As a work from home parent, I often need to write reports, create curriculum, check emails, or make phone calls with my clients on a daily basis. There are various blocks of time I need throughout my day for it to be quiet in the house and keep my children occupied so I can get work done. Some of this “work” even includes cooking, doing dishes, or putting away laundry. Or sometimes I just need a short break from work and parenting all together and need some space and quiet time to gather more energy to get through the day. Can anyone relate?
Needless to say, as a professional therapist and mom of two, I have years of experience coming up with creative activities that keep children busy for blocks of time without my complete attention or help. And now that school is cancelled for over a month and all of us are staying at home, parents (including myself) need as many tools in their toolbox as possible! So whether you need to work or just need a self-care break, the activities I listed on this blog should help keep your littles busy for at least 15-30 minute increments (if not longer) depending on their age and attention span. And only 1 of them include screen time, a virtual play date with a friend. Thus, I have listed my TOP 50 activities that children can play independently below and if you have anything to add that works for you let me know!! I’d love more ideas and would like to grow my list!! Have fun!!!
Parenting Tip: When you need a recharge, I suggest stepping outside to get some fresh air for a few minutes. I also implement a daily nap/quiet time with both of my children and we all go into our own rooms for an hour and everyone rests in a dark room and either reads book, plays, or even sleeps!
- Build a Fort and put books, puzzles, blankets, and stuffed animals inside!
- Put stickers in a sticker book (try to get some scratch and sniff!)
- Color in a coloring book or on a piece of paper
- Paint on a piece of paper or easel
- Paint or color on a big cardboard box (find different things to paint with like toys, sticks, old toothbrushes, etc)
- Make slime and play with it
- Play with a sensory bin
- Water play in sink with bath toys
- Play with Play doh and accessory toys
- Build legos or blocks
- Fruit stamping – cut fruit in half and use a fork and stamp on a piece of paper with paints
- Get a stamp set and stamp away on a piece of paper
- Use party streamers to hang up on wall in hallway to make a laser zone
- Make an empty toilet paper or paper towel roll maze and put fuzzy Pom Pom through them
- Get a big bowl or plastic container and use it as a sandtray with toys
- Play outside in a sandbox
- Make a race track on the floor and drive cars on it
- Play with Kinetic sand
- Unravel a giant rubber band ball
- Create a treasure hunt around house
- Put a puzzle together
- Play with magnetic letters on fridge
- Play with a mini train set
- Make a mini ball pit in a laundry basket and plastic balls
- Play skeeball with laundry baskets and small plastic balls
- Water play in a very shallow plastic pool and some plastic toys (not much water needed)
- Create a fun obstacle course
- Play on a hopscotch rug
- Get energy out by hitting a bop bag
- Read books independently or read to stuffed animals
- Play mini bowling
- Play mini golf
- Play doctor with doctor kit with dolls or stuffed animals
- Play restaurant with play food, dolls or stuffed animals
- Have a tea party with dolls or stuffed animals
- Play school with dolls or stuffed animals
- Do an easy independent craft
- Play inside a play tunnel
- Practice using hula hoops
- Play outside with sidewalk chalk
- Make hand puppets on the wall with flashlights or a projector
- Paint rocks or pine cones
- Do a word Search or crossword puzzle
- Blow bubbles or balloons
- Play a solitaire card game
- Play dress up
- Play a board game
- Play musical instruments
- Have a dance party (you can even try turning the lights low and have glow sticks)
- Have a virtual playdate on Zoom or FaceTime with a friend
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