How To Keep Kids Busy And Stay Sane At Home

How To Keep Kids Busy And Stay Sane At Home

This content was updated for accuracy and relevance on October 21st, 2020.

Let’s talk parent life while we stay at home. Keeping your kids busy and your own sanity during COVID-19 is no easy task. If you found yourself suddenly wondering how to work from home with kids, it’s safe to say your average day is looking quite different than usual.

Now that families are spending a lot more time together, in closer quarters, to avoid the spread of the coronavirus outbreak, it can be tough to figure out how to keep everyone busy at home. But just because we’re all stuck at home, doesn’t mean we have to spend it going stir crazy! 

Read on for our tips on how to keep kids busy at home while staying sane as a working mom or dad at home.

Keep a Routine

Just like taking a trip, the best ones start with a good itinerary!  Start by creating an itinerary to give yourself and your kids some structure. Make sure to include your normal everyday indoor activities, including consistent meals, bathing routines, and playtime. Don’t put too much pressure on your routine or stress about filling up every moment of the day. Focus on creating balance and allowing time for rest and transitions between activities and if you off task, just know that’s ok too!

Get Organized

You can never be too organized! Take this time to help the little ones organize their closets, rooms, or toys. While they are busy sorting and cleaning you can do the same!  Whether it’s reorganizing your closets - tucking away rarely used items using our packing cubes with easy to read labels, cleaning out your cosmetic drawer, organizing your skincare and makeup items in convenient cases and pouches or going through your wardrobe to store your winter clothing and pull out your spring & summer clothing. This is a great opportunity for you to get your home organized AF. Put all your travel accessories to good use instead of letting them collect dust. So go ahead, channel your inner Marie Kondo and get to organizing!

Stay Chic & Put-Together

One of the best ways to stay sane while you’re stuck at home is to be prepared for all your mom duties, without giving up being chic. 

If you’ve got a little one at home, check out the newest edition to the BÉIS family: the BÉIS baby travel bags. These chic baby bags are our favorite kind of mom fashion. They will keep you organized and make you feel like you have your life together even when you’re going to the grocery store with your hair in a messy bun, chipped nails, and in pajamas that you haven’t taken off in three days. 

Essentials For Mom: The BÉIS Baby Collection

  • BÉIS Diaper Bag: The diaper bag is what we needed—a bag that we ALL want to carry. Not only is this bag fit for "mom style" but it's fit for everyday personal style too. Featuring endless pocket bliss and all the extras, this bag also includes stroller straps, a portable changing pad, and a bag for dirty diapers, a pacifier pouch, two bottle pouches, and a teething ring to keep the baby occupied during changes.
  • BÉIS Bottle Cooler: Baby’s bottles or Mommy’s bottles, no judgment here! This bottle cooler is insulated to keep bottles cool or warm, along with convenient ice tubes to keep that milk (or whatever you’re sipping on) chilled.
  • BÉIS Stroller Caddy: This bag is a three-in-one baby mama essential. A stroller caddy, an extra organization tool for your Diaper bag, and a way to organize baby’s items in-flight (who else can’t to pack up and take a trip after this is all over?!) This is one of our favorite "mom must haves" and because it's one of the best stroller bags for keeping all your baby needs organized on your daily walks and even around the house.

Activities For Kids at Home (Boredom Busters)

1. Open Up the Kitchen

A great way to keep kids busy throughout the day? Open up your kitchen, grab your cookbooks, and get to cooking! Baking and cooking with the family is a fun way to get the kids involved. Grab a high chair for babies, get some pots, pans, and wooden spoons for the younger kids, and recruit older children to explain what you’re making and how it’s done.  Learning new ways to hang out and interact with each other, reading recipes, gathering ingredients, and enjoying the meal you all just created together is a great way for the whole fams to learn some valuable life lessons! We recommend grabbing your food coloring and cookie cutters to get the kids excited.

2. Family Exercise Routines

Physical activity is a great way for kids to release energy and stay busy. As gyms are closing and sports teams are on hold, families have to think a little more out of the box with at-home workouts. Check out YouTube for a variety of workout, yoga, and dance ideas you can join in together as a family at home. If you have a backyard or front driveway, this is a great space for kids to run around, jump rope, play games, and stay active.  And of course, there is always packing your baby bags and heading out for a walk.

3. Clean Up the House 

Grab your kids and some cleaning supplies! This is a great idea and a great chance for the kids to keep up with their chores. At the same time, this helps you keep your sanctuary clean while creating a relaxing and safe space. Sanitizing is extra essential at this point, so make sure to stress to your kids the importance of keeping countertops and shared areas like doorknobs and light switches clean. Make cleaning time a fun game with rewards and incentives, such as sticker charts or extra screen time.

4. Family Game Night

If you have older children, consider a family game night to spice up your weeknights! This is a great time to break out your favorite board game, host kid-friendly trivia night, or give charades a shot. Not only will you build connections and memories, but this is a chance for you to start teaching game strategies to your kids.  Putting this family activity on the calendar will also give the whole family something to look forward to. 

5. Get Crafty with Your Kids

It’s time to let your creative juices flowing and start crafting! Explore online or browse Pinterest for a list of ideas of crafts you can set up or do with your child. From homemade playdough and paint to crayons, coloring books, and cardboard crafts, the opportunities to get crafty are endless. Not sure where to start? Check out some of our favorite craft supplies from Popsugar Family[1].

6. Movie Marathon

Did someone say Disney+ movie marathon? Even if you’re strict when it comes to screen time, everyone should make time to watch a movie together as a family. There are tons of new shows and movies coming to the Disney+ platform this April[2], so you’ll have a variety of options to keep the younger and older kids entertained for the weeks and months to come.  Pop some popcorn, break out the good snacks and candy, and pile on the pillows for this easy indoor activity!

7. Build Forts

A fun way to ‘escape’ your house is through a DIY project to bring to your living room or kid’s bedroom - building a cozy, layered fort! Grab your comfiest pillows, blankets, and sheets and start making a fortress you and your kids can escape to. For an extra magical touch, try adding some twinkly fairy lights and keep them overnight for a fun and exciting makeshift sleepover. Losing yourself in a good book or reading, telling, and sharing stories is always the perfect complement to fort building.

8. Video Chat Playdates

Craving some more social interaction? Use Zoom, Skype, and FaceTime to plan virtual playdates for the kids and give them a chance to chat with family members. Don’t forget to set aside some time for yourself as well to catch up with family, friends, coworkers, or your therapist. Staying social and maintaining relationships is extra important during this time when we can’t physically be together.

9. Get Outside

If you have a backyard, patio, balcony, or front porch, take some time every day to get some fresh air outside when possible. You can never underestimate what a good dose of vitamin D can do for your mood & health.  Consider taking a short walk around the neighborhood, keeping in mind social distancing best practices and CDC guidelines. Here are some other great fun activity ideas to keep your kids entertained by spending a few minutes outside each day:

  • Plant a garden
  • Use a bubble wand
  • Go camping (in the backyard or in nature)
  • Enjoy bird watching
  • Set up a scavenger hunt or treasure hunt
  • Have an outdoor family BBQ
  • Play a game with sidewalk chalk
  • Pack up your overnight bags and camp out in the backyard

Give Yourself a Break

Making time for rest and relaxation is just as important as making time for activities and putting this time on your calendar will ensure you all take these much needed mental breaks.  Encourage nap or alone time throughout the week for both you and the little ones to enjoy some quiet time. It can be challenging being cooped up in one space with the same people for an extended time. Make sure the whole family gets a chance to rest and recharge with some alone time.  

Make Space for Open Communication

During this time, we’re all facing a lot of change and uncertainty. Make sure you are creating space to connect and communicate with your children. We are all facing the same thing together, so normalize their experience by reassuring them that we are all staying home to keep everyone safe. Try to set aside time for each of your kids to address any questions and worries they may have. Open communication is key during these stressful times at home. If your kids need extra support, don’t be afraid to reach out to a trained professional, including a children’s counselor, psychologist, or social worker.

Pat Yourself on the Back & Pour Yourself a Beverage When Needed!

Figuring out fun quarantine activities for kids is no easy task. Take some time to acknowledge that you’re doing a great job and reward yourself with some new stylish bags from BÉIS for all your hard parenting work. You deserve it!

And since you won’t be working at home forever, treat yourself to one of our chic tote bags for work. Return to the office with style, thanks to Beis Travel!

 

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