During these unprecedented times with COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, many of us are working from home for the first time ever. Due to school closures and schools moving lessons online, a large majority of those who work from home are doing so with their children present.
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Balancing work life with home life is always a challenge, and can seem to be even larger when you are trying to do both at the same time! Here, we will present some activities to make working from home with children easier and more fulfilling for everyone.
What Can My Kids Do While I’m Working?
There are so many fun, educational and varied activities that your children can busy themselves with while you work from home. The following breaks down activities for kids by age group, and includes things they can do indoors, outdoors, with or without screens.
Most importantly, activities listed below are ranked by things that kids can do completely on their own without your involvement, to things that you can be more involved in. (As with all web sites, make sure to thoroughly check out each web site listed before allowing your child to access it. You are the best judge of what your child should or should not see).
Activities Requiring No Parental Involvement
These are all activities that your kids can do while you work, completely on their own.
- ABC Coloring Sheets
- Age group: all ages (as long as your older kids like to color)
- Indoor/outdoor: Indoor
- Involves screen: no
- What do I need to do: download ABC coloring sheets from the Internet, give them to your kids with crayons or markers, and walk away!
- Art for Kids Hub
- Age group: all ages
- Indoor/outdoor: Indoor
- Involves screen: yes
- What do I need to do: go to Art for Kids Hub, gather the recommended art supplies, and let your kids watch these fun instructional videos on YouTube
- Big Life Journal
- Age group: Kindergarten through middle school
- Indoor/outdoor: Indoor
- Involves screen: no
- What do I need to do: go to Big Life Journal podcast, and set your kids up to listen to these growth mindset-oriented podcasts while you work
- Code.org
- Age group: Grades 1 through Middle School
- Indoor/outdoor: Indoor
- Involves screen: yes
- What do I need to do: Go to code.org/learn, create an account and turn your kids loose to learn on their own
- eSpark Learning
- Age group: Kindergarten through fifth grade
- Indoor/outdoor: Indoor
- Involves screen: Yes
- What do I need to do: set up a free account for your kids at eSparkLearning.com and let them work on fun math and reading exercises and activities on their own
- FabuLingua
- Age group: Toddler through third grade
- Indoor/outdoor: can be done indoor or outdoor (if you take the screen outdoors)
- Involves screen: yes
- What do I need to do: Download the FabuLingua app for free on your tablet or smartphone, and your kids can be learning a second language on their own in no time!
- Free Online Daily Workshop Series
- Age group: Kindergarten through middle school
- Indoor/outdoor: indoor
- Involves screen: yes
- What do I need to do: Go to TheGiantRoom.com and sign up for a free Zoom workshop to learn what materials you will need to set your kids up to create an art museum in your home
- GoNoodle
- Age group: all ages
- Indoor/outdoor: indoor
- Involves screen: yes
- What do I need to do: go to GoNoodle.com and let your kids have fun and become active with these movement challenges
- Indoor camping
- Age group: toddler through third grade
- Indoor/outdoor: indoor or outdoor
- Involves screen: no
- What do I need to do: help kids set up an indoor or outdoor campsite (in your backyard) where they can play at camping while you work
- Jump Rope Obstacle Course
- Age group: all ages
- Indoor/outdoor: indoor or outdoor
- Involves screen: no
- What do I need to do: make an obstacle course and have your kids jump rope through it
- Khan Academy Kids
- Age group: kindergarten through middle school
- Indoor/outdoor: indoor
- Involves screen: yes
- What do I need to do: go to KhanAcademy.org and sign up for a free account, then set your kids up to have fun learning while you work
- KidLit TV
- Age group: middle school
- Indoor/outdoor: indoor or outdoor (if take screen outside)
- Involves screen: yes
- What do I need to do: go to KidLitTV.com and let your kids watch fun, educational videos and stories
Check out our How to Cure “I’m Bored!”–Best Activities to Keep Kids Busy & Happy post and learn more great activities for kids while working from home.
- LEGO
- Age group: all ages
- Indoor/outdoor: indoor or outdoor
- Involves screen: no
- What do I need to do: give LEGOs to your kids and let them build whatever they desire
- Mazes
- Age group: toddler through sixth grade
- Indoor/outdoor: indoor
- Involves screen: no
- What do I need to do: generate your own mazes at AllKidsNetwork.com and print them out for your kids
- Montessori Fractions
- Age group: grades 1 through middle school
- Indoor/outdoor: indoor or outdoor
- Involves screen: no
- What do I need to do: go to Explore.ShillerMath.com and print the free Math Fractions Worksheet Kit for your kids to keep their fractions skills sharp!
- Music To Your Home
- Age group: all ages
- Indoor/outdoor: indoor
- Involves screen: yes
- What do I need to do: Get your kid an instrument, and sign up at MusicToYourHome.com for online music lessons from NYC music teachers
- Newsicle News Trivia Game
- Age group: Fourth grade through high school
- Indoor/outdoor: Indoor
- Involves screen: yes
- What do I need to do: kids can play news trivia games at Newsicle.co
- Outschool
- Age group: all ages
- Indoor/outdoor: indoor
- Involves screen: yes
- What do I need to do: sign up at Outschool.com for live online classes and camps for your kids
- Project Explorer
- Age group: Grades 1 through High School
- Indoor/outdoor: indoor
- Involves screen: yes
- What do I need to do: Sign up at ProjectExplorer.org for free video content and curriculum focusing on global awareness
- Quill.org
- Age group: Grades 1 through High School
- Indoor/outdoor: indoor
- Involves screen: yes
- What do I need to do: sign up at Quill.org for a free account to help your child become a better writer
- Sock Sorting
- Age group: all ages
- Indoor/outdoor: indoor
- Involves screen: no
- What do I need to do: do laundry that includes socks, and, once dry, let your kids sort through and pair each sock with its mate
- The Makery
- Age group: Grades 1 through High School
- Indoor/outdoor: indoor
- Involves screen: yes
- What do I need to do: sign up for online art classes for your child at BrooklineMakery.com (you might need to gather or purchase art supplies as well)
Activities Requiring Minimal Parental Involvement
These activities require some, but not much, parental involvement:
- At-Home Science Kits
- Age group: kindergarten through middle school
- Indoor/outdoor: indoor
- Involves screen: no
- What do I need to do: purchase at-home science lab kits at Mad Science of North Boston (you may need to supervise some lab experiments, especially with younger kids)
- Online Photography for Teens
- Age group: middle and high school
- Indoor/outdoor: indoor or outdoor
- Involves screen: yes
- What do I need to do: sign your kids up for an online photography course at ArtofIntuitivePhotography.com
- Kids Friendly Android Workshop
- Age group: Middle and High School
- Indoor/outdoor: indoor
- Involves screen: yes
- What do I need to do: sign up for the Kids Friendly Android Workshop (younger kids might need help setting up Android Studio, instructions are included at website)
- Xyza News for Kids
- Age group: Grades 4 through High School
- Indoor/outdoor: Indoor
- Involves screen: yes
- What do I need to do: go to XyzaNews.com and sign your child up to become a Junior Reporter
Activities Requiring Medium Parental Involvement
These activities require parents to be involved a medium amount:
- Cooking Projects with Kids
- Age group: all ages
- Indoor/outdoor: indoor
- Involves screen: no
- What do I need to do: check out some ideas to cook with your kids at Ckbk.com
- DIY Hand Soap
- Age group: all ages
- Indoor/outdoor: indoor
- Involves screen: no
- What do I need to do: go to Pbs.org to learn what supplies you’ll need and how to make soap with your kids
- Food-Based Activities
- Age group: toddler, preschool
- Indoor/outdoor: indoor
- Involves screen: no
- What do I need to do: go to Foublie.com for free recipes and food-based activities to participate in with your kids
- Garden Fun
- Age group: all ages
- Indoor/outdoor: outdoor
- Involves screen: no
- What do I need to do: start a garden with your kids – vegetables, fruit, flowers- it’s all up to you
- Painting Rocks
- Age group: all ages
- Indoor/outdoor: indoor or outdoor
- Involves screen: no
- What do I need to do: have your kids hunt for rocks, then give them paint and brushes and let them paint (might need to supervise younger kids)
- Raz-Kids
- Age group: preschool through grade 6
- Indoor/outdoor: indoor
- Involves screen: yes
- What do I need to do: sign up for an account for each kid at Raz-Kids.com and they can read leveled books online
- Sidewalk Messages
- Age group: all ages
- Indoor/outdoor: outdoor
- Involves screen: no
- What do I need to do: get sidewalk chalk, go outside with your kids and write inspirational messages on the sidewalk
Activities Requiring High Parental Involvement
The following activities are perfect for whenever you have a few hours, or even a day, to spend with your kids at home, as they require intensive parental involvement:
- 20 Questions
- Age group: all ages
- Indoor/outdoor: indoor
- Involves screen: no
- What do I need to do: play a game of 20 questions with your kids about historical figures, geography, or whatever topics interest them (and you)
- Baking
- Age group: all ages
- Indoor/outdoor: indoor
- Involves screen: no
- What do I need to do: bake cookies, cupcakes, whatever you like with your kids, using fun decorations and trying new flavors
- Chat With Experts
- Age group: all ages
- Indoor/outdoor: indoor
- Involves screen: yes
- What do I need to do: go to Inceptive.co where they offer free online chats and sessions with experts on activities you can do with your kids during the COVID-19 crisis
- Knitting and/or Crocheting
- Age group: all ages
- Indoor/outdoor: indoor
- Involves screen: no
- What do I need to do: if you know how to knit or crochet, teach your child; if not, you can both learn how to knit at sites like Ravelry.com
- Make Tie-dye Clothing
- Age group: all ages
- Indoor/outdoor: indoor or outdoor
- Involves screen: no
- What do I need to do: check out websites like HappinessisHomemade.net that show you what supplies you’ll need to get started tie-dying with your kids
- Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt
- Age group: all ages
- Indoor/outdoor: outdoor
- Involves screen: no
- What do I need to do: follow these instructions to do a socially distant neighborhood scavenger hunt
Check out some funny clothing items for your little one.
Liliana is a Licensed Montessori teacher known for her passion and dedication to education. She's been a teacher in the United States for many years, and she truly believes that education is the key to making the world a better place because today's students are tomorrow's leaders. Her experience with Toddlers, Beginners, VPK with Montessori methodology approach; Kindergarten, and first grade made her an authority and trusted resource. Liliana's family taught her important qualities like love, a positive attitude, strong motivation, and leadership. These values have guided her on her journey to becoming a professional and expert teacher. Her mission is to help children grow and contribute to a brighter future for the country.
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