Fun activities to do with your kids during coronavirus lockdown
It’s COVID-19 alert level 4 in New Zealand. Schools are closed and we’re spending a lot more time at home, which means we’re scrambling to find daily activities to keep our kids entertained. So, what can you do with your toddler during this lockdown if you can’t bring them to a playground?
Here are 20 fun activities your kids (or the whole family) can do during COVID-19 lockdown:
- Kids Yoga – Check out ‘Cosmic Kids Yoga’ on YouTube. It’s a great way for your children to stay active during the lockdown. Each video has a fun theme like Frozen, Moana, or Harry Potter. My kids are loving this, and it helps them build strength, balance, and confidence.
- Baking – Now is the perfect time to bond with your children over some delicious baking. You could teach them how to bake cookies, cupcakes, muffins, or scones, etc. Yummy!
- Write a story - This is a great way for your child to practice their writing and use their imagination. You can even help them out by guiding their hand and showing them how to hold a pen.
- Create art – They could paint, draw, colour-in, decorate eggs, make crafts. The possibilities are endless!
- Talk to your children about COVID-19 – Explain why we’re staying home and emphasize that we’re here to help them. Dr. Michelle Dickinson (Nanogirl) has a great informational video for kids about COVID-19. Check her out here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPsY-jLqaXM&feature=emb_title
- Read them a story – Did you know reading and storytelling with your child promotes brain development and imagination? It teaches your child about language and emotions and strengthens your relationship.
- Have a dance party! – Put on their favourite music and get your boogie on!
- Play hide and seek around the house – A fun classic that everyone will enjoy.
- Play outside - Let them burn their excess energy and use their imagination. They can even pretend to be camping or exploring the backyard. Let their imagination run wild!
- Do some gardening – The kids can help water the plants or help with the weeding that you’ve been putting off for the past 6 months.
- Go for a walk outside – Take the kids for a walk but remember to stay local and maintain 2 metres distancing from people outside your bubble. Remind your children not to touch anything that others may have touched.
- Skype family and friends – This is a great way to catch up with friends or family using Skype or FaceTime. Your kids can even have a virtual playdate with their friends!
- Play board games or card games – Monopoly, Chess, Connect 4, Battleship, Scrabble, etc.
- Play charades
- Make and play with playdoh - Playdoh is a classic and can keep your kids entertained for hours. Whether they want to make their own dinosaur, elephant, car or castle, the possibilities are endless. If you can manage not to stress about the colours being mixed together it can be a whole lot of fun. Here’s the recipe that I use:
2 cups of flour
1 cup of salt
2 Tbsp oil
1 tsp cream of tartar
Food colouring
Glitter
2 cups of boiling water
A few drops of essential oils e.g. lavender oil
Mix all ingredients in a bowl
- Put on a family movie – My girls have been loving classics on Disney+ such as Aladdin, Snow White, and Beauty and the Beast.
- Have a scavenger hunt – Just make a list of things to find around the house and away you go.
- Have a tea party or picnic – If it’s a nice sunny day, why not bring the picnic mat outside and enjoy a family lunch in the sun?
- Teach them a new skill - Use this time to teach your kids how to tie shoelaces, how to ride a bike, how to take photos, how to do laundry, or even how to write their full name and address. I’m using this time to potty train my youngest!
- Earn screen time – To avoid having your kids spending hours on smartphones or iPads, why not make them work for it? For example; wash the car, fold laundry, or help with cleaning around the house.
Now the kids are occupied, why not make a cuppa, sit back and browse our latest collection here. 😉
