News & Updates

Ideas for Parents

Mar 25, 2020

Do you have amazing kids with active imaginations and a ginormous appetite for fun? Those are always our favorite characteristics of our kiddos so we have compiled a menu of ideas that are sure to cater to your parental peace of mind and chase the boredom blues away! Enjoy!

Make a cardboard fort

Take a hint from Kim K. and put those empty Amazon boxes out in the garage to good use!

Set up a treasure hunt

Treasure hunts are pretty easy and depending on how many items there are, it could last a while. Hide anywhere from 10 to 20 items around the house or outside to keep kids occupied for a few hours.

Watch the beluga whales at the Georgia Aquarium

There’s a beluga whale webcam set up at the Georgia Aquarium, so you can see what your whale friends are up to at any time.

E-visit the Louvre

Transport you and your family to Paris, France by taking a digital tour of one of the most famous international museums, the Louvre.

Bake together

Cookies, cakes, brownies. Anything! Baking is a great lesson in measuring, ingredients, and of course, making delicious goodies.

Watch the Cincinnati Zoo Livestream

The Cincinnati Zoo will be live-streaming animals on their Facebook page daily at 3 PM.

Have an indoor picnic

Grab a sheet, whatever food you have, and enjoy a living room picnic (without the ants). You can even play that memory game at the same time: “I’m going to a picnic and I’m bringing…” Each person takes turns remembering (in order) what everyone is bringing and then adds one thing each turn.

Train the dog

No, seriously, this could be a good one. If the family dog doesn’t know how to sit or stay, start there. If he’s ready to move onto more complex tricks, try focusing on training an hour a day. You can move onto down and roll-over.

Make elephant toothpaste

Making elephant toothpaste is a great science experiment. Using the laws of both chemistry and biology, this recipe will cause an enormous foaming reaction, fit for an elephant. Check out Scientific American for a how-to.

Film TikToks

Quarantine? It’s perfect time to choreograph and film TikToks.

Take a virtual field trip to Yellowstone National Park

Virtually visit the Mud Volcano, Mammoth Hot Springs, and so much more with a digital field trip to Yellowstone.

Keep to a schedule

Schools may be closed but one of the ways to keep things running efficiently at home is to stick to a schedule.

Take a virtual field trip of the Boston Children’s Museum

Visit the Boston Children’s Museum without even leaving your living room.

Check out Mars

Explore the surface of Mars with this digital 360° camera.

Listen to Josh Gad’s story readings on Twitter

Josh Gad just gets it. (He’s a dad, after all.) To make it easier on all of us, the voice of Olaf has been broadcasting readings of different kids’ stories on Twitter.

Start an independent novel project

Read a book together and, as an added educational component, have the kids write up an independent novel project once it’s finished. The novel project can feature a summary and reaction.

make a sensory bin

Fill it with anything and everything, give the kids some shovels, and they’ll be excavating for hours.

Download and fill out academic printables

All the printables!

Enact a digital quarantine

Limiting screen time might be a good idea. In fact, some professionals recommend it. When school work, reading, and other educational tasks have been completed, then you can give back tablets and phones.

Make space for learning

This won’t keep kids entertained, but it will make learning from home all the more easier. Set up a designated homework/schoolwork area. Whether it’s a desk or a specific place at the kitchen table, having a workspace can really help kids focus.

give them recess

Setting a schedule and focusing on educational tasks is awesome, but you should take time to focus on recess, too. After a few educational tasks, make sure to focus on playtime, too.

Write a letter

Break out the envelopes, the stamps, the pens, and paper. No, we’re not talking e-mails; we’re talking old-fashion snail mail. Write a mail a letter to someone you love, like grandma and grandpa, or a family member who lives far away.

FaceTime family members

FaceTime is another meaningful way to connect with family and friends while practicing “social distancing.” Use it to check in on family members and to socialize, even if over the phone.

Do some spring cleaning or organizing

We know cleaning isn’t exactly “fun,” but with everyone off from school and off from work, the house is bound to get messy, and pretty quickly at that. Carve out a few minutes, even if it’s just 15, each day to prioritize organization.

Start a travel journey from your last trip

Reminisce on the last time you were allowed to travel by starting a travel journal. This is an awesome exercise for both kids and adults alike. If you want a resource, Teachers Pay Teachers has an interactive journal that’s inexpensive.