Over 30 Ways to Keep Kids Busy So You Can Write

Let’s get really practical today about our lives during NaNoWriMo! I’m talking to all you parents out there.

 

Keeping my kids busy this November will be my biggest NaNo challenge (aside from writing 50,000 words!) I’ve come up with a list of activities (way more than 30 if you count each entry) to tack up near my computer for those times when the kids are looking for something to do.

 

Please add your own suggestions to the comments section, then print everything out so you’ll have it ready to use!

 

Note: These are things my children can do with minimal supervision. Use your own discretion and don’t send me any cleaning bills!

 

1.      Crafts: -fuse beads

- kits

- box of random supplies, glue and tape

- Holiday decorations (Family Fun website)

- paper snowflakes

- Dot markers (like Bingo dabbers—they love these)

- Wikki Sticks

2.      Audio Books (listen while doing crafts)

- See if your library offers downloads

- Magic Treehouse

- Sisters Grimm

- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

3.      Movies—don’t forget home movies!

4.      Building projects

- LEGO

- K-Nex

- Erector set

- Blocks

- Bag of marshmallows + toothpicks

5.      Playdates with ________, ___________, __________

6.      Outings (take your laptop)

     – park

         -  play center at mall

     – fast food place with a climber

7.      Library (you do research, they load up on books and movies)

8.      Computer time (www.sesamestreet.com, www.playhousedisney.com,

         www.nickjr.com, www.starfall.com, www.webkinz.com  www.funbrain.com)

9.      Wii/ Xbox/ etc.

10. Clean their rooms

11. Find 5 toys to donate (first they have to look through all their things, then they have to play with those toys “one last time”)

12. Go play with the dog

13. Decorate cookies

14. Magic sand

15. Moon sand

16. Playdough

17. Scavenger hunt

     – Find 10 things that are blue, or start with /b/ etc.

       (give prizes so they’ll do it)

18. Write their own books

19. Sign them up for classes like skating or piano and you can write while you are waiting for them

20. Make-believe fun:

     – restaurant

     – circus

     – zoo

     – store

     – beauty salon

     – house

21. Put on a puppet show for you—but they have to practice first

22. Film their own movie

23. Activity Bags (preschoolers)

     – group together like-toys or activities into bags or shoe boxes:

     – stacking toys

     – musical toys

     – for a zillion creative ideas like “toothpick punched art” go to this website:

       Preschool Activities 

24. Practice piano

25. Bean box—dried beans, scoops, cups, and a big plastic storage box

26. If you’re feeling brave—a bowl of flour, marbles, and cars

27. Bathtub and shaving cream

28. Let them talk on the phone with Grandma and Grandpa

29. Create an obstacle course with sofa cushions

30. Set up a mini-golf course with paper tubes and other recyclables

31. Build a box city—tissue boxes, food boxes, etc. Cut out windows and doors; make paper people and animals to live in the city.