Sharing 40 fun, free, and super low-cost activities to do with the kids while we’re here at home.

Hi friends! How’s the morning treating you so far? The Pilot was gone this week (he’s back today) but I just want to send a high-five to the amazing soul who recommended Pretty Woman for movie suggestions. I hadn’t seen it in years and it was just as wonderful as I remembered. Richard Gere is a treat. 😉 I watched the movie with a can of rosé and all was right in the world for a couple of hours.

For today’s post, I originally had planned to share an Easter basket gift guid,e but with everything going on (and the fact that finances are tight for so many and we’re not supposed to be out and about shopping), I decided to nix it. Instead, I thought I could share some ideas for how to entertain the nuggets during this time while we’re all home. I don’t know about you guys, but I have to plan one thing I’m going to do with the kids each day, not only for their sake, but for mine. It makes each day a little different and while it’s usually something super small, it gives me something fun to look forward to doing with them and breaks up the monotony of it all.

I don’t want anyone to feel pressured by this list in any way. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m struggling with balancing Liv’s school work, my personal work load, keeping P from injuring herself, class Zoom times, and dance Zoom calls (I can’t even begin to imagine what medical frontline, single parents, and those with two essential workers in the house are going through). So please don’t take this list as a “Oh hey, here are some more things to add to your plate!” We’re all just trying to make it through the day.

While there’s a lot going on and I feel heightened mental stress from juggling everything and keeping the news far away from them, I remind myself that they’re having a jolly great time right now. It already took a lot of convincing for P to go to preschool in the morning and at this rate, she’ll never want to go back haha.

I just thought it would be fun to have a bunch of ideas in one spot so that during a lag in the afternoon, I can glance at this list and pick something to do! I would love any of your favorite activities right now, especially if they’re free or less than $15!

40 fun, free, and super low-cost activities to do with the kids

– Do chin faces (in the pic above! I used eyeliner. We all got a kick out of this one.)

– Face painting (I ordered this set from Amazon and they’ve asked to have their faces painted quite a few times)

– Hide and seek

– Charades (I’ve written ideas on pieces of paper, or print out pictures so P can “read” them, and it’s a crack up. They love charades!)

– Any board game or simple card game! The girls love Pretty Pretty Princess, Old Maid, Uno, Candyland, Jenga and Don’t Break the Ice

– Fly a kite

– Go for a scavenger hunt in the neighborhood

(Screenshot from Betsy’s IG account!)

– Paint rocks and leave them during your walks for others to find

– Toilet paper roll ball drop

– Choreograph a dance to a song you all love

– Outdoor water play. We have a unicorn sprinkler but the regular hose can be just as fun

– Make “hugs” to send to grandparents and friends

– Write to a pen pal

– Cook or bake something together

– Chalk art in the driveway

(We’ve also done a few of our neighbors’ houses because they asked for us to cheer up their driveways and my nana’s)

– Give your pets a bath

– Glow stick baths. You can also add music for a bath party or let them eat a popsicle in the bathtub. Bath time has become a daily occurrence around here because I can fold all of the laundry and catch up on emails while they play their little hearts out.

– Watch amusement park rides on YouTube

– Sleep in the living room in a tent

– Make s’mores

– Have a picnic in the backyard or the living room floor

– Play “fancy restaurant” for dinner, with your best clothes and a fun menu

– Host a movie night at home with “tickets,” popcorn, and concessions

– Make paper airplanes

– Make foil boats and see how many objects you can put on the boat before it sinks in water

– Make slime

– Create a quick sensory bin with kinetic sand, rice and beans, or water beads. Add some small toys or figurines and you’re done!

– Family bike rides or scooter rides. We do this every.single.day and the sunshine and fresh air helps all of us.

– Go Noodle or Just Dance videos on YouTube

Thank you to the friends on IG and Facebook who chimed in with these ideas:

– Create Barbie clothes and accessories with pipe cleaners

– Journaling or creative writing prompts

– Jellybean estimation and then FaceTime family and friends before announcing the amount!

– “Treasure hunt” – give them a list of random items to find in the house and a shopping bag

– “Clean the house” – a spray bottle with some vinegar and a rag

– Tortilla pizzas

– “Cleaning” plastic toys with soapy water

– YouTube Art Hub for Kids

– Make caterpillars out of paper towel rolls

– Finger knitting

– Salt dough ornaments

So tell me friends: favorite low-cost or free activity to do with the kiddos? 

Have a wonderful day and I’ll see ya tomorrow!

xoxo

Gina