Living in close quarters can lead to a rise in family conflict between members, shorter fuses, or boredom. And how do adults get time to work amidst all the action that’s often happening in the home?
We head into holidays soon which means we’ll likely need smart and varied ways to keep everyone busy.
I needed inspiration of things to do with my kids or ways to keep them gainfully engaged and maybe you do too so here’s a list of 71 clever ideas to keep everyone occupied.
71 Things To Do During At Home
TALK ACTIVITIES
1. Video
Even though we’re socially isolated, doesn’t mean we’re alone.
Ironically, technology, often hailed as a cause of loneliness, is coming to the rescue during isolation as people host karaoke, dance parties, music classes, birthdays and fitness lessons on platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Hangouts.
When you can’t meet with people in person, it’s awesome to be to be able to stay in touch visually with your people and check everyone’s doing OK with web-based tools.
Many businesses have quickly pivoted to offer their services to online audiences for less or free during quarantine.
Check out these tools:
Zoom – host & join online meetings
Google Hangouts – messaging, voice & video calls
Microsoft Teams – chat, meet, call & collaborate
WhatsApp – free messaging & calling
Facetime – video & audio calls for iOS
Slack – a collaboration hub
2. Phone chat
Send someone something funny or encouraging on social media or talk together. Using headphones or speaker frees up your hands for exercise or to cook, letting you kill two birds with one stone.
3. Talk in person
Remove distractions and put down devices to chat with your family members about things that matter to them.
Meet over the fence or gate to have a catch up over coffee with a neighbour or friend. Keep the suggested social distance rules.
With your kids play eye spy or ‘I wonder what would happen if…?’
Play with your pets and spend some time grooming them.
MOVE ACTIVITIES
4. Group fitness online
This boosts your mood and fitness levels – perfect way to burn stress and stay active when options outside are limited.
ClassPass is an on-demand global fitness membership who have offered unlimited access to their archive of 4,000 free video and audio workouts which should help burn a few calories and hours!
Another idea could be to hold a Zoom fitness class with friends.
5. Workouts at home
Amazon Prime has free classes you could look up.
6. Dance like nobody’s watching
Or learn some new dance moves on Youtube – try out this funky Minions dance by Zumba Kids, Just Dance or Fitness Blender for Kids.
7. Take a walk or run
Walk your block or challenge yourself to beat your previous times on a 1km or 5km loop.
Some might like to take photographs as they go. This encourages focus and attention to detail.
8. Garden
Here’s how to set up a garden. You could plant some easy to grow flowers or veggies.
Yates has a bunch of tips to help your veggie garden succeed and Tui have a planting calendar to help you know when to plant what.
You could even set up a worm farm or compost together.
9. Go on a bug hunt
Another garden idea is searching for insects and observing them with magnifiers which might lead to further insect study.
10. Wrestle, tickle or pillow fight
Hand games like thumb wrestling which has an actual World Championship international competition.
Hold an arm wrestling tournament.
Try full on family wrestling with rules.
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CREATE ACTIVITIES
11. Make a photo book
Time is what I’ve wanted to get a photo book made as it has been on my to do list forever! I have my one for 2019 half done on Snapfish right now.
Why not get one made? Imagine creating a mini lockdown record?!
Snapfish often has 50% off deals and what a treasure it’ll be to your family.
12. Make dough or slime recipes
13. Make puppets
Find some old socks around the house or grab some felt or fabric to turn into finger or hand puppets.
Shadow puppets & theatre. Or learn to make them with your hand.
You could even film your story to make your own show.
14. Play with ice
Which kid doesn’t like playing with ice even if the day is freezing!
How about freezing some small toys or other items into ice cube trays or ice-cream tubs and a few days later letting them ‘excavate’ the treasures? If you’re game, provide hammers for this.
Adding food colouring and bubbles to the mix is also fun. You could even add bowls, sieves, spoons, and cups to a bucket or bath for extended times of water play.
Another option is defrosting your freezer before winter. You could get the kids on board with cleaning it out and playing with the ice slabs.
15. Bird feeders
As we head into winter, food sources become scarce for birds. A lovely way to encourage them to stay in your garden is to provide easy food sources for them so why not make a feeder together?
Fat ball making – all you need is lard and seed mix (both at most supermarkets).
Wooden model – requires some timber, skill and tool use.
DIY modelling versions.
16. Build
What to build?
Lego models & train worlds.
Block towers.
Geomag or Magnetix structures.
Junk models using the recycling at your house.
17. Make a diorama
Grab some card, boxes, paint, coloured paper, glue, and tape and get creating – a habitat, fantasy world, or room design.
18. Make an instrument
Ever wanted to create your own music makers? Start here.
19. Masks
Oooh masks. So many options here.
How about?
Superhero masks & capes.
Paper plate animal masks.
20. Make gifts
What about creating your own super gifts? Now that’s occupation with purpose.
21. Crafty signage
Make a bedroom door sign, all about me iPad poster or collage of things you like.
22. Paint stuff
Painted rocks show up all around New Zealand thanks to the popularity of this simple activity. They’re designed to be hidden as a random act of kindness to bring an unexpected smile to someone’s day when they find one. The idea is to hide it again for someone else to find.
If patterned stones aren’t up your alley, how about trying your hand at pet rocks?
Or maybe nails are more your thing?
Try a new colour or paint something unique as a novelty set.
Hand painting’s a messier option that appeals to most kids and gives a moment in time kind of record of your child’s size.
You could even make the prints into cards or poems.
23. Make a kite
DIY kites provide hours of fun. We did this activity last year and it was a total winner.
It started with researching the different types online then deciding which to make.
I provided black rubbish sacks, tape, dowel/bamboo sticks, string, cutting tools and away they went!
A little help was needed with measuring accurately and reinforcing the corners well.
They each made a prototype, tried it, and continued making improvements. They flew them for hours which provided great exercise too.
24. Collect & arrange natural objects
Head outside and collect a bunch of natural items like pine cones, seeds, pods, twigs, leaves or stones and make garden art or a mandala with them.
25. Make a herb & seed collage
Making a picture with dried seeds from the pantry is perfect if going outside isn’t an option. Craft glue or glue guns work best to hold the seeds in place.
CHILL
26. Colour in
Find old books you have around the house or print some online pages to colour in. Suitable for all ages from preschool to adult.
27. Sketch
Got some pencils, felts or bits of charcoal stashed around the house? Set up a place where you can sit and draw. Youtube’s full of how-to videos for art skill development – like this one.
28. Chalk it up
Head outside with a tub of chalk and colour your world!
Some kids are writing positive messages on sidewalks or creating awesome murals or artworks in their yards.
If you don’t want chalk marks on your fences or buildings, provide some clean paint brushes or old toothbrushes and a container of water and let them freely ‘paint’ their worlds.
With this it’s a bonus that later the water will evaporate for a zero fuss clean up.
29. Journal
Could you be a modern day Anne Frank by recording these interesting times from your perspective?
Why not journal your experiences? It’ll be a snapshot in time looking back either way or a record for your kids to share with friends or family.
30. Read
Curl up with a book in a comfy place like a nook or in bed and get into your favourite reads that maybe you’ve been benching for ages.
31. Get a Libby, Audible or Kindle account
Not got a paper book handy? No worries! You can now get copious books online and many for free.
In New Zealand, our local library uses an app called Libby which we can borrow any of the digital collections through. We read with it on phones and tablets. You can make a reading wish list on it or tab the ones you want to revisit.
Kindle offers a range of books for free and you can also buy any of their vast collection. Click here to find out more about Kindle Unlimited Membership Plans.
And if you have Amazon Prime you get free Prime books and magazines, which is a perk.
32. Listen to music
My favourite way to listen to music is via Spotify these days. You can save your favourites into playlists (now could be a good time) and you can shuffle tracks or skip at will.
When things are a little hectic and you’re feeling a bit frazzled, search for a ‘sensory integration’ album to listen to as you get into making dinner or chilling out.
Amazon Music is another option.
33. Write
If you’ve got content or a story to tell, get it written down or an outline for a book fleshed out if you’ve one in you.
Or you could actually write a letter to a friend or to your younger self to send support, encouragement, and insight.
Or keep a daily diary about Covid-19.
34. Relax
Who couldn’t do with a massage? Or a foot spa? A face mask? Some time to sit alone quietly? Or a warm bubble bath?
Spend a little time pampering yourself or your kids.
35. Watch a show
Got a show or documentary you’ve been trying to squeeze in? Why not enjoy the time you now have to slot it in?
Disney+ – check out Swagbucks for a discount from tons of online retailers and 1000 SB points towards your free Swagbucks account if you purchase a year of Disney+ for $99.
Netflix – Watch titles on your smartphone, tablet, Smart TV, laptop, or streaming device – all for an $11.99 fixed monthly fee. No extra costs or contracts.
36. Nap
Oh my! I love doing this to catch up when I’ve had late nights.
And, if tensions are running high as they might while we’re all contained, it’s an excellent way to help the body reset. I’m usually in a finer mood after one of these. How about you?
37. Listen to a TED Talk or Podcast
The options are endless – there’s something for your every mood, whether it be to temporarily get away from reality, keep yourself informed or soothe your nerves.
Check out these highly-rated podcasts:
99% Invisible
Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee
The Happy Hour
Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations
Bookclub
How I Built This
Daily Hope
ORGANISE
38. Declutter
Downscale the stuff you have by moving on what isn’t used or doesn’t fit anymore.
Or you could pick a surface to clear. Sort the stuff on it then move to another.
When I’ve been on a minimising binge I’ve found it helpful to have boxes representing things to give, donate or throw away. Then I sort my chosen area into those. When a box fills, stash it until you can move it on after quarantine and get a replacement.
39. Budget
Get your finances ironed out by using this time to set up a budget.
If you want to, you can go digital with apps, stick to paper templates, or set your own categories up in software like Excel.
Tools to check out:
PocketSmith– a Kiwi budgeting app with a range of pricing options from free upwards.
40. Plan a trip
Got future travel lined up? Or a travel goal in mind?
My bucket list is brimming with places waiting to be explored online. Now’s a great time to plan ahead.
41. Organise your pantry & kitchen drawers
You stare at this daily so how nice to have time to get it looking ordered and no longer a source of visual noise.
42. Write down your goals or to-do list
Have you got a bucket or wish list? Grab some magazines and scrapbooking bits and create yourself a goals or vision board.
If glue, scissors and paper are more than you want to take on, try using Canva or the PicCollage app to create digital versions that you could use as wallpaper on your phone.
I use Canva to make my Pinterest pins and PicCollage for putting together travel collages quickly. They let you to get creative with free-form collages, cutouts, filters, borders, stickers, photos and text and you can download or share them digitally.
43. Make a meal plan
Got a budding chef or organiser in your family? Give them a two-week calendar and some guidance to create a meal plan for your family. Blend in some maths and you can have it all budgeted out too using prices gleaned from brochures or online shopping sites – Pak ‘n Save, Countdown & New World.
CLEAN UP
Quarantine means time to clean the stuff you don’t always get to.
44. Washing
Get caught up on laundry. You could even wash the curtains given the extra time, hanging help, and sunshine we’ve got around at the moment!
45. Clean vehicles
Get out in the sunshine and wash that grime off your wagon. It’s probably not doing much mileage right now but it’ll be good ‘n clean for when we can get out and about again.
You could even give the inside a vacuum if you’re pulling out all the stops.
46. Repair stuff
Fix, paint, or water blast your way through the to-do list things you’ve haven’t had the chance to get to yet. You’ll feel awesome that those little things don’t bother you daily once they’re repaired or completed.
47. Reinstall your devices
If you’ve been meaning to back up files, run updates, off-load photos, clean up your desktop or install a new anti-virus, don’t look this gift horse in the mouth a moment longer.
48. Clean appliances, your wallet, bags & phone
Wash them all for a fresh, more hygienic way forward.
LEARN
49. Research
Collect facts about a certain topic or watch informative videos to learn more about your current areas of interest or curiosity.
50. Do an online course
Are you looking to pivot into a new career path? Or add a new skill to your resume?
ClassCentral (free) offers over 500 courses in everything from computer science to art history and is a great way to explore something that interests you. Maybe a new career path?
If school’s closed but you or the kids want to learn more, Khan Academy, Udemy, and Codecademy all offer a plethora of courses for online learners.
51. Learn a language
Sure, there’s a travel ban right now but we can dream, can’t we? With Duolingo’s free language app, there’s no excuse to show up on your next vacation without new levels of mastery. There’s even a Duolingo Spanish Podcast.
52. Teach your kids something new
How to use a tool, ride a bike, blow gum, sing, or follow instructions to make something.
A great site for people who like making things is Instructables – why not check it out and find something to do together? It could be the start of a great new hobby.
53. Fold paper planes or animals
Look up origami patterns online and try out some paper plane folding activities.
54. Go out virtually
Take virtual trips to amazing places you haven’t been yet or were planning to visit but can’t for now.
Start here:
- Free Broadway Shows
- Australia Zoo Virtual Tour
- Walt Disney World Tour
- Google’s Arts & Culture website
- Smithsonian Virtual Tour
- Other Top Virtual Museum and Art Gallery Tours
- 56 Famous Sites, Zoos, Aquariums and Museums to see from your couch
- Virtual Field Trips for Kids
55. Blog & learn
Catch up on reading all the tabs you’ve got open and take action on a few of the tips.
56. Learn the Rubik’s cube
Watch some amazing people solve these online then learn the strategies behind cracking the cube and put some time into practicing.
57. Figure out how to tie things
Learn how to tie knots together.
Give your kids some para-cord or rope to cruise around practicing with. Then give them challenges like lashing, macrame, or swing making.
If you want an extra challenge, learn the 3 main ways to knot a necktie in this how-to video.
Or learning to knit or crochet might light your fire.
58. Be the expert
Teach something you know how to do.
Can you juggle? Whistle? Snap your fingers? Tie laces? Ride motorbikes? Apply makeup? Cut hair? Make a smoothie? Take photos?
Be your family’s kemosabi, pass on your skills.
COOK
59. Make nice meals
Try new flavours or styles of cooking if that’s what you love and value.
Another idea is to teach your kids new recipes and to coach them to handle making them from scratch. We do waffles, french toast, cheese toasties, popcorn, and pikelets independently so far.
60. Bake
Bake something fun or delicious or Eastery with your kids.
How about bread, weetbix slice, or bliss balls? A gingerbread house? Pizzas?
Or salt dough? You could make decorations, ornaments, or souvenirs of your family handprints at the time of quarantine.
PURE FUN
61. Watch a movie
Movie night! Grab a snack, your PJs and snuggle up.
62. Make forts
Grab a stack of sheets, duvets, and pillows and make a bedding nest or fort with your kids. You could watch your movies from here and later someone might even want to read or sleep the night in there.
63. Solve or make a puzzle
What better time than now to challenge your family to a puzzle quest? Maybe one of those 1000+ piecers? Or solving a few crosswords or word finds at different levels?
Got one of those puzzles you haven’t had time for yet? Perfect! Get everyone on the task in rotation and see if you can get it done in record time.
We’ve got lots of those wooden and metal fidget puzzles at home where you have to get a ring or similar out or off. These are great for indoor or rainy days.
64. Play a game
Challenge your home team to a crazy board game like Mouthfull, Pie Face, or Cake Splat.
We buy spray cream in a can to use with our Pie Face. It’s a pretty hilarious, finger biting game because the flinger clicks randomly until it suddenly fires a pile of whipped cream at your waiting face. I’ll add that the bathroom or outside are good places to play it for easier cleanup.
Monopoly always crops up around here when we’re looking for board game suggestions from the kids.
It and chess are not my favourites but I recently found a fabulous, much shorter version called Monopoly Deal – a card game which can take as little as 10 minutes to play a round.
65. Set a timer for tech
How about passing some time using tech?
Most people have interests they want to sink some hours into or games they want to level up.
Start with these:
Youtube – funny cat videos or informative how-tos… I’ve sunk a few hours into America & Britain’s Got Talent recently. It’s so inspiring to see what people are capable of.
TED Talks – always something mentally challenging available here.
Video games – our boys are into Friv and Studyladder at the moment. Both free plus the latter is fun while educational – love it!
Nintendo/ Playstation
66. Dress up
You might like to get into your wardrobe and try a few new clothing combinations out as we approach winter.
Or your kids might like to dress you up in their choices, do some hair dying or face painting. Or maybe just for fun you’ll dress up and celebrate at your place.
And even if it turns out scary, it’s a total bonus that you’re isolated – no one else will see the results!
67. Hold a tea party or picnic
Guide your kids or let them handle it all and invite you when they’re ready.
68. Play hide & seek
Our boys love this and never seem to tire of us being involved.
When they were younger I loved how we could be in plain sight but not found.
Lately, however, we’re having to upgrade our tactics a lot like by playing in the dark. You could even bring in compass skills here…
Another hiding activity is to make a time capsule of current events and bury it somewhere suitable.
69. Have a Nerf war
Get kitted up and go!
70. Blow things…up!
Make your own bubble mix and blow away outside.
Make your own giant wand and bubble mixture.
Hold ping pong races with straws. You can even make your own race routes with playdough or just choose to go for it all at once across the lino.
Get a bag of balloons…Blow them up and play indoor tennis, volleyball, or soccer with them.
You could do kitchen science to blow your balloons up and then check out some other amazing experiments here.
71. Go orienteering
Using a compass could prove super useful to your family if you enjoy hiking, camping, or problem-solving so take this opportunity to skill up.
You could devise a treasure hunt to apply your skills afterward.
Or just give directions they have to use the compass to follow to find some hidden items like clues, treats or toys.
This is the end of today’s post covering 71+ things to do during lockdown. If you’ve got other ideas, feel free to share them in the comments below or to our FB page.
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Thanks!
Meagan
