Activities for Families

Superscript

Activities at Home

We believe in the power of sensory play to nurture a child’s healthy development. Our carefully crafted activities are designed to help create unforgettable open-ended play experiences that encourage exploration, and ignite imagination while strengthening a child’s bond with their parent or caregiver.

Play encourages toddlers and children to explore the limits of their imagination, problem solve, hone the capacity for creativity in a low-stakes environment, and exercise all the higher level neural structures unique to humans. Perhaps most importantly, play helps children develop a sense of agency to "be one foot taller than they actually are." Which is the reason that I made instructional videos for the nationwide YMCA childcare staff about infusing fun and play into any learning program in the 80's. It was unheard of back then.

Think about what you're doing when you're playing... when you're a kid, you're imagining things. You tell your friends, 'okay, now you're going to be the firefighter' and 'you're going to drive the firetruck,' 'you go get the hose, I'll grab the water bucket.' You don't know how to be a firefighter, obviously, but you're trying it out anyway. You're doing it collaboratively. Play allows us to get outside of what we do on a regular basis and imagine and create and to try out new things we might not otherwise be able to experience. It makes anything seem possible."

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Looking for easy and fun kids activities at home for your FAMILY?

I’ve got you covered!

Kids activities at home can be as easy as 1-2-3.

Easy Water Play Activity for Kids:

Whenever I bring it out, I know they are not only having fun but they are receiving sensory benefits as well.

Note: To learn all about the benefits of sensory play and for a list of over 100 sensory play ideas, don’t forget to check out this post, right here

If your kids love water play try these links:

70 + Fun Water Table Play Ideas for Kids + Best Water Tables

Sand and Water Table Ocean Sensory Bin

Looking for FREE printables and activities?

Need a simple and effective set of hands-on, low prep printables? Here is one of my Early Learning Freebies just for you!

DOWNLOAD NOW

What are some fun things to do with kids at home?

If you are looking for kids activities on a budget, here are over 40 ideas you can try at home right now (depending on your child’s age):

Create a sensory bin (water beads, dyed spaghetti..)
Plant and Grow a small garden
Dance to some cool tunes
Water fun in a wading pool
Build a fort/tent with sheets
Stage a fun creative play
Play board games
Cook a delicious meal together
Create a movie for memories
Learn about birds outside
Collect bugs and set them free
Walk around the neighborhood
Have a scavenger hunt
Draw together
Create a play house with cardboard
Decorate windows
Sensory Play with foam, paint, shaving cream…
Paint on a canvas
Create a science experiment (STEM)
Bake something sweet like cookies
Go on a picnic in the backyard
Fly a kite
Create an obstacle course indoors
Indoor Tea Party fun
Play fun games such as Hide and Seek together
Building castles with ice cubes
Teach your kids how to tell time
Teach your kids how to count coins
Learning through play
Create an indoor obstacle course
Play outside for over an hour (depending on the weather)
Shaving Cream Sensory Play
Construction site Sensory bin
Use dot stickers for play
Water Play in a bin with cups
Bike around the neighborhood
Learn how to skate with roller blades
Cook a meal from another country with your kids
Learn a different language by watching on Youtube
Create instruments with items you have at home
Clear up common misconceptions.
Listen to audiobooks, podcasts, children’s music from an app
Play with sponges and use water or paint with them
Look through picture albums together or baby images/videos
Call a loved one who may live far away
Set up an invitation to play with water, cups and scoopers

Year Round Preschool Themes (Tap Image Below)

If you are interested in:

Then, you are in the right place!

I’ll be sharing easy activities for kids that you can put together using recycled items, homemade items and more.

Easy Homemade Ice Painting Kids Activity:

Note: Looking for more simple indoor activities? Here are 6 additional indoor activities for kids that are simple and easy to setup!

Easy Color Mixing Mess Free Painting

Why do kids get bored?

According to Heidi McBain, a play therapist, boredom is essential for children as this leads to increased creativity.
“When a child feels bored, they are re-learning that they have to create something to entertain themselves.”

For example, introducing them to ‘open-ended play’ is wonderful! These simple kids activities on a budget are one of our favorites when we are looking for something fun and simple to incorporate in your day to day play centers, homeschooling or just for fun!

How to Make Moon Dough
at Home

What is open ended play? Open ended play allows children to express themselves freely with no limits. Some examples of open ended play are:

These are play ideas which allow for imaginative play and in turn power up those neurons to create something new.

Note: For more on open ended play and the benefits of open ended play, check out these open ended toys for toddlers.

Here are some open ended play ideas we have tried over the years.

And, some of these are perfect kids activities on a budget:

Best Tips for Indoor Activities for Kids

Staying home doesn’t have to be boring.

Here are a few lists, set up in different categories, you may be interested in:

Tip 1: Here are over 60 fun things to do at home
with your kids

If you are looking for kids activities on a budget, here are over 40 ideas you can try at home right now (depending on your child’s age):

Create a sensory bin (water beads, dyed spaghetti..)
Plant and Grow a small garden
Dance to some cool tunes
Water fun in a wading pool
Build a fort/tent with sheets
Stage a fun creative play
Play board games
Cook a delicious meal together
Create a movie for memories
Learn about birds outside
Collect bugs and set them free
Walk around the neighborhood
Have a scavenger hunt
Draw together
Create a play house with cardboard
Decorate windows
Sensory Play with foam, paint, shaving cream…
Paint on a canvas
Create a science experiment (STEM)
Bake something sweet like cookies
Go on a picnic in the backyard
Fly a kite
Create an obstacle course indoors
Indoor Tea Party fun
Play fun games such as Hide and Seek together
Building castles with ice cubes
Teach your kids how to tell time
Teach your kids how to count coins
Learning through play
Create an indoor obstacle course
Play outside for over an hour (depending on the weather)
Shaving Cream Sensory Play
Construction site Sensory bin
Use dot stickers for play
Water Play in a bin with cups
Bike around the neighborhood
Learn how to skate with roller blades
Cook a meal from another country with your kids
Learn a different language by watching on Youtube
Create instruments with items you have at home
Clear up common misconceptions.
Listen to audiobooks, podcasts, children’s music from an app
Play with sponges and use water or paint with them
Look through picture albums together or baby images/videos
Call a loved one who may live far away
Set up an invitation to play with water, cups and scoopers

Fine Motor Pom Pom Kids Activity

Note: For all things sensory play, the benefits of sensory play and for over 100 sensory play ideas, check it out here.

Toilet Paper Roll Ramp

Tip 2: 60 free things to do with kids in general

Take a trip to the library
Go to an outdoor music event (children friendly)
Go to the beach and collect shells (Perfect for sensory play)
Checkout free events to do in locally online, newspaper, or kids community magazine
Sit and watch a free game going on at your local park
Visit the park and make it fun by including a scavenger hunt
Bake a healthy dish such as banana bread or Zucchini bread
Bake some delicious cookies for your friendly neighbors together
Go through the toy room together and see which toys and books are out
Learn how to knit together
Attend Michaels stores for free kids events
Attend a Barnes and Nobles book store for free reading events
Visit a free museum or a zoo
Call a family member or friend you haven’t spoken to in a while
Learn a different language such as spanish on Youtube
Have a yard sale
Host a party such as a sleepover or a tea party
Learn to meditate when things get tough for your kids
Read a great book together
Learn about the body with science books
Learn about a new animal with a book on all different kinds of animals
Blow some bubbles
Wash the family dog together
Play Frisbee at the park
Discover new music that you and your kids both like
Stargaze at night and see if you can find constellations
Go on a bike ride together
Explore your city via books or by just exploring
Attend a free play such as actors play house
Find a local free kids event with rides and popcorn
Attend your local planetarium
Sponge Paint
Play outdoor games such as soccer
Go on a hike together
Have a picnic at sunset
Attend a local free historical town
Go snorkeling
Have an outdoor party such as a barbeque
Donate old toys to charity
Make hot cocoa or smores together
Play in the rain
Make fruit/veggie popsicles together
Have a water balloon fight
Decorate a pair of old jeans or and old shirt with glue and gems
Get crafty and Finger-paint
Prank call family members with funny voices
Make a cake and decorate it to their liking
Sing while talking together
Tell each other humorous jokes
Play rock paper scissor shoot
Paint each other faces
Play free games online such as ‘Teach your monster how to read’
Teach them to play mind games such as Checkers
Make milkshakes together
Set up a lemonade stand
Build a paper airplane together
Create and tell stories together
Play kickball
Build sand castles at the beach
Have a scavenger hunt at the beach

Tip 3: 30 fun things to do with your kids ‘DIY style’

Create a wreath together out of construction paper
Paint on stones, leave positive messages and leave them places so someone else finds them
Cut a sponge to make a figure and sponge paint
Use ketchup bottles with dyed colored water to melt ice
Create rainbow pasta
Dye white roses different colors
Paint jars and create awesome crafts
Use construction paper to cover a box in and make a crafty toy
Create jewelry rainbow pasta
Make a homemade bird feeder
Decorate a Christmas tree ornament
Make a collage with feathers and buttons
Create animals with balloons
Make a DIY rainbow slime with glitter
Create a craft with paper plates and brown paper bags
Create a nightlight with a jar
Use craft sticks to create a puzzle
Use a muffin tin to create a fizz with baking soda vinegar and water
Build a fort with cardboard
Create a crown with an empty toilet paper roll
Ice sculptures castle
Watercolor paper towels to create butterflies
Sensory lava lamp with a Voss bottle
Play dough and toothpicks to create something spectacular
Use a muffin tin with magnetic letters
Snowball fight with cotton balls
Create Paper Plate fishies
Wrap a toy and create it with gems and a bow
Paint some of your toy figures and revamp them with glitter and gems
Paint on a canvas

2 Ingredient Homemade Playdough Recipe

Note: Looking for art and craft supplies and storage ideas for kids?
You’re in luck! Check it out here!

Mega Blok Puzzle Kids Activity

Tip 4: 60 fun ideas when your kids
say ‘I’m bored’:

Create a homemade slip n slide with dollar store plastic shower curtains, soap and water hose
Build a homemade bowling alley or golf course with household items such as cups, old plastic bottles…
Create bubble art with dyed water and soap and a cut in half plastic bottle
Indoor or Nature outside scavenger hunt with your childs favorite toys
Chalk it out. Create groovy art with chalk (outdoor play)
Create a map of your backyard and bury your childs favorite toy so he/she finds it
Create a homemade twister with construction paper and tape
Create an obstacle course
Backyard camping
Go to the park. Depending on your park there are so many fun activities you can do there.
Stretch those muscles out and do some exercise movements
Have a race. Use painted orange water bottles as the starting and ending points
Have a bean bag race
Bean bag toss. Create your own bean bags with beans and a ziplock bag
Use pillows to build a fort
Use pillows to see who’s pillows stand up the longest
Play freeze game. Dance, freeze, dance, freeze.
Board Games. There are all types of board games. Here are our favorites so far:
Play dress up with Halloween costumes
Fold clothes together with some music tunes so its fun
Use a bin to create some sort of sensory play
Have a spring cleaning and donate any old toys or clothes
Wash Fruits and Vegetables together with soap and water in a bin
Go to your local kids play center
Take a trip to the dollar store and find some coloring books
If your child loves to read, there are some fun books at the dollar store
Attend your local museum
Attend your local science museum
Attend your local childrens museum
Attend your local monkey jungle or zoo
Go to the beach
Collect sea shells at the beach and listen to them
Take a walk at a local mall
Go to a restaurant and eat something you never try that sounds appealing
Play I-spy something..
Attend your local musical theatre
Attend a local free outdoor music event
Check online for free or budget friendly activities to do with kids near your local area
Go on a hike
Collect some water at your nearest spring (if allowed)
Start a campfire
Make some smores
Build a tent with cardboard box and sticks
Make a pie together
Peel potatoes and make a stew or soup
Take a bike ride outdoors
Learn to skate
Attend your local skating rink
Attend your local ice skating rink
Set out a wading pool outside and enjoy water play
Paint a picture on a canvas
Attend your local Paint me mine class
Attend a free art class at Michaels stores
Try a new restaurant you’ve never been to
Explore a new park you haven’t been to
Go to a butterfly sanctuary
Attend your local nursery sanctuary
Go canoeing and camping
Learn surfing skills together such as how to start a fire or build a trap
Learn how to defend yourself such as taking karate together