6 Wacky & Affordable After-School Activities to Keep Kids Entertained
School’s out for the day, the kids are home, and the first thing out of their mouths is, “I’m boooooored.” It’s a phrase every parent has battled. So how do you put the kiddos’ imaginative minds to good use without plopping them in front of a TV screen? Nip boredom in the bud, boost your kids’ creativity, and keep them entertained with these wildly wacky and fun activities that’ll have everyone begging for more family time.
- Make a time capsule. Document this last summer’s memories (or hopes and dreams) in a non-digital way! Grab a plastic container about the size of a shoe box, some fun colored and patterned paper, glue, and any other props that will make great decorations. Print out pictures of your summer adventures, search the house for memorable trinkets, and write down your favorite summer funnies to put into the box. Bury the box in a memorable place and set a date to open it up. Make sure the box is airtight or sealed to help preserve the contents. Perhaps the first day of summer next year? Hint: put a reminder on your phone about it – just in case!
- Build an epic blanket fort. Who says your kids have to be the only ones excited about this one? Relive your childhood and build the coolest blanket fort you’ve ever seen. Get some amazing blanket fort ideas from Real Simple.
- Give Mother Nature a hand. Help the kids help themselves by giving back to the planet. Plant some new trees in the backyard, build a birdhouse, or even use extra time to find outdoor volunteer opportunities. Find some ways to get involved with nonprofits like Keep America Beautiful and The Nature Conservancy. If you’d rather stay indoors, check out these six easy DIY upcycle projects to turn your household trash into one-of-a-kind treasure.
- Get crafty in the kitchen. It’s never too early to teach the kids some culinary skills! Cook a themed dinner together or bake cookies from scratch. Either way, you both need to eat, so why not give the chore of cooking some charm. Keep things simple with four healthy dinner recipes you can make in 30 minutes or less!
- Sweat out the boredom blues together! Use technology to get the kids up and exercising. YouTube houses plenty of free videos that they can follow along to, encouraging a healthy, active routine. This mom’s list of best exercise videos for kids includes something for all ages. Don’t be afraid to explore more options that match up with your kid’s interests. There are even Frozen inspired yoga sessions on YouTube!
- Throw a rainbow soap foam bubble party. Could you fit any more fun words into a single sentence? We doubt it. Make a spectacularly brilliant mess in a large plastic container outside, on the kitchen floor, or on an apartment balcony with this rainbow soap foam recipe—all hands on deck!
Looking for other ways to keep the kids entertained AND unplugged? Check out our other article on unplugged activities! What’s your favorite way to keep the kids entertained? Let us know in a comment below and follow Direct Auto Insurance on Facebook and Twitter for more family fun!
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