Inexpensive and Creative Ways to Entertain Kids at Home

With the ongoing challenges and guidelines surrounding physical distancing, keeping kids entertained and engaged indoors can be both exciting and educational. Here are some affordable and creative activities that can help children enjoy their time at home while learning and growing.

Infants (0-9 months)

At this young age, infants can benefit from simple yet engaging activities:

Peek-a-Boom

Materials Required: Hands and a playful voice.

As a parent, hide your head behind your hands or a piece of fabric, then reappear saying “peek-a-boo!” This simple game is both fun and educational, as your child learns about object permanence and begins to engage in turn-taking.

See and Say

Select various objects around the house and name them as you explain their characteristics. Say, "See the dog. It's a fluffy dog." This helps in building language skills and bonding with your child.

Body Game

Point to different body parts while naming them, like "Where is your nose? Here it is!" This can be done to your own body and your child's to help teach body part recognition.

Toddlers (1-3 years)

Toddlers enjoy doing things that explore their physical capabilities and foster creativity:

Box Car Game

Materials Required: An empty box or carton and soft blankets.

Create a cozy space for your child to sit inside the box with blankets, and slowly pull it around as you make car noises ("vroom vroom!"). Even if space is limited, you can still roll the box back and forth and make sounds together.

Kitchen Drummer

Materials Required: Shatter-proof bowls, pots and pans, and wooden spoons.

Kids can have fun making music in the kitchen. Encourage experimentation with different sounds and discuss the creations. This game also helps in developing fine motor skills.

Free Draw

Supply your toddler with crayons and paper, and let them create independently. This encourages creativity and lets them express themselves. Afterward, discuss the colors they used.

You can find a vast collection of free printable coloring pages here.

Preschool Children (3-4 years)

Activities for this age group should be engaging and imaginative:

Dress Up

Materials Required: Various fabrics and clothes.

Encourage your child to create costumes from the available materials and play a game related to the chosen theme. This can lead to exciting and imaginative play scenarios.

I’m Going to Catch You

Play a fun game of "I'm Going to Catch You" by chasing your child around the house. This activity is great for letting off extra energy and promoting physical coordination.

Name That Sound

Make different animal sounds and have the child guess the animal. Take turns, allowing them to make their own sounds. This is a great way to teach about animals.

Toddler Challenge

Pose challenges to preschoolers, such as lifting their arm or touching their toes. Use body parts in context to teach and engage them in practice exercises.

By incorporating these activities into your daily routine, you can ensure that children not only stay entertained but also learn and develop essential skills during this important phase of their lives. Enjoy these fun and educational moments together!