Coronavirus Guide for Parents: Activities for Kids to Do at Home

As schools continue to shut down around the country, activities and entertainment events are cancelled and even more businesses temporarily shut down, the CDC is recommending that even if you are not displaying symptoms that you stay home and practice social distancing. But what does this mean when it comes to your kids being stuck indoors?

We’ve gathered a list of suggestions to help make your quarantined time at home with your little ones a little more interesting and, dare we say, “fun” while we all ride out this pandemic together.

50+ Activities for Kids to Do at Home During the Coronavirus Pandemic

1. Complete a puzzle.
2. Play board games.
3. Go for a walk in your neighborhood.
4. Go for a bike ride.
5. Use household items to conduct easy/fun science experiments.
6. Engage in virtual learning to learn a new skill.
7. Jump rope.
8. Create an obstacle course (outside or indoors!).
9. Have a mini scavenger hunt.
10. Set a timer and do a “clean up” race.
11. Create kindness rocks by gathering rocks from your property and painting them!
12. Kick a soccer ball around.
13. Play basketball.
14. Create art with sidewalk chalk.
15. Read a book.
16. Color.
17. Take a virtual field trip.
18. Face time with relatives and friends.
19. Write a story.
20. Play charades.
21. Watch a documentary.
22. Write a short story or play and act it out.
23. Help with chores around the house!
24. Help make a meal.
25. Engage in some of these fun sensory activities.
26. Pot plants/create a garden.
27. Play indoor basketball.
28. Create a sticker book.
29. Create a scrapbook.
30. Live action role play
31. Take the dog for a walk.
32. Conduct a fashion show.
33. Gather items for donating to charity.
34. Learn yo-yo tricks.
35. Create friendship bracelets.
36. Play word games (ex: word scrambles, word search).
37. Practice your photography skills.
38. Do your homework.
39. Practice a musical instrument.
40. Create music using household items.
41. Create blackout poetry.
42. Create a painting using marbles.
43. Go through old family photo albums.
44. Do an indoor workout with these fun ideas.
45. Create clay figurines with Play-Doh.
46. Dissect a flower.
47. Host a dance party or dance battle.
48. Play a game of catch.
49. Make a terrarium.
50. Make a rain cloud in a jar.
51. Go bird watching.
52. Go for a hike around your neighborhood.
53. Go stargazing.
54. Attract hummingbirds to your backyard.

Practice Safe Distancing

Young children, especially, are prone to more spontaneous touching in the form of hugs, tackling, and sharing toys/food. When possible, aim to organize outdoor activities to naturally space kids out.

Research shows that daily time spent outdoors can boost the health and well-being of children while potentially keeping germs at bay. Choose games that involve fewer opportunities for touching (ex: bike riding, hiking, etc.).

Stay Up-to-Date with COVID-19

Visit the WakeMed website here for the latest news, resources and information related to coronavirus (COVID-19), updated visitation restrictions and more.