The Best At-Home Activities to Keep Kids Busy
From fun games to play indoors to creative activities for families, we’ve rounded up the best indoor activities for kids
Spending time indoors has become the new norm, and with the majority of UK schools now set to close, many parents will be on the hunt for the best ways to keep their little ones busy at home – from indoor activities for kids to fun games for families.
Here at Little London HQ, we’ve pulled together a selection of the very best indoor activities to keep kids busy over the coming weeks. And if you have your own suggestions that you’d like to share with fellow parents, please get in touch with us on Facebook or Twitter!
Easy Craft Activities for Kids
Crafting is a brilliant way to keep kids distracted, and most ideas can be created using items that you have at home already.
We love these simple yet showstopping ‘cotton bud trees’ from Leonora Bamford and Nanny Anita, which require cotton buds, an elastic band, paper and paint.
Simply secure the ear buds together using an elastic band, then paint the body of the tree onto the paper, and use the cotton buds to stamp the leaves onto your tree.
For more craft ideas for kids from Leonora and Anita, check out these easy crafts to do with the kids at home.
Draw with Rob Biddulph
Over the coming weeks, children’s author and illustrator Rob Biddulph will be posting a draw-along video on Twitter and Instagram each day, to encourage kids to have a go at creating their own masterpieces.
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Follow the hashtag #DrawWithRob, or follow @RobBiddulph on Twitter and @rbiddulph on Instagram to see the videos and have a go at creating your own beautiful illustrations.
Gardening with Children
If you’re lucky enough to have a private outdoor space or back garden, gardening with children is a brilliant excuse to get outdoors and enjoy some fresh air – without actually leaving the house at all.
Growing easy fruit and vegetables, such as carrots and tomatoes, is a great way to help children learn where their food comes from, while encouraging them to eat more of their five or ten a day.
When it comes to flowers, start with marigolds, nasturtiums, cosmos and sweet peas and cosmos, as they’re far more fun and straightforward to grow. Sow seeds in pots of compost inside first, and replant them in larger pots once they grow bigger.
Here, Becky Dickinson explores the benefits of growing plants and your own vegetables, and how to get children interested in gardening.
RSPB’s Breakfast Birdwatch
Using #BreakfastBirdwatch on social media, the RSPB hopes to create a friendly, supportive and engaged community sharing what they can see in their gardens, on their balconies, rooftops and spaces from their own homes, all the while keeping within government guidelines in relation to Covid-19.
Launching on Tuesday 24 March, the daily Breakfast Birdwatch takes place from 8am to 9am each weekday morning, and will provide a great way to keep your little ones connected with nature at this testing time.
It is vital that nature can still be enjoyed by as many people as possible, whether keen birders, parents, children, those self-isolating or anyone else able to join in. Over the coming days and weeks, the RSPB will be helping people to share their wildlife encounters and provide ideas for things you can do for wildlife close to home.
Throughout the coming weeks, Breakfast Birdwatch will focus on different themes and different species, helping to identify what our supporters have seen and heard, and answering questions along the way. Here’s everything you need to know.
- Breakfast Birdwatch takes place weekdays between 8-9am
- Users asked to include #BreakfastBirdwatch when sharing updates, photos, videos, questions and comments
- The RSPB will have different themes, focussing on different species and helping supporters stay creative with ideas such as drawing and poetry
- As outdoor activity remains limited, and with our reserves closed, we believe it is more important than ever to ensure the general public has a powerful connection with the nature on their doorstep.
Simply use the hashtag #BreakfastBirdwatch to join in.
Science Experiments with The Dad Lab
Sergei Urban, aka The Dad Lab, is best known for showcasing the most amazing science experiments that families can try in their own homes.
So, while your little ones are missing out on their regular science lessons at school, why not have a go at creating air cannons, making dinosaur ice eggs, or poking soap bubbles without bursting them?
The Dad Lab’s YouTube channel has a huge variety of videos that will keep little ones amused for hours (and inspire a love for science!), plus you can find a selection of ideas on Instagram, too.
Easy Kids Recipes
When you’re stuck indoors, what better excuse to whip up a few tasty dishes? Whether you’re in search of tasty comfort food recipes or healthy kids snacks, getting busy in the kitchen is a great way to kill a few hours, get experimental, and teach your little ones about the joys of cooking.
This flavoursome make-ahead smoothie recipe is packed full of vitamins and nutrients, and is a fantastic way to ensure your kids are eating enough fruit and vegetables.
You’ll need:
- Seasonal fruits or berries
- Freezer bags
- Spinach
Method:
- Chop up all your fruits and vegetables, and divide separately into bowls.
- Allow your children to select their own ingredients, then store your creation in individual freezer bags.
- When you come to making up your smoothie, pour the bag contents into a blender, and add milk, coconut milk or water. Blitz the whole lot to taste, and enjoy!
For more delicious ideas like this one, check out these easy kids recipes from Leonora Bamford and Nanny Anita.
Story Time with Oliver Jeffers
Best known for his beautiful children’s books, author and illustrator be reading one of his own stories every week day on his website.
“For all you folks stuck at home in the coming weeks due to COVID-19, I will be reading one of my books every weekday, and talking about some of the things that went into making it. We are all at home, but none of us are alone. Let’s be bored together.”
From The Incredible Book Eating Boy to Lost and Found, videos will be available to watch on YouTube, on Oliver’s Instagram stories (@oliverjeffers), and on his website.
PE with Joe Wicks
Have your little ones burn off some steam with daily PE lessons from Joe Wicks, aka The Body Coach. Each weekday at 9am, Joe is hosting 30-minute live workouts for kids to encourage them to get moving and feel energised.
Head to Joe Wicks’ YouTube channel to check out the videos each day!
My Fabulous Storyteller
French children’s brand Lunii has just launched its interactive story creator, My Fabulous Storyteller, in the UK, which encourages tots to build their own bespoke audio stories.
Ideal for children aged three to eight, this child-sized device allows little ones to create their own tales using a range of characters, settings and objects. A library of 1,500 unique stories can also be found loaded onto the device, which are available in nine languages.
Purchase it on Amazon for £69.90, with Octave Headphones available at £32.95.
Mini Boden’s Mini Missions
Childrenswear brand Mini Boden has created a series of ‘missions’ for children to complete at home, from building a theatre to remixing prints and creating a treasure box. There’s also a couple of Harry Potter-themed tasks, to tie in with the Mini Boden x Harry Potter collaboration, including a quiz and magic spells.
There’s seven fabulous missions to complete in total, all of which are available to download at boden.co.uk/minimissions.
READ MORE:
- Konnie Huq on Motherhood and her new Children’s Book
- Family Cooking Hacks to Save Time
- Recipes: Refreshing, Super Healthy Summer Treats
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