Abigail Malbon
Looking for fun things to do with the kids during the coronavirus lockdown? We've put together a list of the very best activities to keep them busy in the house
After weeks at home with our families in lockdown, many of us are searching for things to keep the kids entertained. If your children are regularly saying the words 'I'm bored', you might like a few new ideas to keep them busy. From puzzles and crafts to new languages and music, the activities below will help occupy your little ones in these strange times. Check out the list for inspiration…
1. Bake!
Now’s the perfect time to teach them how to bake, if you can get your hands on the ingredients. Start with a simple cupcake kit, or get experimental and try your hand at a loaf of bread.
Pink cupcake kit, £12, Meri Meri
2. Colour
Steven Skinner, a talented illustrator, has created some joyous, royal-themed colouring-in sketches in partnership with HELLO!, and they're sure to keep kids and adults alike entertained! Find them here.
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3. Play some puzzles
Introduce your kids to the world of jigsaws. Not only will they keep their brains busy, they’ll help you out with the bits you’re stuck on yourself!
Schmidt Jigsaw, £6.99, Amazon
4. Download Disney+
While you might not want to put them in front of a TV for hours on end, we all know the magic that comes from a great Disney film. Introduce them to some old favourites and new classics with streaming service Disney+, which has hundreds of films and TV shows to choose from.
5. Have reading time
A great book will keep them entertained for a while, and is a great way to encourage individual learning. Start with the classics until they find what they love.
The Beast of Buckingham Palace, £7, Amazon
MORE: These are the UK’s favourite children’s books
6. Get into the garden
Gardening is something that younger kids can really get involved with - buy them their own tools and get them to help you plant some bulbs.
Small Foot garden tool set, £15.78, Amazon
MORE: Paddling pools to give the kids a quarantine to remember
7. Keep in touch with the family
Now’s the perfect time to get them to FaceTime the grandparents. They can also chat to their friends - as long as their parents don’t mind!
Cuddly Readers pillow stand, £20.80, Amazon
8. Embrace their artistic side
Whether they’re born little artists or still getting to grips with a paintbrush, use this time to hone their skills. Invest in some tools (not forgetting a mat to protect the surface) and let them unleash their talents.
Crayola Inspiration Art Case, £15.96, Amazon
9. Stay active
It’s important to burn off some of that energy, even if you’re not lucky enough to have access to a large garden. Joe Wicks’ morning exercise sessions are fun and accessible for all ages - find them on his YouTube channel at 8:30am every day.
READ: 24 things to do when self-isolating at home
10. Learn a new skill
Whether that’s a language, the basics of cooking or some (outdoor!) ball skills, now’s the perfect time to set them a challenge for the coming weeks.
Learn Spanish for kids, £16, Amazon
11. Buy a new board game
Embrace family time with a board game you can all enjoy. Amazon has plenty to choose from, but we’d recommend avoiding anything too competitive; now is not the time to be arguing!
Articulate, £29.99, Amazon
MORE: 11 family-friendly board games to play during lockdown: Cluedo, trivia and more
12. Learn an instrument
This one will take some sacrifice from you, but isolation is a great excuse to get them set up on the piano, guitar or other musical instrument. There are lots of tutorials they can follow online, too, since there’s no chance of seeing a tutor right now.
Acoustic guitar package, £149.99, Amazon
13. Set up a scavenger hunt
Pinterest has plenty of great ideas for setting this up, and we guarantee kids of all ages will enjoy the search.
14. Learn to draw Disney characters
This will keep the little ones busy for hours! The Disney Destination of Imagination is a new section on the Disney shop's website, which offers free activities for children. There's something for everyone, with downloadable colouring sheets and 'learn to draw' booklets of your favourite characters, plus print-your-own Disney board games and trivia on movies like Star Wars and Frozen. Exercise sheets and storytelling sections are coming soon too. Visit shopdisney.co.uk/events-and-activities
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