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| 113 Things to Do With Kids Without Electronics by Laura Lane Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash |
Are you running out of ideas to keep the kids busy and happy while they are home? I thought about some of the things we did when I was young long ago. I also included some of the things my four kids did with an abundance of time, no video games or tv, and limited videos. My daughters, Emily and Amy, then added their ideas as well. All in all, we came up with 113 things to do without electronics!
Here we go!
- Blow bubbles
- Catch fireflies
- Make homemade ice cream
- Read a book together
- Play in the sprinkler
- Ride bikes
- Play with balls
- Play dolls
- Kickball
- Play with cars and trucks
- Learn to play jacks or marbles
- Have a pillow fight
- Water balloons
- Science experiments ie. cola and Mentos
- Picnic under the stars, under a shady tree or under the kitchen table with sheets over it
- Sidewalk chalk
- Whittle sticks
- Playing outside
- Dig in the dirt
- Play in a sandbox
- King of the hill or play set
- Jump roap
- Play in a creek
- Build a fort with sticks or blankets
- Find the thimble
- Skits
- Exploring
- Trampoline
- Roll down a hill
- Play catch
- Wiffle ball
- Badminton
- Volleyball
- Hopscotch
- Obstacle course
- Climb trees
- Garden
- Look for 4 leaf clovers
- Mow the lawn
- Cook together
- Blow leaves
- Pick wildflowers
- Write snail mail letters
- Make homemade jam
- Pick blueberries
- Make slime
- Bake cookies
- Go to a drive in
- Make ice pops with water, juice, yogurt or pudding
- Sing
- Dance
- Teach your dog tricks
- Karaoke
- Dance party
- Write a letter to the grandparents by snail mail
- Play in a home pool big or small
- Fashion show
- Overnight hammocking challenge
- Make a play
- Reenact a movie
- Wash the dog or pet
- Write and perform poetry
- Read a play together with parts
- Weirdness contest
- Staring contest
- Walk
- Run
- Puzzles
- Slap jack
- Race hotwheels
- Race bikes
- Sing lots of rhymes and kids' songs
- Egyptian Rat Slap
- Spoons game
- War card game
- Go Fish card game
- Board games like Monopoly, Battle Ship, Chutes and Ladders etc
- Paint a room
- Reading Marathon
- Manicures and pedicures
- Dress up
- Makeover
- Private concert for the stuffies (stuffed animals)
- Bake cookies
- Blind taste tests
- Lemonade stand
- Gymnastics— somersaults, cartwheels, etc.
- String games
- Clapping games
- Magic tricks
- Scavenger hunt
- Ice cream run (in pajamas one night
- Flash mob with just your family
- Volunteer
- Make daisy chains
- Play house (this includes plant soup)
- Climb a tree
- Eat dandelions
- Get ahead on school
- Field trip!
- Ride a bike
- Crafts
- Wash the car
- Write stories
- Swing!
- Adopt a kitten
- Take pictures
- Draw pictures
- Play the game "Twister"
- Play hide and go seek
- Eat popsicles (and try to get them open without scissors)
- Sleep all night on a trampoline
- Coloring
Amy, 18, added this.
And above all, give your kids freedom in their play. A lot of amazing childhood memories are made by kids using their imaginations and parents being loving and being supportive! Have fun with your kids, but let them also go and act like pioneers together, or build a fort with random things they find. This builds so much character, forms those memories (and isn't that what we want to do for our kids? Help them create wonderful memories?), and teaches them lots of good lessons. To learn, and be healthy, kids need to do things by themselves (and this can be with help). In doing so, they learn, and also learn independence, knowledge, and ultimately maturity, and sometimes wisdom (even from learning a hard way at times).
Enjoy this time with your children and teens. You may never have this much time together again. Make it count for good. Hugs to you all! Thank you for joining me here at Harvest Lane Cottage.
Laura
Happy at Home
P.S. Please share ideas that I've missed and your prayer requests as well.
Find me online here:
Goodreads: Laura Lane 2020 Goal 50 books ~ 20 Finished so far
Ravelry: HarvestLaneLaura
Facebook: Harvest Lane Cottage
Instagram: @lauraofharvestlane
Email: laura@harvestlanecottage.com
Paypal gifts: lauraofharvestlane@gmail.com
Address: Available by request
Inspire Me Monday Classical Homemaking
And above all, give your kids freedom in their play. A lot of amazing childhood memories are made by kids using their imaginations and parents being loving and being supportive! Have fun with your kids, but let them also go and act like pioneers together, or build a fort with random things they find. This builds so much character, forms those memories (and isn't that what we want to do for our kids? Help them create wonderful memories?), and teaches them lots of good lessons. To learn, and be healthy, kids need to do things by themselves (and this can be with help). In doing so, they learn, and also learn independence, knowledge, and ultimately maturity, and sometimes wisdom (even from learning a hard way at times).
Enjoy this time with your children and teens. You may never have this much time together again. Make it count for good. Hugs to you all! Thank you for joining me here at Harvest Lane Cottage.
Laura
Happy at Home
P.S. Please share ideas that I've missed and your prayer requests as well.
Find me online here:
Goodreads: Laura Lane 2020 Goal 50 books ~ 20 Finished so far
Ravelry: HarvestLaneLaura
Facebook: Harvest Lane Cottage
Instagram: @lauraofharvestlane
Email: laura@harvestlanecottage.com
Paypal gifts: lauraofharvestlane@gmail.com
Address: Available by request
Inspire Me Monday Classical Homemaking
Those are great ideas! I was thinking also:
ReplyDeleteBake bread
Make individual pies
Make welcome signs for guests
Visi favorite craft stores
If gas prices are good do a progressive lunch or dinner. Go to one restaurant for drinks, the next for main meal and the next for dessert. Okay so maybe that one is a bit out there but it does sound a bit like fun though.😁
Oh Regina, those are some great ideas! Thank you so much for sharing them.Hugs, Laura
DeleteI think I did most of those as a youngster. Maybe not slime - as I don't think that was a thing back then!! LOL
ReplyDeleteWe always had fun and never got bored.
Ah Cheryl, now you know where I found my inspiration! Memories!Hugs,Laura
DeleteLaura,
ReplyDeleteAs I read through the list, I was happy to see that my 7 yr old grandson has done many of the things on the list. I'm not sure I saw basketball on the list. He loves to shoot baskets. Even if you don't have an outdoor hoop, a Nerf indoor hoop provides lots of fun too. My grandson wants to work in a zoo when he grows up so he loves animals and like to build animal shelters in my yard which is nothing more than piling sticks, leaves and grass which he thinks provides a safe spot for small animals to hide. He also likes to do extra chores to earn spending money so today he brought his work gloves with him so he could do whatever chores we might have for him. He does love his screen time but it is limited. Thanks for the great list of ideas!
That's wonderful to hear! I didn't think of basketball. Probably because we didn't have a goal and basketball when I grew up. I love the ideas your grandson has. Love it! Thanks so much for sharing!
DeleteGreat list! Yes! These grandparents love to get letters and drawings in the mail! They decorate our refrigerator for months!
ReplyDeleteI'll bet so, Lana. I know a little girl drew a picture for me and it was up for weeks.\Hugs,Laura
DeleteI think you all pretty well covered everything I did as a child in the 1960s. I didn't see flying a kite there, though. Also playing with (and in) large boxes (making doll houses, cars, forts, play houses, etc.) My favorite things to do were climbing trees, making tree houses, digging in the backyard pretending to be an archaeologist, sewing (both doll clothes and my clothes), and reading books on an old quilt outside under a shade tree.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, Frances! I did those things and loved them. I wanted to dig to China. I once found a Hong Kong dollar several inches down. I think the old man across the street planted it there for me to find!
DeleteLOVE this list ❤️
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking about asking my husband or some of my adult kids to do some of them with me!
DeleteThis is a great list- and the last- unstructured play is so important for kids! I am having the continual battle with one of my kids and it is aggravating to say the least.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear about your troubles Kathie. Father God, I pray that you will give Kathie guidance that is particular to this child, that you will reach the child's heart and Kathie's that they may reconcile and peace can be restored, and that the child can grow in wisdom and in statue and that this family will love you with all their hearts minds souls and strength. In Jesus' name. Amen.Hugs to you Kathie. Thank you for writing to me.Laura
Delete