Amazing Covid Boredom Busters for Kids
Due to the Covid 19, many of our children are home from school and maybe home for a while. If you are like me, it’s getting harder and harder to come up with ideas to keep them entertained.
Most children have online classes or packets of schoolwork to complete, but if your children are like mine, it’s hard to keep them focused on schoolwork for long periods of time.
As a first-time homeschooling mom, who is still working, it gets frustrating. That is why we at Kids Play and Create decided to make a list of fun activities to do at home to beat the boredom.
Talking to your children about the Coronavirus
Before we get into our list, I wanted to talk about talking to your children about the Coronavirus. I am not sure if your children have been asking you questions, but mine has.
I have a 6 year -old who questions everything, and she is asking questions.
I’m not a therapist, just a mom concerned about what my daughter hears and thinks.
I want to share some things that I have been telling her to answer her many questions.
When talking about the Coronavirus or any kind of stressful event taking place, it’s important to explain what’s going on in simple way. You want to explain things on their level so they can understand.
This way, they can feel less stress and anxious about the situation.
Mommy, what is the Coronavirus?
Watching the news has been scary lately, and I advise any parent with young children not to watch the news in front of them. The media has been talking about how people have been getting sick from the virus and even died.
So when my daughter asked me, “Mommy, what is the coronavirus?” I answered, “Janelle is a virus, kind of like the flu. Most people will be sick for a couple of days, and then they will feel better. Some people may have a cough, fever, and difficulty breathing.”
Remind your children that you are doing everything you can to keep them healthy and safe. Listen to what your children have to say, talk to them about what they are feeling. Respond to their questions with reassurance and truth.
“Mommy, why can I go to school if it’s like the flu, and why can’t I play with my friends?”
I answered, “Janelle, they want to kids to stay home from school to prevent more people from getting sick.
If too many people get sick at the same time, there won’t be enough doctors to take care of them.
Also, the coronavirus can be dangerous for the grandmas and grandpas, and we want to keep them safe and healthy.”
Social distancing can be a hard concept for a young child to understand. Remind them that staying home away from family and friends will help control the virus and prevent more people from getting sick.
I also told her that washing her hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds will help keep the virus away and told her that when soap is not available, she can use hand sanitizer.
I explained the importance of keeping her hands away from her face and mouth.
Self-Care
Separation from a child’s school, family, friends, and activities can be overwhelming for them.
As parents, it is important to be a strong role model for our children, especially during stressful situations.
Your children are watching how you react, and many will react based on your actions.
It is important to practice self-care and stress management. Some ways you can manage your stress is to get plenty of sleep, eat healthy, stay away from drugs and alcohol, and exercise.
If possible, try to get some alone time, even a little bit. I’m a morning person, and I wake up early before my children get up to have some alone time. If you can, take a long walk, a bubble bath, or a hot shower.
Try not to watch the news too often, and stay off of social media.
Keep a Daily Routine
Children respond to routine. Many of us are working from home now, and the children are on home instruction.
Create a work/school schedule.
Have the children complete their assignments while you are completing yours.
If children see that you are working, they will be more inclined to complete their work. The schedule should include breaks and fun activities.
If possible, sit at the table for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Think of a fun topic to talk about, such as if you could create a new food, what would it be, or if you could be king/queen for a day, what would you do?
For older children, you can ask them about their favorite social media influencers.
Focus on the Positive
Think of this as a time to reconnect as a family.
Celebrate the time that you have together. In our regular busy lives, how much quality time do you really get to spend with your children? Take advantage of being home.
Play with your children, create projects, paint masterpieces, build something, have them help you organize, and when possible, go outside; remember they are only little for a little time.
See Kidsplayandcreate.com’s list of fun family boredom busters.
Boredom Busters
Playing with friends
If your children are like mine, they are having a hard time dealing with social distancing and understanding why they can’t play with their friends, so we have come up with new ways to “play with friends.“
Pen Pals: become pen pals with your friends. My daughter has a couple of neighborhood friends that she plays with regularly.
Instead of playing, they have been writing each other letters, drawing pictures, writing jokes, and putting them in their mailboxes. This is a great way where children can practice writing and stay in touch with their friends.
Video Chat: My daughter has been video chatting with her friend. I set up the phone for her and they dance and sing songs together over the phone.
Outside Activities
It‘s important to get some fresh air outside, as long as you are not with crowds. Here are some fun outside activities
Play with chalk: My children love it when I make chalk drawings of them, and they color them in. Simply have your child lay on the driveway or blacktop, trace them and have them color it in,
Outside Scavenger Hunt: Make a list of objects for children to find outside in their yard or in a park. Some items include, leaf, grass, rock, flower, stick, bird, etc…
Go for a bike ride; learn to ride a bike.
Go for a walk – Search for rainbows. Children are encouraged to color a picture of a rainbow and hang it in their window as a sign of hope and happiness. Every day my daughter and I walk the neighborhood in search of new rainbows.
Have a backyard picnic.
Organize the garage – a few chores will do them well.
Clean out the car
Play hide and seek
Have a race
Run around
Gardening
Make an obstacle course, parents make one for kids, kids make one for parents.
Hula hoop contest
Play bubbles
Make a neighborhood map
Go on a pretend treasure hunt
Play Hopscotch
Inside Activities
Creative Simon Says –Click here for more info
Create a story
Put on a play
Family pillow fight
Science experiments – Slime, volcano, make butter, ice cream – click the link for more info
Games Mum ball and more, click the link for more info
Arts and Crafts – butterfly, abstract art, and more
Bake together – cookies, cake, and more
Self Esteem Activities
Research a topic – If your child loves using emojis, look up where an emoji comes from and who makes them.
Play board games
Build a cushion fort
Make pictures to hang in your front windows
Organize your room, donate old clothing and toys
Dance party
Pretend play – pretend you are a queen or king, and your parents are the people in your kingdom.
Teach your children how to do laundry
Grow and inside the plant
Write letters to family members
Playschool, teach your parents something
Bath time fun, have a bubble bath, bring toys in the bath
Try out new hairstyles
Try out new makeup ideas
Write in a journal
Have a tea party
Play 21 questions
Indoor scavenger hunt
Play Bingo
Play charades
Look up brain teasers
Put on a fashion show
Mum Ball
Youtube
Learn something on Youtube. If there is a topic out there, someone has a video on youtube to teach you. Challenge yourself to learn something new.
Follow along with a Youtube exercise or dance class, learn to draw, etc..
Start a blog- find out how on Youtube.
