Keeping the kids entertained - ideas??
Discussion
OK - so with school closed and not being able to get out and about, how about a thread on ideas on how to keep the kids entertained?
On the list so far we have;
- rebuild their scooters
- wash the cars
- grow random plant seeds we can find in the sheds
- built bird tables / feeders / pet houses from scrap wood
- make a small wildlife pond
- gardening (surprisingly popular!)
- make an assault course in the garden (limited scope)
- cooking and baking
- board games (can result in strops)
We have all the usual arts and crafts stuff but my Boys don't seem that interested in that. They love screen-time but that is limited for obvious reasons. They also love cycling, skateboarding, climbing, running and generally being out and about but sadly not an option at the moment and they are in danger of bouncing off the walls!
Any other ideas?
What have you been doing for your kids?
(Sorry if there is a thread on this already - I couldn't see one and it is a bit MumsNet isn't it?)
Edited to add: I've thought about buying some technic lego to get them started on it but it seems like a lot of money, a shortish build time and then a model they are reluctant to break up and reinvent. I'd love to find something they can build though.
Arduino is a bit old for them (8&10). Maybe a breadboard of electronics to make leds flash etc Switches and diodes, self build transistor radio?
On the list so far we have;
- rebuild their scooters
- wash the cars
- grow random plant seeds we can find in the sheds
- built bird tables / feeders / pet houses from scrap wood
- make a small wildlife pond
- gardening (surprisingly popular!)
- make an assault course in the garden (limited scope)
- cooking and baking
- board games (can result in strops)
We have all the usual arts and crafts stuff but my Boys don't seem that interested in that. They love screen-time but that is limited for obvious reasons. They also love cycling, skateboarding, climbing, running and generally being out and about but sadly not an option at the moment and they are in danger of bouncing off the walls!
Any other ideas?
What have you been doing for your kids?
(Sorry if there is a thread on this already - I couldn't see one and it is a bit MumsNet isn't it?)
Edited to add: I've thought about buying some technic lego to get them started on it but it seems like a lot of money, a shortish build time and then a model they are reluctant to break up and reinvent. I'd love to find something they can build though.
Arduino is a bit old for them (8&10). Maybe a breadboard of electronics to make leds flash etc Switches and diodes, self build transistor radio?
Edited by breamster on Sunday 5th April 10:50
I ordered 2000 water balloons last week.
Waiting for them to arrive
I need to up my home schooling knowledge, and will be doing painting/drawing etc but so far its been take their fav indoor toys all outside each morning, so not staying in. Brio, Lego, Scalextric and so on.
Mine are very young though- age will be factor?
Waiting for them to arrive
I need to up my home schooling knowledge, and will be doing painting/drawing etc but so far its been take their fav indoor toys all outside each morning, so not staying in. Brio, Lego, Scalextric and so on.
Mine are very young though- age will be factor?
Edited by hyphen on Sunday 5th April 10:50
hyphen said:
I ordered 2000 water balloons last week.
Waiting for them to arrive
I need to up my home schooling knowledge, but so far its been take their fav indoor toys all outside each morning, so not staying in. Brio, Lego, Scalextric and so on.
Water balloons! Awesome idea.Waiting for them to arrive
I need to up my home schooling knowledge, but so far its been take their fav indoor toys all outside each morning, so not staying in. Brio, Lego, Scalextric and so on.
Edited by hyphen on Sunday 5th April 10:49
Ordered a trampoline today 
Very 'council' but good excercise during the stay at home months. Arrives next week.
Water table, slide and sand pit getting good use at moment. Along with bubble machine/manual bubble blowing.
Bought a couple of tarps- will be putting the scalextric track outside and then leaving it covered with a tarp overnight. Just need to make sure they haven't played with water or sand prior to playing that! Or little one doesn't take scalextrix cars as sand toys...
Very 'council' but good excercise during the stay at home months. Arrives next week.
Water table, slide and sand pit getting good use at moment. Along with bubble machine/manual bubble blowing.
Bought a couple of tarps- will be putting the scalextric track outside and then leaving it covered with a tarp overnight. Just need to make sure they haven't played with water or sand prior to playing that! Or little one doesn't take scalextrix cars as sand toys...
- board games (can result in strops)
Yes, I get a right monk on when my lad batters me at monopoly.
Model making is a good one, you can get a kit with glue and paint for little money.
Movie night/afternoon, curtains draw slightly too loud and if/when one of you goes to the loo make sure you slowly walk in front of the others for full effect (sweets and pop too)
Hide and seek.
Hopscotch
Spaghetti towers, who can build higher with tape and 10 pieces
Cleaning, especially if I includes hovering.
Stop motion film using toys etc
Building forts in the house
Water bottle rockets
Shove halfpenny
Coin rugby, a like the above but you get one shove to get the coin across a desk and have it overlap the end, then you flick it up and catch it, for the conversion you spin the coin on the table. Trap it in your thumbs and flick it over a set of posts make by the other persons hands
I’ve two air guns, a pistol and a rifle it’s getting close to letting my 10 year have a go but he doesn’t know I I have them so could be opening the flood gates... the pistol should be ok, the rifle’s trigger is a bit too heavy. He would love it though.
Yes, I get a right monk on when my lad batters me at monopoly.
Model making is a good one, you can get a kit with glue and paint for little money.
Movie night/afternoon, curtains draw slightly too loud and if/when one of you goes to the loo make sure you slowly walk in front of the others for full effect (sweets and pop too)
Hide and seek.
Hopscotch
Spaghetti towers, who can build higher with tape and 10 pieces
Cleaning, especially if I includes hovering.
Stop motion film using toys etc
Building forts in the house
Water bottle rockets
Shove halfpenny
Coin rugby, a like the above but you get one shove to get the coin across a desk and have it overlap the end, then you flick it up and catch it, for the conversion you spin the coin on the table. Trap it in your thumbs and flick it over a set of posts make by the other persons hands
I’ve two air guns, a pistol and a rifle it’s getting close to letting my 10 year have a go but he doesn’t know I I have them so could be opening the flood gates... the pistol should be ok, the rifle’s trigger is a bit too heavy. He would love it though.
Edited by r159 on Sunday 12th April 10:03
The other thing is keep them fed, not just food but a bit of treat snacks, I'm being a bit more relaxed on sugar frontnof staying in all day.
No baking today, but every few hours I gave them simething- a square of dark chocolate, ice pops (cut in half as long ones), toasted waffles with peanut butter and vanilla ce cream. Along with berries and fruit.
As you can imagine, not lacking energy
As then you also have the leverage too "finish your lunch or no treat" And tidy the Lego or no treat etc.
No baking today, but every few hours I gave them simething- a square of dark chocolate, ice pops (cut in half as long ones), toasted waffles with peanut butter and vanilla ce cream. Along with berries and fruit.
As you can imagine, not lacking energy
As then you also have the leverage too "finish your lunch or no treat" And tidy the Lego or no treat etc.
Edited by hyphen on Sunday 12th April 16:16
hyphen said:
Also a box of Fun Snaps kept them occupied for half an hour today (those little white gunpowder things you chuck on floor and they go bang).
Great idea. Just found a box. Kept them entertained and the wife annoyed for a couple of minutes!! 
Also found a rubber band plane. Excellent fun. Recovered from the road next door and the tree and pet rabbits now terrified. It is now broken to be repaired later.
r159 said:
- board games (can result in strops)
Yes, I get a right monk on when my lad batters me at monopoly.
Model making is a good one, you can get a kit with glue and paint for little money.
Movie night/afternoon, curtains draw slightly too loud and if/when one of you goes to the loo make sure you slowly walk in front of the others for full effect (sweets and pop too)
Hide and seek.
Hopscotch
Spaghetti towers, who can build higher with tape and 10 pieces
Cleaning, especially if I includes hovering.
Stop motion film using toys etc
Building forts in the house
Water bottle rockets
Shove halfpenny
Coin rugby, a like the above but you get one shove to get the coin across a desk and have it overlap the end, then you flick it up and catch it, for the conversion you spin the coin on the table. Trap it in your thumbs and flick it over a set of posts make by the other persons hands
I’ve two air guns, a pistol and a rifle it’s getting close to letting my 10 year have a go but he doesn’t know I I have them so could be opening the flood gates... the pistol should be ok, the rifle’s trigger is a bit too heavy. He would love it though.
Stop motion films are a great idea. Air guns hmmmmmm...... Maybe your garden is bigger than ours!Yes, I get a right monk on when my lad batters me at monopoly.
Model making is a good one, you can get a kit with glue and paint for little money.
Movie night/afternoon, curtains draw slightly too loud and if/when one of you goes to the loo make sure you slowly walk in front of the others for full effect (sweets and pop too)
Hide and seek.
Hopscotch
Spaghetti towers, who can build higher with tape and 10 pieces
Cleaning, especially if I includes hovering.
Stop motion film using toys etc
Building forts in the house
Water bottle rockets
Shove halfpenny
Coin rugby, a like the above but you get one shove to get the coin across a desk and have it overlap the end, then you flick it up and catch it, for the conversion you spin the coin on the table. Trap it in your thumbs and flick it over a set of posts make by the other persons hands
I’ve two air guns, a pistol and a rifle it’s getting close to letting my 10 year have a go but he doesn’t know I I have them so could be opening the flood gates... the pistol should be ok, the rifle’s trigger is a bit too heavy. He would love it though.
Edited by r159 on Sunday 12th April 10:03
I did bottle rockets a year or two ago and had to stop. It was getting a little out of control and dangerous to other people's property!
Monopoly done, quite a turn up that the boy didn’t win.
Guns out, let him shoot the Walter CP88 co2 pellet gun for the first time, his reaction was very interesting. No dicking about, took it all seriously (thankfully as the wife was fretting like mad). Not a bad shot in the end. Done by shooting a makeshift target in the garage.
He’s held quite a few shooters before at museums etc (AK47, Uzi, .303 Lee Enfield, Thompson sub machine gun).
Guns out, let him shoot the Walter CP88 co2 pellet gun for the first time, his reaction was very interesting. No dicking about, took it all seriously (thankfully as the wife was fretting like mad). Not a bad shot in the end. Done by shooting a makeshift target in the garage.
He’s held quite a few shooters before at museums etc (AK47, Uzi, .303 Lee Enfield, Thompson sub machine gun).
Edited by r159 on Sunday 12th April 17:20
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