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COVID LOCKDOWN ACTIVITIES FOR BABIES, KIDS + TEENS

Not my circus not my monkeys! … we all have been there and some of us still are due another wave of COVID lockdowns and the limitations that come with that. Our little monkeys (aka our beloved sweet children) are home and there isn’t a known date when we will be able to send them back to school or kindergarten. Many of us parents are already pretty busy with life’s side gigs such as full-time jobs, homeschooling, providing for the family, caring for sick relatives and equipped with zero ideas and energy when the big question is popped (3 zillion times a day). Nope, we are not talking about the dreaded, “What’s for dinner tonight?” we are talking about her nagging little sister, “What can I do? I am soooooo bored!“

So we tried to gather a few ideas from Pinterest on how to keep kids (from babies to teens) busy with things that you will easily find in your household or that you could still purchase through Amazon or borrow from a neighbor. Because this is your circus and those are your monkeys. Hang in there everyone … here we go!

 

 


BABY 0-2 YEARS OLD


While babies and young toddlers are not really able to craft by themselves, we added a few ideas to keep them happy and busy. With sensory bottles, bags and bins the sky’s the limit. Do you not have specific toys for the sensory bin? It’s no problem to put in some safe cooking tools from your kitchen e.g. wooden spoon, whisk etc. You could also put them (or baby’s favorite fruit or snack) in a plastic box and wrap it as a present. The joy of pulling paper, ribbon and the unwrapping process will keep them busy for a few minutes at least. Do you have no pearls for a sensory bottle? Use dry beans or chickpeas or coffee beans or whatever will make a sound when shaken in the bottle. Edible colors and safe-taste playdough are super messy but easy to produce and loads of fun in an outdoor space or on a towel inside. Pots, Pans, plastic bowls and plastic cups can build “waterparks”. Or use the baby gym and attach new things to it. You will be surprised how engaged your little one will be. Pillow fortresses or little crawling Parcours are easy to set up, disassemble fast and go a long way.

 

 

SENSORY BOTTLES

https://pin.it/uRSuVD4

     

 

TASTE SAFE DIY KINETIC SAND

https://pin.it/DhWvMOR

 

 

TASTE SAFE EDIBLE PAINT ( 2 INGREDIENTS)

https://pin.it/7q1zEiC

 

GREEN PEA SENSORY BIN

https://pin.it/4QHojSo

 

TUGGING BOX

https://pin.it/5eC9doq

 

TACTILE MONTESSORI MOBILE

https://pin.it/vqXUWpH

 

DIY PULL TOY

https://pin.it/67DshG5

 

SENSORY HULA HOOP RING

https://pin.it/5vQsOsF

 

FOOTPRINT ART

https://pin.it/2GBuqiU

 

BUBBLE WRAP PAINT RAINBOW

https://pin.it/13BmGaA

 

TYE DYE BABY WIPES

https://pin.it/1Y9rUql

 

 


TODDLER 2-4 YEARS OLD


2-4 year-olds will still need lots of help with these activities but they will keep them occupied. As already explained in the Baby section those sensory bins can be anything and cover any topic. Beans, dry rice, dry pasta, grass, stones, water, ice, the most random toys or items make great landscapes and keep little hands busy. Dry pasta can also be put on thread and become a pretty necklace (color with watercolors), paint pasta and then use it to sort shapes sizes and colors. Salt dough to make some funny ornaments that could be sent to grandparents and other relatives. You might like to use big buckets and containers to create some aquascapes on balconies. If the weather allows it, set up an old tent you have in your storage on the balcony or even in your living room and do a little adventure Pyjama Party with torches and nice stories. Maybe all plush toys and dolls need a bath and some grooming so set up a washing station in the shower or in a bowl. A scavenger hunt through the house can be adapted to any age group.

 

FOOTPRINT ART 

https://pin.it/5tzWW3m

https://pin.it/5eVJKjO

        

 

FINGERPRINT ART 

https://pin.it/1Yjch8g

https://pin.it/7MwOVkH

 

TODDLER SENSORY BINS 

https://pin.it/3Rz3llj

 

CONSTRUCTION TRUCK SENSORY BIN 

https://pin.it/1MuFYdi

 

DIY TODDLER BUSY BOARD 

https://pin.it/7coR585

 

SENSORY TUFF TRAY FARM 

https://pin.it/5HHwIXK

 

DIY SCOUT DRUM

https://pin.it/H1h7eeQ

 

LADY BUG ROCK PAINTING 

https://pin.it/A2iJTqh

 

SALT DOUGH ORNAMENTS 

https://pin.it/7xEymb9

 

TISSUE PAPER SUNCATCHER 

https://pin.it/4NIalg0

   

 

SALT PAINT PICTURE 

https://pin.it/1Lh1y1b

 

DIY LANTERN FROM PET BOTTLE 

https://pin.it/1jLIznc

 

UNPOPPABLE BUBBLES

https://pin.it/jjCJh1U

 

HOMEMADE PLAYDOUGH

https://pin.it/O6phKXr

 

 


YOUNG KIDS 4-8 YEARS OLD


There are plenty of things 4-8 year olds can already craft by themselves. Depending on their skills and interests those ideas can be easily tweaked. Besides crafting it’s maybe time to open the costume trunk and throw an impromptu-themed dinner (or breakfast or lunch) or everyone can just dress up as any character they like. Upcycling, especially regrowing from kitchen scraps and germination experiences are super exciting activities. This is also the age and time for basic experiments and observations such as an erupting volcano in the kitchen sink, growing crystals and more.. Home-built racetracks or a little home beauty parlor for the weekend and you are good to go or spend a night in your old tent or sleeping bags on the balcony using torches to explore the night. Hand over the dessert production ( ice cream – no-bake cakes – muffins – fruit salad – fruit rolls …) once a week to the kiddos it might surprise you how creative they are (and their skills to fully trash your kitchen in under 5 minutes). Calling the grandparents for extended storytime or family board game night never gets old either.

 

EXPLORING GERMINATION- GROW BEANS IN A BAG 

https://pin.it/3eN9sjI

 

VEGGIE & HERBS REGROW FROM KITCHEN SCRAPS 

https://pin.it/7omZVow

 

PAPER PLATE PARTY CROWN 

https://pin.it/1eyBGSm

 

BETTER THAN SALT DOUGH HOMEMADE CLAY 

https://pin.it/4Y0lEBJ

 

MELTED BEAD SUNCATCHER 

https://pin.it/46lRmOL

 

HOMEGROWN NAME CRYSTALS 

https://pin.it/2RGl0vJ

       

 

EASY KIDS SCAVENGER HUNT AT HOME 

https://pin.it/4TIVynB

 

DIY PAINTED PASTA NECKLACES 

https://pin.it/2Xv2X3

 

COLOR CHANGING VOLCANO ERUPTION 

https://pin.it/fiMGeZj

 

2D 3D MARSHMALLOW SHAPES

https://pin.it/1poetBJ

 

BLACK SCRATCH ART 

https://pin.it/4ur4ZDM

 

DIY KALEIDOSCOPE

https://pin.it/3eT2yNE

 

GIGANTIC BUBBLES

https://pin.it/3VeRof8

 

LIFE SIZE BODY MAP 

https://pin.it/5QCG7jn

 

 


KIDS 8-12 YEARS OLD


8-12 years old, congratulations you have kind of reached the sweet spot of parenting meaning they are mostly independent just need ideas, supplies, prayers and off they go. These kids are also pretty busy with online schooling so handing them a device letting them relax never gets old (no judgment here). For some extra activities besides screen time you could hand them some basic tools (eg. screwdriver) and whatever broken appliance you have (old radio, hairdryer, broken toaster ) and let them disassemble and assemble the full thing. Google and YouTube for trickier questions. Involve them in cooking and baking. You might end up with a yummy treat while they are learning basics that might come in handy later. Many cool tutorials for upcycling, bullet journals, tie-dye, mind-boggling paper art or homemade Instagram-worthy clay crafts, easy sewing projects, an online class for drawing their own gaming characters and small DIY outdoor Parcours to test their new skateboard or roller skate skills for the win.

 

 

PAPER FLEXTANGLES 

https://pin.it/6g6Znga

 

MINI JAPANESE FLYING CARP DIY

https://pin.it/2ftFMFH

 

PAPER FLOWER CROWN 

https://pin.it/2z9nTt

 

POMPOM PENCIL

https://pin.it/1OPrLx1

 

CUTE SODA BOTTLE PLANTERS 

https://pin.it/64Z5RIK

 

COLORFUL ROCK ART 

https://pin.it/6HFE06k

 

AIR DRY HOMEMADE CLAY (NO COOK) 

https://pin.it/52u4Nuc

 

SUNCATCHER/ NATURE WIND CHIMES

https://pin.it/2NXq1fR

 

MACRAME RAINBOW CHARM 

https://pin.it/1jgV3ms

 

DIY RAINBOW SLIME

https://pin.it/6ck3g6G

 

PLASTIC BOTTLE WIND SPINNER

https://pin.it/35oeUxE

 

 


TEENAGERS 12+ YEARS OLD


Teenagers 12+, super busy with online school,  sleeping, gaming and extravagant mood swings it can be tough to motivate this particular crowd for any extra action. However, we gathered some ideas to upgrade their rooms, daily used appliances and clothes.

 

DIY HANGING BOTTLE GARDEN POTS 

https://pin.it/3JyzOrJ

              

 

PAPER CRAFT THE ENDLESS WHEEL 

https://pin.it/3xuA8av

 

DIY CHERRY PAPER FLOWER GARLAND 

https://pin.it/yfr0chX

 

DIY FLOWER CROWN

https://pin.it/5kAh1Qa

ZERO WASTE HOME PROJECTS FOR BEGINNERS 

https://pin.it/4UNU14F

 

REPAINT YOUR OLD PHONE CASE 

https://pin.it/2jn4Lbf

https://pin.it/55HZJ36

https://pin.it/3dzZZa0

 

UPCYCLED DENIM POCKET ORGANIZERS 

https://pin.it/79QqUcY    

UPCYCLED OLD SKATEBOARD DECKS 

https://pin.it/37g2XJi

 

UPCYCLED WALL HOOKS MADE FROM SKATELAND TRUCKS  & WHEELS 

https://pin.it/3R1udXI

 

INSTAWORTHY AIR CLAY PROJECTS 

https://pin.it/J15dB4K

 

MACRAME BUNTING/GARLAND FOR BEGINNERS 

https://pin.it/3zWeFLq

 

DIY MACRAME CAMERA/CELLPHONE STRAP 

https://pin.it/Fd4UGmE

 

UPCYCLED T-SHIRT BAG

https://pin.it/3HLCbbR

 

ICE DYED SNEAKERS

https://pin.it/3ZiAfZZ

 

PASTEL TIE DYE TEES + MORE 

https://pin.it/21cDE3t

Jana Hennig - maximalist - queenager - mom and textile designer in training - trying to make this world a more exciting and better place one day at the time.

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