. Not only can they compete against each other, it also helps with hand-eye coordination, keeping score, and sportsmanship. I know I’m getting deep. But seriously, I’ve folded loads of laundry while watching them play.
Now my kids are young, so we’re literally just shooting the ball. No crossovers, or Alley oops. Right now the kids are just shooting around while Ā learning to take turns, play fair, and most importantly HAVE FUN.
4 Card & Board Games
We love to play games even when the weather is just fine. From Go Fish, to Candy Land… these age appropriate games keep my kids engaged and it’s actually fun for me. Ā And now that my oldest is 6, sis has proven herself to be a formidable opponent. She is particularly good at Animal Match. Did I mention there are over 72 cards/36 matches? Sis has beaten mommy real good many times and I’m not ashamed to say so!
Next up, UNO. She’s ready for that smoke! Aunt Jess if you’re reading … “it is time”! š
5 LCD Writing & Drawing Tablet
I don’t always get involved with playtime. I need a breather here and there. Besides, the kids need to learn how to play together, independently. That’s where these LCD drawing tablets come in handy. I like these because I can give it to my kids, and move on to what I need to do. No frustration over dried out markers, or broken crayons rolling around… just an LCD screen with colors already built in. These are also “Quiet Time” approved. More on that later.
The only thing my 6 yr old mentioned as a downside is that when you want to erase something, you have to erase the entire screen and start over. Not a deal breaker for her, but a feature she mentioned wishing were different.
Hack: take these with you in the car and to restaurants instead of iPads. Have the kids draw what they see, or play tic/tac/toe. We love these so much. We’ve purchased two sets so far… 8.5″ and 10″.
6 Water Drawing pad with Water Pens
Similar to the drawing tablet, is this genius water mat. *Mess-free* and keeps the kids occupied and fully engaged. With the stencils that come with it, the extra water pens I purchased and some paint brushes… the kids can play for 45-60 minutes unbothered. Now I will tell you, my kids like to do water “paint splats” until the entire mat is wet and colorful, so a bit of water gets on the floor. But it’s nothing we can’t easily wipe up with a regular bath towel. Totally worth it!
In full disclosure I bought our water mat on FB two years ago. The algorithm got me, and I made an impulse purchase. I’d never heard of anything like this before, and I knew my little one would love it. Well after nearly 4 weeks of waiting, I received my order. I don’t want that life for you. So check it out here, so you can get it much sooner. Ā The mat I shared has a different design, but it’s equivalent in size and comes with the same tools. Ā And with a Prime membership you can get it in just 2 days depending on your location. #winning.
7 Bubble Party
Get outside before the heat, and you’re sure to have a good time with bubbles! This is by far the easiest type of outdoor play in my opinion. Maybe because there are so many incredible bubbles options, or perhaps because I enjoy them just as much as my kids. Either way, bubbles are a must for any parent who wants to enjoy some easy fool-proof outdoor fun with their kids. Add some dollar store pinwheels, chalk and again get outdoors before the heat… and I know your kids will love it! Depending on your tolerance level you can even let them run with bubble blasters around the house!
8 Paint Party
We paint a lot in our home, mainly because “Art Fun with Daddy” is a part of our homeschool curriculum. Ā So on the days when I need to give the kids a creative outlet… paint is a great option. I cover my kitchen table with easel paper, grab some paint brushes, pour some paint into these cute little paint trays. and let my kids go at it. no direction, just free form creativity with paint.
9 Movie Party
We love our movie time, okay! Pop some popcorn, grab the kids fave food/snacks and cozy up for your fave flicks. The kids and I have a list of faves that we pretty much watch weekly. We watch most of our movies through this streaming platform. Lately we’ve been LOVING the animated King of Kings movie. Ā Oh, and we just can’t get enough of The Wild Robot.
10 Kiddie Bake Off
Cakes, cookies and muffins… oh my! Those are just a few of our favorite treats. We bake a lot in my home due to my kids’ food allergies, so my oldest has been baking with me for years now. And since my middle son (omg I have a MIDDLE CHILD lol), is always asking for something to eat… he’s in on the fun too.
While I mostly prefer to bake alone, since it takes much longer when I bake with the kids… I am learning to include my kids in the process to create those core memories. I know it is totally worth it!
11 Ā Puzzle Time
My kids actually love puzzles. And to be honest I do as well. It such a calm and engaging activity to do with your kids. And once they get comfortable, they can begin to do them on their own. We have puzzle baskets. And no matter how many times they’ve done a particular puzzle, they still get excited to do it again. These puzzles are great for the littles, and this puzzle set is excellent when your kid is ready for a challenge!
Bonus: Ā Quiet Time
When my oldest decided she no longer needed to nap at around 2 yrs old, I had to think quickly and come up with something. Her “nap time” was my time to rest and recharge for the remainder of the day. That’s when “quiet time” was created in our home.
Now that I have 3 kids, with different sleep patterns… quiet time has been a great addition to our routine. I sometimes call it a “Brain Break”. During quiet time the kids can either rest, read or play quietly in their own rooms. Sometimes my oldest will take a puzzle and work on that for a bit. It’s not always quiet, but the kids are mostly engaged independently, so I’ll take that as a win.
Whatever you choose to do just remember, choose age/skill appropriate activities. Ā Don’t get caught up wit the trends. Simple is best. Even if it’s just a game of Match that you printed on paper and cut out yourself. Your kids just want to play with you.
Also, remember there will be a learning curve for your littles as they learn to play and take turns etc. Ā So be patient. I found letting them win a few times in the beginning made a difference is how they approached playing. And over time, you’ll find it to be a grand time playing games together. I know families with older kids who have a standing game night weekly! We are totally lookin forward to that!
So was this helpful? what do you do when you’re home with the kids? Comment below, I’d love to know! And as always be sure to share share… SHARE with a momma who needs this!
xx
Mom life is full of challenges, yet God’s desire is for you to THRIVE! Check out my Pray | Thrive | Slay | Mom E-Guide… created for the momma who wants to thrive and live her best life to the glory of God, Ā even when the seasons are challenging!
We do so much for everyone else, but what about for yourself? Check out my Self Care E-Guide just for moms who know they need time for themselves, and Ā need that extra push and know how to fill their cup!
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