20 Fun Activities To Keep Kids Busy At Home

We got the call today that the kid's school will be closed for at least the next three weeks due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus).  I applaud the school for making this tough choice, but then I realized I need to keep kids entertained for THREE WEEKS!

Our local Library, pool, museums, etc are all closed to, it's hard to keep kids busy, especially when you can't leave the house!  So, my son and I sat down and made a list of some fun things you can do, using things you probably have around the house, to keep the kiddos busy, and happy! 

1. Nerf Wars:  My kids can spend hours hiding and getting each other with their Nerf guns, we do make the rule that you can't shoot higher than the chest.

2. Target Practice: Draw a target on a window or sliding glass door with a dry erase marker and see who can get the most bullseyes!

3. Lego Building: This is something that my kids can do for hours!  To make it more exciting you can see who can build the weirdest car, or who can make the tallest building.

4. Make-Your-Own-Board-Game: Cut a piece of cardboard off of one of the Amazon boxes you probably have in your garage, get out the markers and construction paper, and create your own board game. 

5. Toilet Paper Roll Crafts: Since we know everyone stocked up on toilet paper, save the empty rolls and paint them and use colored paper to create fun decorations for the house.  (You can use wine corks too!)

6. Paper Roll Races: Tape empty toilet paper and paper towel rolls on the wall and see who can make the most "baskets" in a set time using bouncy balls or pom-poms.  Or see who can make the longest and track and get the ball to go down without being stuck.

7. Creative Recipes: Using a list of set ingredients have everyone come up with a fun recipe, then vote on the one that sounds the yummiest and cook it together.

8.  Write "Old Fashioned" Letters:  Older relatives love to get fun snail-mail, write them a letter, or draw a picture and send it to them, it will brighten their day and they might send something fun back!

9. Bake: It's always fun to make your own cookies or bread, click here for our favorite cookie recipes, or click on the "Baking" Label in the right hand column.  

10. Write a Silly Story: Take turns writing a sentence until you have a silly story, for extra fun act it out and record it to share with friends and family.

11. Re-Purpose: Go through the recycling bin and see who can create something new and useful from the recycling.

12. Bubbles: Fill the sink with water and dish soap, have the kiddos wash their plastic toys, while they play with the bubbles!

13. Egg Decorations: Cut egg shapes out of cardboard or card stock, then decorate them with markers, colored pencils, or crayons and then staple them all to a long string and hang the garland up.

14. Ad Libs: You can go to Mad Takes and download a bunch of "Mad-Lib" type games.

15. Build a Fort: Get out all of the blankets and pillows and build a huge family fort, then make some popcorn and sit in the fort telling stories, or asking each other silly questions!

16. Scavenger Hunt: Put notes around the house with riddles telling them where to go next, I think it's fun to do after they are asleep, then when they finally get to the end in the kitchen I have their favorite breakfast ready.

17. Temporary Tattoos: Using washable markers give each other silly tattoos, this is extra fun if you put everyone's name in a hat and pick, and then also have body parts written down (arm, leg, foot, hand) and then you give that person a tattoo on the body part you picked!

18.  Laundry Race: See who can put their folded laundry away, properly, the fastest!  (This one is more fun for the parents!) 

19. Dance Party: Turn on your favorite tunes and dance around like no one is looking!  Or have a dance off, who has the best moves?

20. Keep A Journal: Set aside 20 minutes every day for everyone to write a journal entry, if the kids are scared they can write about it, if they are bored they can use the time to make a list of what they want to do, if they are frustrated they have to spend 24/7 with their annoying little brother they can use it as a outlet for that.  

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ORGANIZING: Tips for organizing any space

I can type recipes all day long, and I can tell you how I clean my bathroom step-by-step.  But, organizing, isn't something that is one-size-fits-all.

While I think my kitchen is perfectly organized, I know that where I have things would drive other people crazy.  (All of my baking supplies are above my oven, so I have to get out the step ladder to get down my ingredients, and I bake a lot!)

That said, my goal for my organization posts is to give you tips, ideas, and basic steps you can take to organize any, or all spaces.

Organizing is kinda my thing, I love having everything organized.

I have dumped everything out of drawers to re-organize it just for fun...

I'm weird, I know...

Anywho...

A few things to start:

Just because you organized a space and it's still organized doesn't mean you won't have to change it.  It might look clean, and it is organized, but; it takes you too long to get to something you use often, or while it works for you, it might frustrate the rest of your family.

I like to think I am crazy organized.  Yet, I still have to go back to different spaces and clean them up or re-do them.  The upstairs powder bath cabinet is a mess, again.  I think I pulled everything out and re-did it in March, but it isn't working.  It's been on my to do list for over a month, and it's all my fault because no one else really uses the cabinet.  (Proof in the picture below, note all the empty TP rolls I'm saving for more holiday projects.)

Organization requires up-keep.  The pantry is organized, and I put away the groceries to keep it organized, but I still have to rearrange things after going to the market, it only takes a few minutes, but don't think that just because a space is organized you don't have to do any maintenance.

One person's mess might be another person's organized.  Our garage is used for storage, to me, it's a disaster, I would love to pull everything out, and put it all back the way I would like it, but for the most part it's KC's space, he uses it for all of his tools, and if I ask him to bring me something from the garage he can [almost] always find it, so I let it be, because it works for him.  (The same with the kiddos craft supplies and toy boxes, as long as things are put away and not on the floor I let them organize it their way, even when it makes my eye twitch!)

"Where do I start?"

Great question.  I don't have an exact answer.

You need to start where it makes the best sense for you.

I know, you are overwhelmed and still confused.

What area bothers you the most?  What space does your family complain about every day?  Where do you spend the most time and get annoyed because you can't get things done quickly?

When you wake up is there a space, cabinet, drawer that you see and it makes you feel overwhelmed?  When your kiddo asks if you signed their permission slip do you panic trying to figure out where it was put?  When you go to the grocery store do you walk up and down every aisle trying to remember if you have XYZ at home, then buy it but get home to realize you have 100 cupcake liners in the pantry already?

That's where you start.

Before on the left, after on the right.

I redo this cabinet about every 6 months.

"How do I start?"

Be ready to get rid of things:

• Trash
• Recycle
• Donate/Sell
• Move to a better location

I find it's best to have a box or bag for everything that is leaving the space.   Then, take the trash and recycle out.  Look at your donate and sell pile, will you really sell the things in the sell pile?  If so, set them aside and plan to take pictures and post within the next few days.  Put the donate items by the front door and make a plan to take them to the drop off location within a few days, otherwise you will just move the donate and sell items around the house as you continue to organize, trust me!

"Now what?"

Now your space should be empty.  Whether it's a drawer, closet, room, etc.  Dust the shelves, vacuum out crumbs, wipe down walls, clean cobwebs, whatever needs to be done.

Then, walk away, make a cup of tea, take a look at the "stuff" you want to put back in the space.

If it's a shared space ask other family members what they want to see out of the space.  

"I'm overwhelmed, what's the next step?"

Put your stuff back.  If you think you need organizing boxes, or baskets try using old Amazon boxes, cut down cereal boxes, or anything you have laying around first.  Give the space some time, if it works and you want something prettier then you can measure and invest.

I know that when you are thinking about organizing you want to go to the nearest Bed, Bath, and Beyond or Amazon, or The Container Store.  We see their advertisements, or magazine articles and everything looks "SO CUTE!" But, until you know it will fit the space, don't buy.

Before on top, after on bottom.

"What's the secret?"

There isn't one.

Whaa whaa whaa...

I have organized a space and it worked for years.

Or, the bathroom cabinet above, I've tried different things every 6 months or so for three years and still don't have a perfect solution.

Purge, try to organize, give it time, if it doesn't work, try something else.  And then, if it still doesn't work, try again.

That said, if you have a certain area that is driving you crazy and you want more personalized help please feel free to reach out to me, send me pictures, and I will do everything I can to help.

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