What's keeping your kids entertained right now?

[abs]

DD is 9.  

Things that have been a hit this week for her:

*Going outside and running together/having races
*Indoor obstacle courses
*Animal Crossing on the Switch (has seriously taken up like 6 hours since yesterday..)
*Activity books--especially hidden pictures
*Rock painting
*Adult coloring books (we are doing them together)
*Games--Qwirkle, Quiddler, Scattergories, Phase 10



As this goes on I am going to need more ideas.  Would love to hear what is working for everyone!

[redheadk]

Those stupidly expensive play dough kits, like the ones on Etsy.

I’ve looked into making them myself and it’s not really worth it for 1 kid.

But she’ll play with those for HOURS.

[dcn]

It’s hot here in Georgia so I filled up the kiddie pool and they have been playing in that.

[liveintheville]

They’re doing a virtual karate class.

[jackie011]

Legos. Thank the lord we have soooo many. He was also very excited to do his e-learning assignments all week. Today, he and DH are going to watch some of the Star Wars movies that DS has never seen.

It’s too cold here to go outside and we’re homebodies to begin with.

[maudefindlay]

Mar 21, 2020 10:27:17 GMT -5 redheadk said:

Those stupidly expensive play dough kits, like the ones on Etsy.

I’ve looked into making them myself and it’s not really worth it for 1 kid.

But she’ll play with those for HOURS.

Link?

[simpsongal]

Aside from tv and Nintendo switch? We’ve watched frozen 2 three times already this week. Ds is 6, dd is 3

We just did painting and ds did a gem kit for a couple hours. Rock painting. Bath time. Chalk. Finding bugs and earthworms. Lots of free play, board games with ds, tons of outside stuff like walks, scooters, bikes. Drawing, some cooking...I ordered ds a diamond painting kit and I may reach him to sew.

It was warm enough for water balloons yesterday. We just got a sandbox and a playhouse.

Save those amazon boxes for play (making cars, sitting, etc) and painting - big ones make a nice canvas.

[ilikedonuts]

FB kids messenger

And magnatiles

[redheadk]

Mar 21, 2020 10:34:37 GMT -5 maudefindlay said:

Mar 21, 2020 10:27:17 GMT -5 redheadk said:

Those stupidly expensive play dough kits, like the ones on Etsy.

I’ve looked into making them myself and it’s not really worth it for 1 kid.

But she’ll play with those for HOURS.

Link?

These are the best ones: www.youngwildandfriedman.com/collections/all

These are nice, too:

etsy.me/3bh5qjf

etsy.me/2q6c1ep

There are tons of shops that make them.

[namasteak]

switch
Tv
FB kids messenger
Pokémon cards/books
Magnatiles/legos
Fort building
Backyard play time

Tv

[maudefindlay]

Mar 21, 2020 10:48:19 GMT -5 redheadk said:

Mar 21, 2020 10:34:37 GMT -5 maudefindlay said:

Link?

These are the best ones: www.youngwildandfriedman.com/collections/all

These are nice, too:

etsy.me/3bh5qjf

etsy.me/2q6c1ep

There are tons of shops that make them.

Thanks, I didnt know this was a thing!

[brooke77]

He’s 2.5. We are used to a lot of weekend activities.

-walks/bike rides around the neighborhood
-listening to music/dancing
-FaceTime with family
-bubbles in the yard
-“help” cooking in the kitchen
-“help” cleaning with a Dustbuster and wet towel
-coloring
-playing with his toy cars
-driveway sidewalk chalk
-Peppa Pig
-reading books
-feeding dog treats and then chasing dog in the yard

He enjoys each activity for about 20 mins, so we switch a lot. It’s still really cold, but we are playing outside as much as we can.

[pandora89]

DS 22.5 months and the things keeping him entertained/playing by himself

- magnatiles/Connetix tiles
- bath crayons
- ikea kitchen
- cars
- red dog, blue dog (orchard toys)
- just being able to run around the back yard
- books
-listening to music with his headphones

[lolo]

Hitting one another.

It's greaaaat.

[krystee]

Looooooooooooong baths
Playing outside (mostly scooter, big wheel, bubbles and chalk)
Mega blocks (2YO)
Air hockey (5YO and me while the baby naps—the table was $55 on Walmart.com and I highly recommend)
We watch the Cincinnati Zoo daily videos every single day
Lots of Disney+
Books
ABCMouse and Reading Eggs apps
Coloring for very short periods of time
Play dough

The most popular is running laps around the house. They try to beat their number every day. They may be ready for a half marathon when this is all over.

[HoneySpider]

My boys are 3.5 and 1.5, so far we've just been doing a lot of normal stuff (playing in the yard, reading, coloring, stickers, dance parties, cooking, etc)

We've added in races in an empty parking lot and a new popcorn Play-Doh kit. Little more tv/movies than usual and DS1 has gotten a little bit of ipad time to play a game (he usually doesn't get any)

[joy]

My three year old is currently painting paper with sparkle nailpolish.

I have a few boxes of crafts and rationed them out for weekday mornings. Decorating letters of the alphabet, making crowns, make magic wands, tissue paper decorating.

Outside time is long walks, pulling the wagon, bubbles, scooter. On the walk, I try to find stairs she can climb, run and jump off of.

Storyline has actors reading kids books so we watch those. She also likes the cameras at the San Diego Zoo and Monterey Bay Aquarium.

And always - Peppa Pig, Mickey Mouse, movies.

Her daycare class has also organized a daily Zoom chat at 10:30am. I have yet to make one... next week!

EDIT - oh yes, I agree with krystee. Loooooooong baths. We also made some homemade bath bombs.

[hermione]

C is almost 7.

Art Hub on You Tube

I bought a bunch of science kits from Michael’s

Giant Jenga

Long Walks

Kids Messenger

Writing Letters and mailing them

Cooking

Baths

ETA: and way too much screen time.

[Mrs.flang]

This morning they were actually playing with each other for a good bit on their own (3.5 and 15 months), by just running around chasing each other. This is new to me since DD2 has been just getting old enough to do so, but it was SOO NICE!

I have a huge box of crafts my mom dropped off that I planned to ration and haven't needed to break anything out yet. DD1 has been coloring and crafting with what she has, put some stamps (stickers) on some of her drawings and brought them out to our mailbox, made a rocket ship out of an old box, and is now watching tv. DD2 just went down for a nap. I'm hoping it warms up in the afternoon so we can spend a bit of time outside.

My co-workers daycare is doing Zoom circle time. I really wish ours did that!!

[madringal]

My girls are 12, 8, 4. They have been doing a LOT of crafts, jumping in an indoor bounce house, facetiming friends and cousins, and the younger two have played a lot of Wellie Wishers.

We also have a subscription for Kiwi boxes, and they tend to stockpile until a snow day, or a rainy stretch of days. So they have done several of those in the last week.

My oldest's birthday is on Monday, so they are currently making birthday party decorations and putting them up around the house.

[kdubs923]

We’ve done National Geographic rock kits, play doh, legos, water beads for sensory play, aqua beads for crafts, rice and beans sensory bins, so much art stuff, educational websites, magnatiles.

I’m over it, lol. I swear I spend more time setting something up than it takes for them to actually play with it.

I’m measuring out my living room and checking Amazon for bounce houses that would fit indoors.... so.... that’s where I’m at for the moment.

[suzv]

Mine are 3.5 and 14 months. It’s constant chaos.

3 year old is watching too many movies and too much time on the iPad. I paid for subscriptions to homer so that there is something educational for him to do.

I bought a ton of craft supplies, paints, stickers, etc. those keep them busy for 10ish minutes.

One year old is just happy to play in some empty boxes.

I try to get them out twice a day in the yard. We have bubbles, a tball set, bikes, a wagon, and a slide. Also going for lots of walks.

Next week I have some easy letter/number activities to do with the 3 year old. I’m also going to set him up a picture schedule. This lack of routine has been really challenging for him.

[abs]

Mar 21, 2020 11:57:43 GMT -5 hermione said:

ETA: and way too much screen time.

I don't think there is any such thing right now.

[acr]

Options for the 10 year old

[macmars45]

DS is almost 4 (birthday next month).

Right now LEGOs and his daddy. It's Saturday. Weekend time is daddy time.

During the work week:

-Duplos

-Vehicles

-Playdoh vehicle sets he got for Christmas

-Sensory bin with vehicles

-shows (geekos garage is big now)

-playing farm simulator with H after he's done with work

-going for walks outside/playing in the dirt with construction vehicles

[redpenmama]

Outdoors has been most effective: going on walks, riding bikes, playing basketball, sidewalk chalk, etc. Unfortunately, our weather has not been cooperative so far, and yesterday was our only nice day so far. It's gloomy and chilly again this weekend and then the rain is back all next week.

Crafts have been popular too -- nothing too organized, but I have lots of bins with supplies and the kids have been getting creative. Art for Kids Hub directed drawing videos have been good for the older two (8 and 6).

Play do, kinetic sand, water beads, and an easel have been the go-to for my 3-year-old.

They all keep making forts or boats with pillows and blankets and that inspires some pretend play.

[redheadk]

Mar 21, 2020 10:58:05 GMT -5 maudefindlay said:

Mar 21, 2020 10:48:19 GMT -5 redheadk said:

These are the best ones: www.youngwildandfriedman.com/collections/all

These are nice, too:

etsy.me/3bh5qjf

etsy.me/2q6c1ep

There are tons of shops that make them.

Thanks, I didnt know this was a thing!

They are honestly awesome! I've been surprised at how long they last. I thought everything would get all playdough-y and gross but it's been fine. The little ones make awesome birthday gifts with a book. 

[Blue Moon]

Mar 21, 2020 11:01:16 GMT -5 lolo said:

Hitting one another.

It's greaaaat.

Solidarity. My response is fighting.

[isabel]

During the week, they did a lot of Osmo, kinetic sand, playing with their cars, and backyard time. We let them take their Jeep out in the front yard for a bit each afternoon until it snowed on Thursday. They were pretty good about doing a Cosmic Kids yoga video each morning. DS1 quickly lost interest in the workbook I got him. And, of course, they've watched a movie (or more) daily since all this started, which is way more tv than they typically. I'm pretty meh about it and just happy that I haven't felt the need to turn on the tv before noon yet. I've also separated them several times because I can't deal with listening to them bicker.

This morning, we went sledding. They've been pretty happily occupied by play-dough and kinetic sand for close to an hour now, which is sort of shocking.

It looks like it's going to be nice all week, so hopefully we'll get lots more outdoors time. I think I'm going to help them get a "construction site" set up in the garden bed that isn't in use right now. Might see if I can find some construction cones and stuff. I think if I give them purposeful to do outdoors they'll spend a good amount of time out there next week.

[loira]

We're lucky with our weather here right now, and we live in a small city with tons of trails and nature. We've been going for daily hikes. I suppose my chances of seeing Meghan and Harry are even slimmer now! 😂