10 Play Ideas for Unplugged Fun at Home

by Kristy Pepping View Bio

Kristy Pepping

Kristy Pepping is a mom of three and lives with her family in Chicago. She is a Content Supervisor at Upparent, a website where parents share recommendations with one another for local family events and activities, things to do with kids at home, kid-friendly recipes, book, gift and product recommendations for families, and other parenting tips and hacks. As part of the founding team at Upparent, she plays a lead role in creating and curating the more than 24,000 recommendations on the site to-date, as well as for growing Upparent’s reach to help as many parents as possible discover this new and innovative platform for finding, sharing and organizing ideas about fun things to do as a family. Reaching more than 90,000 monthly users, Upparent provides gift, product, book, recipe, and vacation ideas for families everywhere, and ideas for local events and activities for families in 22 metropolitan areas around the United States.

This school year looks different for many children. Whether your kids are e-learning, hybrid learning or back in school full time, shorter school days and not as many after school activities mean more free time at home than in years past. So, when you’re done with remote learning – what’s next?

For parents who may be wondering how to fill those hours when you still have work or other tasks to get done, we hope you will be inspired by these 10 ideas to play your way through the school year!

1. Practice Yoga
   Physical activity is important for kids of any age. Whether you are looking for a substitute for an after-school sport that is not currently running or trying to fill the role of “gym teacher,” yoga is a great way to keep kids active at home. There are several free YouTube channels dedicated to yoga for kids, as well as videos for purchase, that will allow kids to use their gross motor skills and calm their minds, no matter the weather outside!


2. Do a Science Experiment
   Science experiments may sound like they belong within the typical school day curriculum, but they can be quite entertaining. Highlight these basic science concepts in a way that feels like play. For example, do your kids ever ask how things are made? If so, help them make their own ice cream! With just a few kitchen staples like ice and salt, your kids can learn about freezing points while actively participating in the process to make a tasty treat. Plus, once they are done, they can enjoy their creation as an after-school snack. So many easy science experiments for kids can be quickly put together using materials you probably already have at home, and offer a fun way to keep kids busy while beginning to explore science all around us in everyday life.


3. Color a Poster
   Coloring is a great way to use those fine motor skills. Instead of using a typical coloring book or print out, change things up and get a giant coloring poster! Kids can work on it individually or as part of a group effort, coloring a little bit at a time before or after the school day or over several days or weeks. Once the poster is complete, you can frame the work-of-art and display it in your child's bedroom or playroom.


4. Plan a Meal
   Although parents might normally take on the responsibility of planning meals for the week, it’s a great task to get the kids involved with, too. While it may seem like a chore, it’s a project that kids can really enjoy. Older kids can use your cookbooks or the Internet to find simple recipes to make with mom or dad. Younger kids can propose dinner ideas for the week, and parents or older siblings can look for recipes that have steps they can assist in, like mixing ingredients or dipping in sauce. Either way, you are passing on an essential life skill for kids to learn, and involving the whole family in a central household task.


5. Make a Scrapbook
   Much of our lives center around screens now, so sometimes it’s good to look for ways to get off the computer and back to basics. Why not make a scrapbook? You can buy an album or simply take several pieces of construction paper or cardstock and staple them together. Print out photos of recent family memories and give kids the task of putting them in the scrapbook. Photos could be themed, like a family vacation, or a collection from a particular period of time. Kids will have fun gluing them onto pages and decorating the pages with their own personal designs or stickers.


6. Play Minute to Win It Games
   Games are a great way to take a break from the monotony of listening to a teacher speak for much of the day, whether in person or via conference call. Minute it to win it games are quick and easy to play and use common objects you are likely to have around the house. Think of them as mini competitions your kids can do alone or with siblings - though parents might also want to get in on the action! For example, see who can blow the biggest bubble gum bubble, or unwrap the most candy in a minute while wearing gloves. These quick games are a great active brain break for any time of the day.


7. Arts and Crafts
   You can buy art kits for a variety of interests, whether your kids are into sewing or bracelet making or painting. If you are more of a DIYer, there are also plenty of easy crafts for kids you can put together without too much effort. For example, use a large piece of paper to trace an outline of your child that they can color. Or, you make your own non-toxic puffy paint with a few household items like flour, baking powder and salt, and use it to decorate a picture frame or other wall art. Whatever project you choose, art is a great way for your children to express themselves creatively.


8. Build a Fort
   Sometimes the best play during non-learning hours is inventive or imaginative play. A long-time favorite indoor activity for kids is to build a fort out of blankets and pillows. Get creative using chairs, tables, and other household furniture to prop up the blankets and sheets and use bag clips to hold everything in place. Then, if you are done with school for the week, your kids can have an indoor campout inside their fort!


9. Play Dress-Up
   Little kids love to play dress-up, and sometimes it can be fun to get the whole family involved. On a lunch break or after school, break out some costumes and dress up as a family. You can also pick a decade and see what you can find in your own closets! And once everyone is dressed up and looking their best, maybe put on a family fashion show?


10. Create a Treasure Hunt
    Children love to make discoveries and go on treasure hunts. You can easily create one for after school or even over a lunch break. Simply write little notes with clues that send kids to different rooms around the house where they need to find the next clue. You can add funny kids jokes or simple riddles in each to up the fun factor. At the end, hide a prize for the kids to find, such as a piece of candy or even a new book or small toy. If you have kids of different ages, you can have more than one set of clues, making them harder for older kids and easier for younger ones.

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