Things to do with the Kids at Home that is not Watching Television
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If you have kids, you have probably heard “I’m bored,” a time or two, or ten thousand. The problem is, that usually means the television gets turned on, or the tablets come out. While watching movies or shows together can be fun—family movie nights are some of my fondest memories when ours children were young—most of us still wish our kids spent less time in front of a screen and more time interacting in a positive way with others. So what is a tired parent to do?
Here are some ideas for things you can do even when you only have an hour or so of downtime. It’s always a good idea to have some tricks up your sleeve for the next rainy day or snow day when playing outside isn’t an option.
Board Games
Before you think these are outdated, consider this—the board game industry is actually booming. The classics are always great—Monopoly, Scrabble and Life were always our favorites. But there are lots of other board games out there that are sure to get the entire family involved and laughing. Some best sellers that are popular with kids of all ages include Guess Who?, Hoot Owl Hoot, Clue, Scattergories, Say Anything, Apples to Apples, Charades for Kids, and Sorry.
Cards
A single deck of cards can provide hours of entertainment. Revisit your own childhood and teach your children how to play “Go Fish,” “Black Jack,” and “Five Card Draw.” For extra fun, get out some poker chips and teach them how to place bets.
Puzzles
This might not sound all that exciting, but it’s a fun project of sorts. Choose a puzzle with a theme everybody will like—maybe one of a vacation spot you are planning on going to, or an animal. Work on the puzzle in a spot where it won’t have to be moved—perhaps the dining room table. Set a goal for how quickly you will try to complete the puzzle—maybe two weeks, depending on how complicated it is.
Cooking Contest
This is more fun to do if there are teams. Mom and one child verses dad and another child. Choose something age appropriate—cookies or a simple candy recipe. If you have older kids, or kids who have more advanced skills, choose something a bit more difficult—maybe hamburger sliders for dinner or lasagna rollups. After the contest, everybody wins as you all sample the fruits of your labor.
Craft Night
This takes a little ahead of time planning. Visit your local craft store or even your supercenter, and find a craft you know your kids would enjoy. Models are also a fun, sometimes ongoing project. Like with puzzles, finishing the project gives children a sense of accomplishment.
Pasta Night
Making pasta might sound intimidating, but it is quite simple to do. You can get a hand cranking pasta machine for less than $20 and the dough comes together quickly. The kids can help crank the handle of the pasta roller, or you can even roll it out with a rolling pin and cut it with a knife. A machine does work best though. Boil some salted water and cook your fresh pasta in just a few minutes—toss with butter and parmesan or your favorite bottled marinara sauce. Nothing beats fresh pasta!
Hide and Seek
Such a simple game—and so timeless! My husband used to play this game with our children in the house after dinner, while I was cleaning the kitchen and making school lunches for the next day. He was always the one who would hide and they would search everywhere for him. I remember smiling hearing their shrieks of joy when they found him. Sometimes he would “play dead,” and they would peer down at him and whisper, “I think he’s dead.” So cute. Of course hide and seek is also fun to play outside. How many fond memories I have of my own childhood playing hide and seek outside on warm summer evenings.
Home Movies
I know I said I was trying to give you ideas that didn’t involve a screen, but watching home movies has to be an exception. It’s so much fun to look back and see what life was like even a few years ago. Children love seeing themselves when they were just babies or toddlers. When they get older, they secretly still love to see themselves when they were young—even if they act bored I will bet you they watch. The only difference is they will say things like, “Mom, you were so young!” or “Dad you were so thin!”
Hot Tip: Look online for simple science experiments you can do with your children. Many can be done with things you probably already have in your home. It’s a great way to teach children without them even knowing they are learning. Who knows? You may be raising the next Albert Einstein!