Six Activities to Keep Your Kids Engaged at Home that Won’t Break the Bank

These times are completely unprecedented. Stay at home orders and school closures have us all spending more time at home. And for many, this time also means more time entertaining and educating kids at home, and often on a budget.

As the time at home has stretched from days to weeks, people are looking for ways to entertain and educate kids while keeping them engaged. To help you keep your kids entertained and help you keep your sanity, here are some great kid-friendly and budget-friendly activities for you and your little ones!

Take a Virtual Tour

It can be hard to stop cabin fever from setting in when you can’t leave the house. One way to avoid the boredom and teach your children more about the world around them is to visit museums, zoos, and historical sites virtually. I recommend these 28 virtual tour opportunities to entertain your children.

Go on a Scavenger Hunt

If the weather is nice and you can safely get outside, you can take your kids on a scavenger hunt. Help them create a list of things that you can be on the lookout for while you walk the neighborhood. Anything from a squirrel in a tree to a heart-shaped rock is fair game. Make it a game to see who can find the most or who can spot some hard to find items. Looking around your neighborhood for different items will help you see your home in a new light. And getting outside and moving around can help you break up the day!

Create Found Art

It’s amazing how many ordinary objects can be turned into art. Look through your home to find different and fun art supplies. You can use wrapping paper and old magazines to make collages or create personalized pillowcases by painting or sewing designs onto old pillowcases. This can be a good opportunity to see the things in your house with fresh eyes.

Make an Obstacle Course

One of the best ways to entertain your kids is to get them moving and let them use their creativity. Whether it’s outside or in your living room, help your kids build an obstacle course. Have your kids come up with different movements such as jumping on one foot from one spot to another, crab walking, spinning in circles, or log rolling. Once they decide the movements, take turns completing the obstacle course and enjoy the laughter that follows!

Incorporate Educational Screen Time

While parents want to limit screen time, there are educational options out there to help your kids learn while watching TV. There are options like PBS Kids that offer free educational content for kids of all ages. You can also find yoga and other movement videos free on YouTube that will help your kids stay active.

Bake or Cook Something

Whether it’s blueberry muffins from scratch or brownies from a box mix, baking something with your kids is a great activity. It can help your kids learn life skills and can also help them with math (fractions anyone?). You can have your kids help you choose what to make or even help you plan a meal. Baking or cooking with the ingredients that you have on hand can show your kids how to be resourceful. And the best part is, at the end you have a tasty treat!

There are just a few things that you can do at home during this crazy time to help keep your kids entertained. Find activities that let your kids be creative and curious. Times are stressful and it’s good to let your kids be kids and have fun when they can. But that doesn’t mean that activities have to break the bank!