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
