3 awesome free activities you can do with kids at home

“How on Earth do you entertain children these days? I can hardly remember when mine were growing up. Gosh, I don’t just want them glued to the screen while I’m taking care of them…”

Finding yourself at home alone with grandkids, nieces and nephews, neighbours, and family friends’ children might be an experience that you’re not used to having. But do not despair if you’re stuck for ideas on what to do.

Try out these easy and cost-free activities to keep them entertained at home.

1. Make them a star

Kids these days watch a lot of YouTube. If you know what channels they like to watch – or ask their parents, then you can help recreate them at home with the help of a smartphone or a video camera.

Whether it’s:

• pretending to unwrap presents, and judging the toys within them (think wrapping up household items or toys you already have at home, then pretending they’re new toys)
• doing their very own music video to their favourite song in various locations around your home and garden in dress ups
• or even playing out scenes from movies

you’ll be able to find something fun to do that you can also show their parents when they get back.

2. Reading, reading, reading

You don’t have to have a range of children’s books on offer at home to choose from when you’re looking after kids. A trip to your local library can uncover some real finds. Check out a site like GoodReads for kids booklists for appropriate ages, and go armed with a list.

You can generally borrow around 10 books at a time from the library so you’ll have lots to choose from. Make sure your list is longer than 10 though, many of the books that you like may be checked out because they are popular!

3. It’s treasure hunt time

What child doesn’t love a good old fashioned treasure hunt? Your treasure may be chocolate, a small gift, or a voucher good for an hour of screen time (or a later bed time, or a favourite meal…); something that is worthy of the “treasure” tag.

For little ones, you’ll have to tell them fairly straightforward clues to each location, and place something in it to know that they’ve found the location – for instance, a tin of food. All it has to be is a marker that they’ve found the right spot.

For older children, you can write cryptic notes in each location guiding them to the next (poems are good, too!), and provide hints when they get stuck.

Hide markers or notes around the home and garden, perhaps even placing “mini-treasures” along the way, that will lead them to their gold.