5 Ways to Keep Kids Entertained at Home
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Jump to At-Home Activities Shopping GuideWhether you’re an introvert or just a super tired mom, the idea of leaving the house some days sounds like torture. Your kids keep asking if you can all go out and do something fun, but sometimes, that requires so much mental energy.
I’m very familiar with this form of mom guilt: You want to be the parent who takes your kids to do fun things all the time (like the Instagram moms), but some days, that social tank is empty.
Over the past year, I’ve thought of creative ways to make my kids feel entertained and cared for without the extra energy outings required. In this blog post, I will be sharing my 5 favorite at-home activities that will keep your kids entertained for hours and you in your pajamas.
Here’s what I’ll show you how to do:
Throw an elevated movie night
Create special bathtime fun
Have a themed craft day
Build an elaborate fort hangout
Plan a kid-friendly game night
So, if you don’t have another museum trip or park day in you right now but you still want to create happy times for your little ones, you’re in the right place.
Keep reading for realistic kiddie activities created with your mental health in mind.
“She was an adventurer at heart but, oh how she loved to be home.”
One. Throw an elevated movie night
This is not just any movie night where you simply put a movie on and eat popcorn. This version of movie night expands on the idea and creates more fun and bonding opportunities for your family. Here’s what you will do:
Choose a movie and create a theme based on this movie. This can be a more literal theme or a loosely based theme. For example, if you watch Lilo & Stitch, you can choose a Hawaiian theme or base it on the characters.
Search for snack ideas online based on your theme. Don’t choose anything extravagant since the whole idea of this is to have a more chill experience. If your theme is “Minions,” consider serving bananas, and maybe even make a little minion face with whipped cream! Order these items for delivery or pickup to make your preparation even easier.
Create a cozy movie hangout spot. You can do this in multiple ways, but I suggest setting up a mattress in front of the TV. Here is a super comfy foldable mattress that you can easily store away between movie nights.
If you prefer, you could also use an air mattress. Put sheets, blankets, and pillows on the bed, and you’re ready to go.
Create an ambiance with colorful mood lighting that corresponds with your theme. This light machine is a low-hassle way to transform the room’s entire vibe.
Print out movie tickets and have your kids present them to you before entering your “movie theater.” You can edit my free movie ticket template here in Canva if you’d like.
Two. Create special bathtime fun
With this idea, you will transform your regular routine into every kid’s dream bathtime. Not only will they love this, but you may also get a little time to relax nearby while they play for a while. You don’t necessarily need a theme to do this, but I think it’s more fun if you do. Here’s how to do this:
Get color tablets to change the color of the bath. If you haven’t used these before, don’t worry—they are non-toxic and don’t leave any color behind for you to clean up.
Place a bathtime bubble machine on the wall near the bathtub to create exciting movement in the room.
Fill the bathtub with light-up toys for that magical underwater glow.
Throw a swimming toy in there to blow their minds.
Add any other on-theme toys they have around the house (if you are doing a theme)
Lastly, put on some music. You could play ambient music (like underwater sounds) or anything else. We use a shower speaker because it’s always in the bathroom and sounds much better than the speaker on my phone.
Three. HAVE a themed craft day
Doing crafts all day may sound like a recipe for a big mess and a lot of work, but it doesn’t have to be. Thankfully, there are ways to keep the crafting minimally messy and waste-free. Here’s how I suggest you create a hands-on kid craft day:
Choose a basic theme, like farm animals, dinosaurs, princesses, outer space, or any other general theme. You want to make sure your theme isn’t too niche so it’s easy to find relevant craft supplies.
Search online for easy crafts that fit your theme and choose 2-3. Make sure they are age-appropriate and only require a few materials each.
I prefer to buy pre-made craft kits because they help shorten the shopping process, and I only buy what I need.Order materials online, whether you are buying individual items, craft kits, or craft bins that include a wide variety of kiddie craft supplies.
Limit your crafting area to one place and lay a protective layer over your table or floor space.
I love these silicone mats because they’re reusable and non-slip.
Play themed ambient or kids’ music to add a little extra fun to your crafting day! This smart speaker is made specifically for kids, has parental controls, and is super cute.
Four. Build an elaborate fort hangout
We’ve all built little forts as kids with pillows or bed sheets, but people are really taking fort building to the next level these days! Here’s how to build a super fancy fort that is fun to make and sure to bring you free time:
Decide on the fort structure you want to use. The best options for building a really cool fort are tents, plastic rods, blankets with anchors, inflatables, and cardboard.
I suggest getting a tent like this for fast and easy assembly. The setup process is super simple and easy, making it the best option for kids who are too young to assist in the fort-building process.
The plastic rod structure is perfect for kids who want to get involved and have creative ideas on how they want their fort to look. This option allows for the most customization.
Make sure to cover the finished structure with a cute oversized blanket.
The anchored blanket structure is a great middle-ground option for kids who want to build the fort with little hassle and problem-solving required.
Another low-effort option is inflatable forts. Transform your space in about 3o seconds with this innovative playhouse structure.
If your kids enjoy the challenge aspect of fort building, consider creating a cardboard fort. Invest in a cardboard fort-building kit so they can safely construct their own little world with tunnels and little rooms.
Add pretty string lights to create a magical and special feel. Ensure they are safe to use near fabric and battery-powered, so you don’t need to be near an outlet.
Put your child’s favorite toys and snacks inside the fort to make it extra special!
“Building a fort activates more cognitive learning domains than a worksheet sitting at a table.”
Five. Plan a kid-friendly game night
It wasn’t until recently that I realized there are games that toddlers can actually play and participate in. Even spending just 30 minutes to an hour playing games with your little one could make their whole day. Here are some of the games we love
Candy Land: Everyone has played it, but did you remember there’s no reading required? I didn’t! I love seeing how competitive our toddler gets and how proud she is when she wins the game.
Kids Charades: I love this game because it has different levels of difficulty, starting with a version for kids age 3.
Monopoly Junior: To my surprise, this game is actually playable with young kids. You’d think Monopoly is too complicated for toddlers, but with a little guidance, my daughter was able to pick it up fast.
Disney Hidden Picture Game: This may be my favorite game in our collection. It’s a very detailed, visually pleasing game in which you work as a team to spot the hidden pictures (think Eye Spy).
Monkey Around: This must be the earliest game a kid can start playing since it’s made for ages 2 and up! I’ve heard great things about this game, mostly because of its ability to tire your toddler (which, as you know, isn’t easy).
Bluey Scavenger Hunt Game: If your kids are anything like mine, a bluey-themed game is exciting enough as is. What I like about this game is that it’s made for kids 3 and up and requires the whole family to work together towards a common goal.
Nintendo Switch Games: What I love about Switch games is that they are family-friendly and perfect for bonding and engaging. Some of my favorites for family game night are:
Mario Party: The video game version of a board game, but so much better!
Mario Kart: A classic racing game that gets super competitive
Nintendo Switch Sports: Get up and active with this team sports game
Super Monkey Ball: Crazy fun and allows up to 16 players!
Super Mario Bros Wonder: An adventure-style Mario game that is truly multi-player oriented
Super Smash Bros: An iconic fighting game that every family needs
BEFORE YOU GO
Now that you’re prepared to keep your kids entertained without having to step foot outside the house, I want to reiterate something. It’s okay as a mom to take your mental health into consideration and scale down to a more realistic life. We are expected to be everything effortlessly, and that isn’t healthy or doable. Some days, you may be motivated to take the kids to the zoo or for ice cream. Others, the idea of dressing everyone, putting them in their car seats, and driving to and from a location may sound like a nightmare. When it comes to the things we can control, let’s give ourselves permission to just do the best we can (because that’s still pretty great).
Take it easy and be kind to yourself, Mom out there!
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