20 Ways to Keep Kids Busy During Coronavirus Quarantine

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Feeling cooped up at home with the kids? Here are some easy ways to keep kids occupied at home during the coronavirus quarantine. Following social distancing guidelines means that we can’t visit friends or hang out with extended family members. However, we can still have fun at home. Here are some ideas!

1. Make a box fort!
The girls and I did this last week and it was a lot of fun! Not only can you teach some basic principles of recycling, but you can also create a fun little hideaway for hours of play time. Here’s how to create the world’s best box fort!

2. Create a scavenger hunt!
Create a series of clues & riddles and set up a series of little treasures throughout the house. Need inspiration? Check out these clues!

3. Watch the whales at the Georgia Aquarium.
There’s an exhibit at the Georgia Aquarium with a webcam, so you can tune in from home to see the whales. Tune in here!

4. Do some baking.
Baking with kids is a lot of fun. Here are some easy ideas for child-friendly recipes.

5. Have a picnic.
There’s something inherently fun about eating on the floor. If you have a private backyard, you can go outside and set it up there. Otherwise, have the picnic on the living room floor.

6. Make elephant toothpaste
This fun experiment is kid-friendly and results in an impressive foaming reaction. Check out this guide for the directions and teach your kids that chemistry is fun!

7. Visit the Boston Children’s Museum
You don’t even have to leave your living room! Check out the digital version here.

8. Make crafts.
We have been doing so many crafts recently. There are thousands and thousands of craft ideas online. My Pinterest board has tons of DIY projects that are kid-friendly. This book also has craft ideas that can be made using supplies you probably already have at home.

9. Make a sensory bin.
We’ve made a sensory bin before. It’s a fun, easy way to put a bunch of random things in a bin and let the kids explore it. Not sure where to start? Here’s a great guide.

10. Do educational printables.
There are worksheets available online for every grade level and for every subject. Check out some of these and flex your kids’ brainpower during quarantine.

11. Have a dance party.
Turn up the volume and have fun in the living room. Burning some calories has never been more fun.

12. Have video calls with family / friends.
You may not be able to visit friends and family members in person during social distancing but you can certainly say hi on a video call.

13. Put a puzzle together.
My younger daughter absolutely loves a good puzzle. Her favorite ones are those that depict a princess or cute animals. 

14. Get into art.
I have always had an interest in art. When I was a kid, I used to paint and sketch and draw every day. Both of my kids love creating artwork too, and we’ve been doing artwork regularly during quarantine. This art kit has everything needed d for your child to create a masterpiece!

15. Enjoy a game of indoor hopscotch.
Use painter’s tape on the floor to create the boxes and enjoy a fun game of indoor hopscotch.

16. Research a fun subject.
Let your child pick their favorite animal (Sophia loves narwhals) and list everything they know about the animal. Then do some research with them about the animal and add additional facts.

17. Hone your drawing techniques.
Check out all the drawing techniques you can learn with your child on YouTube. My kids have been enjoying LUNCH DOODLES with Mo Willems.

18. Make some origami.
Origami is both fun and challenging. You can learn to make flowers, frogs, birds and more. Here’s a beginner guide! Also, an origami kit like this has some fun ideas and all the necessary supplies are included.

19. Make a sticker book.

Using paper, stickers and staples, assemble a kid-curated sticker book. Then let them decorate it.

20. Make your own hand soap.
Has this ever been more important or relevant? Making your own hand soap is actually surprisingly easy. You can even buy a pre-assembled kit with all the supplies you need in one spot!

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