Activities For Kids
Being prepared with a list of activities for kids is essential if you want to stay sane during the long summer break.
After all, it’s summer break for the kids, but not for us. I work from home, so for the next couple of weeks, until the kids go to summer camp, I will have to find a way to keep them busy at least a few hours each day while I work.
I do plan on getting out of the house and doing something fun every day, and I will definitely allow more screen time than usual, but I do want my kids to keep themselves busy for a few hours each day doing something creative.
I created this list of activities for kids with the help of my children. When the list was ready, I printed it out and placed it in the playroom. Whenever the kids complain that they’re bored and ask if they can watch more TV, I remind them to look at the list and find something they want to do. So far, it’s working quite well.
Activities For Kids That Do Not Involve TV
1. Read a book (shocking, I know.)
2. Play an instrument. The instrument can be a real one such as a piano or a guitar, or a homemade instrument such as an old pot used as a drum, or maracas made from sealed empty toilet paper rolls with dry rice.
3. Write a poem.
4. Write a short story and illustrate it.
5. Draw or paint a picture.
6. Practice hula-hoop.
7. Take photos around the house or in the yard.
8. Start a scrapbook with your thoughts and photos (we always end up with extra photos that the kids can use for these projects.)
9. Create a “joke book” filled with your own jokes and riddles, or with jokes and riddles that you like.
10. Make bracelets using string and beads.
11. Water plants around the house or in the yard.
12. Cut photos from a magazine and create a collage.
13. Create a dance or a gymnastics routine.
14. Play hide and seek.
15. Play tongue twisters.
16. Do a crossword puzzle or sudoku.
17. Make up a play, write it down, rehearse it and perform it to your parents.
18. Create with clay or play-dough.
19. Wash the dishes.
20. Help your parents cook or bake. Or look at recipes and cookbooks and select the recipes you would like to make together.
21. Go exploring in the backyard.
22. Find something to draw or paint around the house or in the yard and draw a still life.
23. Get active: do jumping jacks, sit-ups and push ups.
24. Draw a self-portrait.
25. Play a board game or a card game.
26. Play dress up.
27. Make paper airplanes in different sizes and from different types of paper, and see which one flies best.
28. Clean up your room. Find stuff you no longer need and make a pile for donation.
29. Write a letter to your grandparents or to your friends.
30. Invent your very own code language. Write the code down, then write sentences using the code.
31. Have a tea party with your dolls or stuffed animals.
32. Listen to music on your iPod.
33. Look at family photo albums.
34. Take a long, luxurious bath.
35. Give your dolls a long, luxurious bath.
36. Make your very own recipe book and fill it with creative recipes you have invented.
37. Do you have Hama Beads
38. Make an award, or a ribbon, for someone you admire. For example, make a “BFF award” for your very best friend.
39. Play hopscotch.
40. Practice skipping rope.
41. Do you own Heelys?
42. Draw with sidewalk chalk.
43. Go to the back yard and blow bubbles. See if you can string a few bubbles together.
Do you have any more ideas for activities for kids that they can do around the house while parents work? I’ll be more than happy to add to this list.
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The Lawyer Mom responds:
Posted: June 21st, 2009 at 7:37 pm →
Excellent, excellent, excellent. Children today have lost the art (or never learned it) of self-amusement — my child included. When Mr. M’s friends come over to play, the first thing they ask is whether they can watch TV. And of course it’s a big NO. Fly a kite, I tell them, or play with legos. Pretend to be dragons. Play with each other. More often though, it’s Mr. M alone, moaning about being bored. And this list is chock-full of good suggestions. My favorite is writing a short story and illustrating it.
What better thing to give your child than the tools to be happy alone. Nice job, Vered.
MomGrind responds:
Posted: June 21st, 2009 at 8:19 pm →
“When Mr. M’s friends come over to play, the first thing they ask is whether they can watch TV. ” Same here! They usually ask to play on the computer. My response is the same as yours.
Also: Legos and pretend play. I like those. I’ll add it to their list.
Axia from Argentina responds:
Posted: June 21st, 2009 at 8:20 pm →
I love the list, but it seems to me there’s a lot of art in it. Some kids are just not into art that much. I’d suggest:
- make up a dance move
- count how many times you can hop on one foot without setting your other foot down or find out how far you can go on one foot
- make animal shadows
- see how many different animal noises you can make
- go into the backyard with a magnifying glass and explore
- imagine what the world would look like if you were a bug
- imagine how the house would look if it were upside down
- invent a board game
- invent a ball game
- say people’s names backwards
- invent a disgusting recipe based on bugs (for boys!)
- find out how many different sounds you can make with your tongue
And my personal favorite, a game I still play with my brother (now 30) and with my son when we have to line up or wait at some store or the bank.
- in turns, say words that start with one specific letter until you can think of no more words. Then, change the letter.
Just my two cents
Sara responds:
Posted: June 21st, 2009 at 8:32 pm →
Wow! These are all great suggestions! My kids are 11 and 8.5 and they LOVE creating and going on scavenger hunts for themselves and then they’ll even create one for me! Also, why not give the dog a bath or fill up water balloons. Invite a neighborhood pal and have water balloon wars! My daughter also loves doing her own lemonade stand.
Here’s an incentive: You must do 45 minutes of “light” yard work (weeding, trimming, watering, planting etc.) then you can have the “Water Balloon Wars” with one friend each.
Lori Hoeck responds:
Posted: June 21st, 2009 at 8:41 pm →
Nice list!
I’ve used staged photos with one of our more patient cats and an action figure to create a mini book — “Khan vs. Samurai Jack” — using my own storyline. Also fun is an obstacle course that involves running, jumping, swinging on a rope, hopping on one foot — whatever — and challenging each other to get faster and faster. To even things out, I usually add something a small kid can race through easily but a larger person can’t. Once I had part of an obstacle course where karate students had to move a dozen clothespins from one strand of rope to another. The impatient ones lost a lot of time trying to go too fast.
MomGrind responds:
Posted: June 21st, 2009 at 8:45 pm →
Axia, you’re right. Not all kids are into art. Thank you for so many suggestions! I especially like “count how many times you can hop on one foot” – sounds like a challenge kids would LOVE, and also exploring with a magnifying glass – fabulous!
Sara, water balloon wars after yard work is genius. We actually have a stack of water balloons in the house, but never get around to using them!
Lori, my kids are going to love an obstacle course. Thank you!
Lovelyn responds:
Posted: June 22nd, 2009 at 12:32 am →
Great ideas! It seems like kids these days spend so much time inside sitting in front of the television or computer. I often find myself saying to my friends, “When I was a kid we used to go outside and do things.” Then I think I must be turning into an old lady. I always thought that only old ladies said, “When I was a kid…”
J.D. Meier responds:
Posted: June 22nd, 2009 at 12:56 am →
There is something addicting about building paper airplanes and competing for distance.
I’ve been surprised a few times where somebody created a plane that went way further than anybody expected. It’s such a simple little thrill.
wisegirl responds:
Posted: June 22nd, 2009 at 1:21 am →
Excellent list… Today’s kids don’t read enough and they do not make up their own games and that is just sad…. My sis and I used to have so much fun making up games that lasted not just for hours but days….
Jannie Funster responds:
Posted: June 22nd, 2009 at 5:11 am →
Oh Vered, this is sooooo great! I too know the summer vacation boredom syndrome with my girl. She’s been asking for a new Nitendo DS game cartridge but that money will now be spent on some Heelys!
And 28 is next on the list! Thanks.
Tracy responds:
Posted: June 22nd, 2009 at 5:40 am →
That’s one great thing about having so many kids, they always have each other to play with. My smaller children can’t do arts and crafts alone yet, so if I need them to amuse themselves I let them dress themselves up in costumes, build forts or a huge favorite is when I push the two matching sofas we have together, and that’s their boat or spaceship or house.
My poor oldest son, I found out that activities like scrubbing pots and washing windows is good for fine motor skills and coordination, so part of his therapy this summer is helping me clean. He would have had to start doing more this year anyway, I’ve been slack in teaching him these things because of his poor motor skills and coordination!
Thanks for the great list. It’s very helpful to see what other families do!
Hayden Tompkins responds:
Posted: June 22nd, 2009 at 6:04 am →
Popping bubble wrap!
janice responds:
Posted: June 22nd, 2009 at 6:11 am →
Wonderful list – even though it made me a bit wistful; my kids’ sumer list has changed as they’ve got older.
When mine were small, but old enough to use a knife safely, I taught them how to squeeze oranges to make juice, use a blender to make smoothies and to make salads and salad sandwiches. I never regretted it. That first summer, when the novelty was still there, I ate really healthily and we ate lunches on a picnic mat in different bits of our garden every day!
On rainy summer days, my husband used to give us ’secret spy missions and assignments’ which we had to accept or refuse every breakfast time, before he went to work. I still remember the day our assignment was South America. It’s the first time I’d ever learned all the countries and where they were. My son sketched the huge Jesus statue on the hill and my daughter learned about Machu Picchu and heard her first pan pipes CD. I taught them some words in Spanish and Portuguese. We ‘reported back’ to him when he came back from work.
Another thing the kids enjoyed when they were much younger was to give ‘daily awards’ for the best….something or other… while we were out and about. (I read someone suggesting that for adults in a book recently and the memories flooded back.) When their dad came home every day, he was told who or what had won the award for the cheeriest T shirt, the fluffiest dog, the kindest shop lady, the swoopiest bird, the smelliest dog poo, the bushiest bush, the bounciest song, the shiniest red car or whatever took their fancy while we were out and about.
Sorry for rabbiting, Vered. I miss when they were that age. I’m glad you and your readers are relishing it now.
Evelyn Lim responds:
Posted: June 22nd, 2009 at 6:45 am →
Excellent ideas here! I like the art and craft ones. My kids too! Another idea to add to the list is to make beaded bookmarks. Since my kids enjoy reading, bookmarks are useful items to have. Rather than buying, we decided to make some of our own.
June has been a busy month for me. In addition to work, I have to keep my kids occupied with activities. No two days are alike. We have also just came back from a beach vacation. There is one more week left to go. I think I am going to implement your tip #13. That way, I can lose some weight too (from all the ice creams I have been indulging in during the holidays)!
Kim Woodbridge responds:
Posted: June 22nd, 2009 at 6:56 am →
This is a great list. My daughter is still in school – the last day is tomorrow – and then she starts camp right away on Wednesday. I will definitely need something like this for next summer when she doesn’t go to camp for the entire summer.
Since they haven’t had any homework the last couple of weeks, she wants to watch tv as soon as she gets home at 6. I’ve been letting her watch it for 30 mins but only after she reads a chapter in a non-picture book. She grumbles about it but then ends up enjoying it. Sometimes she reads it to me while I am making dinner.
Writer Dad responds:
Posted: June 22nd, 2009 at 7:12 am →
The primary list of 40 is awesome, but I love Axia’s additions as well. I also like Janice’s daily awards, Lori’s obstacle course, and Hayden’s bubble wrap is AWESOME.
Davina responds:
Posted: June 22nd, 2009 at 7:16 am →
Hi Vered. Great list! I liked number 27 — I could see myself making different sized airplanes to see which one flew best. Another item to add to the list would be to write a song… similar to writing a poem, but obviously they’d be singing it.
MomGrind responds:
Posted: June 22nd, 2009 at 8:04 am →
@ Lovelyn: I say that too.
@ J.D. Meier: I agree!
@ wisegirl: My brother and I were the same. Such great memories.
@ Jannie Funster: I resisted buying heelys for a long time, but they really are great and they get the kids out of the house.
@ Tracy: “a huge favorite is when I push the two matching sofas we have together, and that’s their boat or spaceship or house.” Sounds like so much fun. I love that they are using their imagination.
@ Hayden Tompkins: Fun even for grownups.
@ janice: “we ate lunches on a picnic mat in different bits of our garden every day!” Awesome idea! I also love the “daily awards” idea.
@ Evelyn Lim: Beaded bookmarks – I like that. Sounds like you’re having a fun vacation!
@ Kim Woodbridge: Allowing TV only after they read makes a lot of sense. As you say, they end up enjoying it anyway!
@ Writer Dad: “Hayden’s bubble wrap is AWESOME.” Agreed.
@ Davina: I like this idea. My youngest is going to love it!
John Hoff - WpBlogHost responds:
Posted: June 22nd, 2009 at 8:28 am →
Hi Vered. Great tips. My wife and I have been looking for things to do with our boys, however they are 1 and 3 so many of the things on this list won’t apply to them. Any suggestions to keep them busy while I work on the computer and my wife works on her business (jewelry)?
Tricia responds:
Posted: June 22nd, 2009 at 9:05 am →
Great list, Vered. There are several things on here that can be attractive to younger children as well as older children. Keeping my son entertained while I work can be a challenge and we’re working on helping him learn to better entertain himself.
Cath Lawson responds:
Posted: June 22nd, 2009 at 9:31 am →
Hi Vered – My kids are getting a little older but there’s still plenty on this list that they could do. I think I’ll print this out for them. They spend way to much time using electronic stuff. Luckily, they will be in Spain for a lot of the summer holidays and I will be with them for some of that time. They don’t have things like Wii’s or Playstations there, which is a good thing.
Steph responds:
Posted: June 22nd, 2009 at 10:08 am →
Another fantastic post, Vered! Reading through the list brought back many happy memories from my own childhood!
Even housework can be considered fun if you say “Wheeeeee!” and “Yay!” enough. My little guy is 14 months old and he LOVES “helping” when I’m in the kitchen. (He climbs up on his little step stool (I stand behind him), takes the cooled hard boiled eggs out of the sink, whacks them against the counter a few times, then hands them to me for peeling.) It’s all about training children in the way they should go.
RC - Rambling Along... responds:
Posted: June 22nd, 2009 at 10:50 am →
With a toddler, the list is more difficult. Thankfully, he loves to “read” his books and easily plays with his cars/parking ramps/trains for an hour at a time, with minor interaction, on most days. (My mommy bragging moment – I have an imaginative child, who likes to entertain himself, most days. As long as I look up from what I am doing and encourage every so often, he does a great job.) Like you, when I am working, I do allow a little more screen time when needed. Otherwise, on days when we struggle, I give him challenges – build me a very tall building/big bridge/silly bird with your legos/blocks, find all of your green blocks (or any other color), count your stickers (from his reward chart), etc…
When I used to babysit – yes, back in the dark ages – I took care of two children between the ages of 5 and 10. While completing the few chores that I took care of during the day (this was my summer job) and making them lunch, I used to challenge them to see how many times they could run around the house. It got them active and made them a bit competitive with each other (and with their previous achievements) to do better than the last time. Also, I taught them how to dance (waltz, two step, box step, jitterbug, etc…) and had them practice while I finished my other jobs.
Paisley responds:
Posted: June 22nd, 2009 at 12:54 pm →
Get the kids to make simple soaps for home use and gifts. Homemde soap looks good, smells good and they’ll have lots of fun using it. There are very simple soap recipes online. Homemade soaps can also be given to a shelter for the homeless. Kids love this kind of project.
Michelle @ Find Your Balance responds:
Posted: June 22nd, 2009 at 2:43 pm →
Love it. Reminds me of growing up…while I’m young enough to have had a computer in the house it was not something we used much of, nor the TV. I occupied myself with arts and crafts, playing dress up with my mom’s old clothes, and reading. Lots and lots of reading! Library trips were like Christmas!
Patricia responds:
Posted: June 22nd, 2009 at 3:01 pm →
Vered where were you when my kids were little! ? We did not have tv and there were not many computer games, one thing fun we did was get each kiddo a garden plot of their own,(one could use big pots.) The favorite plant was pumpkins but #2 was Easter egg gourds. We had so much work to do around the house with them helping paint and knock out walls and then work the orchard….they were all excited about reading or getting their “jobs” done. We had play groups too and two member families lived in fun spots – the beach and a farm. All our outings were where we could walk/carpool to as we did not have a car for a number of years. (Car sharing is really a great thing!)
The girls had to earn their own money for camp and 2 went to England, 1 to Denmark, and 2 to Japan. Entertaining the neighbors kids, walking dogs, and later child care became the main routes to adventure.
Only daughter #3 needed to be entertained and we resorted to some VHS tapes to calm her down because she would not read.
Thank you Vered and family for this great list.
MomGrind responds:
Posted: June 22nd, 2009 at 5:04 pm →
@ John Hoff: In a way, those ages are even easier, because they are happy doing simple, repetitive stuff. At age 1, my kids had a big basket filled with safe items that were not toys – paper towel tubes, colorful towels, plastic containers, wooden spoons etc. I used to throw in there whatever I came across that seemed safe. They loved taking things out of that container, examining them, then putting them back.
@ Tricia: “There are several things on here that can be attractive to younger children as well as older children.” I agree, although since my kids are 7 and 9, the list is definitely biased towards elementary school age kids.
@ Cath Lawson: “They don’t have things like Wii’s or Playstations there, which is a good thing.” Seriosuly? Interesting. And yes, definitely a good thing.
@ Steph: Your description of your little one cracking eggs is so, so sweet. Thanks for making me smile. I miss those days.
@ RC – Rambling Along: Giving kids challenges is a great idea. I am definitely adding this to the list.
@ Paisley: Sounds like a FUN project! Thanks.
@ Michelle: I loved reading too. I miss it. I now do most of my reading online.
@ Patricia: “get each kiddo a garden plot of their own” – I’m loving this. What a wonderful idea.
Angie responds:
Posted: June 22nd, 2009 at 6:34 pm →
I love these ideas. I am going to give some of them a try. I have 3 kids and I also work at home so finding things for them to do (besides screen time) while I work can be difficult sometimes. Thanks!
Friar responds:
Posted: June 22nd, 2009 at 7:16 pm →
Okay, maybe I”m not a parent, but I do know what kids like.
And I can tell you, there not a kid on the WHOLE PLANET that would enjoy #19, and #28. And even #34 is questionable.
I think the only one who would find those activities “fun” would be MOM….
Lance responds:
Posted: June 22nd, 2009 at 8:04 pm →
Hi Vered,
A wonderful (and timely) list! I love your suggestions. And two I thought of – but see here already – scavenger hunts and obstacle courses. We did the scavenger hunt one year for a bday party – the kids all had a great time finding clues. And the obstacle courses we did usually somehow involved sack races. Hey, there’s one – sack races! And for kids who are old enough, a few nails, some pieces of wood, and a hammer can keep them busy for hours…
It’s not all about what’s on tv – I like that!
MomGrind responds:
Posted: June 22nd, 2009 at 8:32 pm →
@ Angie: Glad I could help.
@ Friar: Depends. Young kids love to wash the dishes and think it’s great fun. Even my 7 year
old still loves it. The 9 years old, not so much. The younger also likes to make ribbons for her friends, while the older one thinks it’s silly. I guess it depends on the child’s age and her personality.
@ Lance: Sack races bring back great memories! Added to the list – thanks.
Tara responds:
Posted: June 23rd, 2009 at 1:42 am →
Just genius Vered – and very timely.
One of my children’s favourite things is to invent a game or variations on old classics.
at the moment we play guessing games: “I’m thinking of a vegetable. It’s green, it looks like a tree . . . ”
Or ‘I Spy with my little eye something the colour of . . . ‘
Victoria responds:
Posted: June 23rd, 2009 at 6:23 am →
This is a great list! We also love building dens, in cupboards, or the bunk bed or in a corner of the garden. They spend ages choosing what they want to go in there, books, cushions etc, then I give them a snack ‘picnic’. We also have a pop up tent that performs a similar purpose and can become a cabin in the woods, a cave etc. We’ve used the tent to play Little House on the Prarie which involved dressing up in shawls and making butter (it’s really easy, just shake cream in a small lidded pot for ten minutes).
A tray of ice and an ice crusher can keep my four year old entertained for at least half and hour. He loves squashing fruit and making slushies.
I also get a few different sized buckets and fill them with water, strip all three off and give them some watering cans, cups etc and let them get on with it.
We love baking and making bread too, but that requires adult supervision!
Suzie responds:
Posted: June 23rd, 2009 at 8:36 am →
Now I gotta find a hula hoop
MomGrind responds:
Posted: June 23rd, 2009 at 10:42 am →
@ Tara: Guessing games are fun!
@ Victoria: Great ideas – thanks! I especially like the idea of building a den. I’m thinking that throwing a large tablecloth over the dining room table can work too.
@ Suzie: Hehe good luck.
Patricia responds:
Posted: June 23rd, 2009 at 11:40 am →
I thought of another great adventure-
I hired a teenage “fun and safe” kid to take them out to learn how to ride the bus, read a map, and survive a day – they went on trips I would not want to spend time doing such as “go-carts”, a movie, picking a good place to have lunch, the port and how to be aware, 8 different parks in the city, 2 public beaches and they learned how to read a sundial, map of the Capital Campus and the State College.
There were usually 3 “Nika” Fun Days a summer and the kids could hardly wait and they usually fell on big deadline days. Nika’s good energy helped my good energy flow also.
Dr. J responds:
Posted: June 23rd, 2009 at 6:11 pm →
That’s a wonderful list! Matter of fact, I hope I can do at least half of those ideas because I sure will have a better summer if I am smart enough to do them! Thank you!
Marelisa responds:
Posted: June 23rd, 2009 at 6:29 pm →
Hi Vered: What a fun list! How about coloring books? I got myself those paddles that you use at the beach and I hit the little orange ball up and down when I take a break from work. Puzzles are also fun. Are they old enought to play board games?
Daphne @ Joyful Days responds:
Posted: June 23rd, 2009 at 7:25 pm →
Vered,
Love the idea of a list that kids can scan and choose from when they feel ‘bored’. If I had kids, I might even make them come up with the list themselves at the beginning of the holidays!
Ian | Quantum Learning responds:
Posted: June 24th, 2009 at 5:52 am →
Wow .. this is so useful. When it comes to creative activities with my 6 year old I definitely fall short and confess that screen time is often the easy option (though I always feel uncomfortable about it).
I’m going to print this list and refer to it often during the vacation season!
Shevonne responds:
Posted: June 24th, 2009 at 10:30 am →
The suggestions are awesome! I tweeted it!
Rob Freeze responds:
Posted: June 24th, 2009 at 1:51 pm →
Great Ideas – I came by them from Shevonne’s sharing on Friend Feed. For this summer my wife and I have set up a system where our kids have to earn time on the computer or video games. They can ear time cleaning, helping around the house and reading. Also the older ones get to earn time by also reading to their younger siblings or feeding the youngest. It has worked out great our house stays clean rather than the kids making huge play messes everywhere, the helping has been nice and due to the chores to ear time they also end up playing a lot more with the Lego, board games and outside – there has bee a water fight every day for the past few (in fact they are doing this now). I think they are watching less TV and playing less video games then they did when they were in school. Before my kids got out of school I also posted an article (forward thinking for our kids) on a similar vain. Summer Break: Keep Your Kids Off The Couch.
Again thanks.
MomGrind responds:
Posted: June 24th, 2009 at 2:13 pm →
@ Patricia: Sounds absolutely fabulous – fun AND a great learning experience.
@ Dr. J: Hehe kids are smart.
@ Marelisa: They’re too old for coloring books – they used to love them in the past. They do love board games, although for some reason they enjoy them much more on our family game night when the grownups play too.
@ Daphne: Not a bad idea at all. I may do that next year.
@ Ian: “screen time is often the easy option (though I always feel uncomfortable about it)” – I think most parents can relate.
@ Shevonne: Thank you!
@ Rob Freeze: Sounds like a great system. I like the idea of earning screen time. BTW, I’m having trouble viewing your site – it seems to be a little slow to load today.
Nurit responds:
Posted: June 24th, 2009 at 8:21 pm →
This is great. Right on time. We have only started making plans.
For next Monday, first week of no school, my son will work on an activity book, then we’ll cook lunch, go to the library (computers games and reading books), grocery shopping, go to the park.
Yes, more TV time, but I liked that too as a kid.
Bamboo Forest - PunIntended responds:
Posted: June 24th, 2009 at 9:01 pm →
Looking over this list, it tells me something. It tells me that TV, for the most part, stunts creativity. You’re simply sitting in front of a box that beams colors at you. Of course, nothing wrong with TV in moderation. But if it becomes the be all end all, the kids will miss out on using their brains in so many wonderful ways. Good reminder here.
Karl Staib - Work Happy Now responds:
Posted: June 25th, 2009 at 5:50 am →
I’m going to be a father soon. So I’m bookmarking this page. My favorite is 35. Give your dolls a long, luxurious bath. That would take up a lot of her/his time.
Bonnie | JustPeachyBabyBlog responds:
Posted: June 25th, 2009 at 7:32 am →
Wow! Awesome list. I’ll be saving this one. Curious, did they ever choose #19? .. !
Tess The Bold Life responds:
Posted: June 25th, 2009 at 8:11 am →
These couldn’t have come at a better time. I’m having my 15 year old granddaughter and 12 year old grandson here for a couple of weeks. I’m so against spending time on games and computers everyday.
I was stumped and now I’m excited. I’ve gotten other ideas from reading these. You’re the best. Thanks for inspiring not only parents but grandparents who are frustrated by today’s world. Now I can empower myself with these. Yeah!
MomGrind responds:
Posted: June 25th, 2009 at 10:37 am →
@ Nurit: Sounds like a great plan!
@ Bamboo Forest: “TV, for the most part, stunts creativity” – I agree.
@ Karl Staib: I had no idea! CONGRATS!!!
@ Bonnie: My youngest (7 years old) LOVES doing the dishes.
@ Tess: Glad I could help.
Barbara Swafford responds:
Posted: June 25th, 2009 at 1:43 pm →
Hi Vered,
This is an excellent list and what a great idea to post it for your children, too. When I think back to my childhood, we didn’t have too many screens to stare at and spent most of our free time outside. What was really funny is that when school got out, we spent the rainy days “playing school” and taking turns being the teacher. Those are great memories.
Jon Winthorp responds:
Posted: June 27th, 2009 at 11:16 am →
There are definitely some creative ideas here. I particularly like the one about creating a joke book of jokes they have made up.
(Anti) Social-Lists 6/28/09 | (Anti) Social Development responds:
Posted: June 27th, 2009 at 9:01 pm →
[...] 40+ Activities for Kids That Do Not Involve TV, Computer, Wii, or Any Other Screen – Are you kids home from summer vacation and whining at you that they are bored? It’s very easy to simply turn on the tv or a video but Vered has come up with a list of fun activities for kids to do during the summer. This is especially helpful of you work from home and have to get something done. [...]
Andrea_R responds:
Posted: June 28th, 2009 at 5:34 am →
Another idea for younger kids – give them a bucket of water and a large clean paintbrush. Let them “paint” the deck or the side of the house with the water.
Fresh From Twitter today « Pictures Tell The Story responds:
Posted: June 28th, 2009 at 6:47 am →
[...] Activities For Kids | http://ff.im/-4xkh3 [...]
MomGrind responds:
Posted: June 28th, 2009 at 6:52 pm →
@ Barbara Swafford: “we didn’t have too many screens to stare at and spent most of our free time outside” – perfect!
@ Jon Winthorp: My youngest made one. She had lots of fun doing it.
@ Andrea_R: AWESOME! Love it. Thanks.
pohheng responds:
Posted: June 30th, 2009 at 7:10 pm →
Great list you have here. May i suggest painting?
We like to get our children to do some painting although it is messy, the children loves it. I have also taken a video of them having some fun children activities
Natural responds:
Posted: July 2nd, 2009 at 7:37 pm →
not sure how fun this will be but my kid will start a gratitude book. she will write down things she is thankful or grateful for.
we also have fun things planned as well, the fair, the zoo, visit to cousins house.
also it’s cool if they keep a blog themselves. my kid has her own digital and has taken a few pictures that she can put on her blog. she has a blog, that she needs to update. like mine. lol
Laura McGaffick responds:
Posted: July 3rd, 2009 at 7:45 pm →
I have really enjoyed reading the suggestions but didn’t see my favorite activity listed: Painting with water! I give my girls (7&3) a plastic bowl and a couple of paintbrushes and send them out to the driveway to “paint” pictures. If it is raining, they get to go to the covered porch! It’s a practically free activity (you don’t even have to buy paintbrushes if you don’t want to) and there really isn’t any mess. My back porch gets swept and cleaned almost weekly through the artwork the girls create.
MomGrind responds:
Posted: July 3rd, 2009 at 7:51 pm →
@pohheng: Painting is always fun.
@ Natural: A gratitude book is a great idea. I think it CAN be fun, too.
@Laura: Awesome. Totally adding it to my list!
Meaghan responds:
Posted: July 4th, 2009 at 1:44 pm →
Great list! Thanks for the ideas!
Damien (no it's not a joke its my name) responds:
Posted: July 8th, 2009 at 2:46 pm →
Okay, so this is my first time actually replying to a blog so please pardon any misconduct, etiquette issues (though I do usually strive to stay within the bounds of social courtesy anyway).
I’m a fifteen year old boy and I live in Canada, furthermore I have very little interest in your blog and found it while bored and using google to amuse myself. Anyway the point is that I found this article and it really irritated me , however this is my personal opinion only and I fully realize that a lot of you will have different opinions and I respect that. Anyway, I just thought I’d throw in my perspective as a teenage boy reading through your article.
I do not believe that it is essential to keep your kids busy and active every day, or rather I don’t believe that you should force them to come up with activity x or craft y to engage themselves. My younger sister is currently 9 years old and shes great, and usually very mildly tempered however the one thing that has always bothered her is being told or made to do something, it was the same with me. Anyway I just want the perspective of one who doesn’t like structure to be posted. I know from some of my friends that enforced anything can end horribly such as my best friend who (along with his 3 siblings) absolutely despise their mother and actually wish for her divorce. It’s an absolutely terrible thing to hope for, but they cannot stand her constant interference and involvement. Now I realize that this is a very extreme scenario and it must sound like a threat, negative, etc. however I just used it because it is an example that readily came to mind.
Anyway I won’t continue on any longer (I realize that 99% of people who read this on this site will disagree and probably criticize me for it) as I’m sure you don’t want to read anymore of my drivel.
Bottom line (that some here may agree with) is that you should take everything in moderation, every now and then just let your kids be, let them do what they want to do even if you view it as a complete waste of time, etc. Especially when kids get older, teens + a lot of parental involvement = fights (usually)
p.s. I apologize if my thoughts are a little disjointed, I wrote this over the course of an hour while alt-tabbing back and forth between a conversation with a few friends who’re overseas on msn
MomGrind responds:
Posted: July 8th, 2009 at 3:42 pm →
Damien, I totally respect your input. I agree that unscheduled time and just letting kids be are very important. Thanks for a fresh perspective.
Fun and Easy Summer Activities for Kids | responds:
Posted: July 9th, 2009 at 5:21 pm →
[...] is here! The MomGrind.com has put together a list of 43 Activities for Kids. They are all great ways to pass away the summer days while keeping your kids happy and [...]
Finding Your Play Mojo- Tips For Finding Balance | OwningPink responds:
Posted: July 19th, 2009 at 8:08 am →
[...] becoming one of my favorite writers on the Internet. She just published a great article titled 40+ Activities for Kids, and she lists some fabulous ideas and ways to re-introduce yourself to the idea of spontaneous [...]
Back To School responds:
Posted: August 16th, 2009 at 4:52 pm →
[...] But I’m not happy. You see, each year when the school year ends, I dread summer break. I dread the lack of “me” time and privacy, the lack of structure, the constant need to come up with activities for kids. [...]
Work, Life, Play. Finding your “Play Mojo” « Survive to Thrive responds:
Posted: December 15th, 2009 at 2:42 pm →
[...] becoming one of my favorite writers on the Internet. She just published a great article titled 40+ Activities for Kids, and she lists some fabulous ideas and ways to re-introduce yourself to the idea of spontaneous [...]