42 Fun Activities for Kids at Home (No Screens)

42 fun activities for kids at home instead of screen time.

There are many things that keep kids stuck at home. It could be school vacation, the weather or other unexpected events.

Here in northern Minnesota it starts snowing in October and our last snowstorm is usually in April, sometimes even May. That means a good 6 months or more of winter.

When it’s 45 below zero (this is not an exaggeration) it is a lot of work to pack the kids up to go do something away from the house, that has given me a lot of experience keeping them busy at home inside.

Even when spring Spring can be rainy and even summer has its rainy days, so it is a little easier to go out and about, but being a small town the options are limited. It really helps everyone’s mood to have some fun activities to do at home.

There are many dangers to too much screen time. Too much screen time limits creativity and is a detriment to developing social skills and imagination.

Instead of turning on the television or letting the kids play computer games try some of these creative, fun activities.

Fun activities at home will cut down on whining and bickering. Pin this post here, so if you are at a loss for ideas to bust the kids’ boredom you have a go-to resource.

Inside Kid’s Activities for Rainy Days or Below Zero Winter Days 

Besides long winters not all summer days are nice to be outside. We do have days where it is cold and overcast or even days where we get a hard downpour.

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Bake cookies
            2. Read a book
            3. Play a board game
            4. Put a puzzle together
            5. Make a fort with blankets and a table
            6. Make a suncatcher to add cheer on a gloomy day
            7. Play volleyball with a balloon
            8. Play dress up
            9. Build a robot
            10. Let them paint the walls with water brushes and paint rollers
            11. Do a scavenger hunt
            12. Make something new with Legos you already have
            13. Build a house with empty boxes
            14. Put on a play by acting out a favorite story
            15. Make hand shadows
            16. Make homemade pizza
            17. Cover a plastic table cloth with shaving cream and make roads for matchbox cars
            18. Use an app to learn a language
            19. Make a coffee table photo book of a family trip, beloved pet, extended family or special event.
            20. Put a 3D puzzle together find options for younger kids and teenagers
         

Crafts for Kids to Do at Home

These activities can be done inside when it is cold or rainy and outside when the weather is nice. I actually prefer painting projects be done outside on the patio when the kids were younger. The mess was much easier to deal with.

1. Make play dough that smells awesome
2. Paint a picture
3. Color a picture
4. Knit or crochet a dishcloth
5. Build a birdhouse
6. Finger paint
7. Paint rocks
8. Origami
9. Make a fairy garden
10. Thumbprint art
11. Hand & footprint art
12. Tie-Dye a T-shirt
13. Make a photo book of a special trip, special pet or grandparents

More ideas of easy crafts to make for gifts or to sell here.

Kids Activities to Do Outside in the Summer

Spending time outside in the summer is fun and calming for everyone. These are great activities to do in your yard or a park.

1. Play in the sprinkler
2. Bocce Ball
3. Draw with sidewalk chalk
4. Croquet
5. Camp in the yard
6. Hopscotch
7. Blow bubbles
8. Water balloon or water gun fight

You can find more activities for your kids to do in the summer here.

Activities for Kids to Do in the Winter Outside

If you are like me being outside for very long in the winter isn’t your favorite thing, but there are some things you can only do in the winter. Having some outside playtime is a great way for the kids to burn off some of the extra energy that builds up from being cooped up inside for days or weeks on end.

When you get a relatively warm day (around here anything above zero degrees is considered fine to be outside and playing for a short time) try one of these activities

1. Make a snowperson
2. Play fox in the hen house (make a maze in the snow first) or make snow angels
3. Make ice lanterns

If you are looking for more ideas to keep bored teens busy you will find them here. What are some of your favorite activities to do with your kids on a cold or rainy day.

Related: Boredom Busters for Families (Awesome Ideas for Single Parents)