19 simple and inexpensive ideas to keep kids busy without having to resort to technology
Nowadays, children find themselves spending a lot of time in front of computer games, smartphones, and tablets.
A lot of parents do not know how to entertain their children and electronic devices often seem to be the easiest way. But is certainly not a good thing for children to lose so much of their contact with the real world.
That is why we have put together a list of 19 economical and simple game ideas that you can propose to your children to entertain them with very little --- like in the old days!
1. Tower of sponges.
Cut some old sponges into rectangles and build together a Jenga style tower. It will be a lot of fun and also help them improve their ability to concentrate.
2. A toy race car track
You can make a race track with simple duct tape!
3. Play Sponge Bullseye!
All you need is a flat surface, chalk, and sponges!
4. Indoor Hopscotch
Children can play Hopscotch indoors without using chalk. Colored masking tape works, too!
5. Make an aluminum foil brook!
Ideal --- if you have a garden with a water hose. :))
6. Embroidery on burlap
If you have some burlap fabric, you can embroider it, together with your children. This recreational activity will help them develop manual dexterity.
7. Draw on sand.
Kids love to draw on the sand at the beach. To do the same thing at home, you use a tray filled with salt or sugar!
8. Camping at home
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You can also replicate a campfire with a candle and a little imagination.
9. A balloon rocket
Attach a straw to a balloon with duct tape. Pass a string, thread, or even a fishing line through the straw. Fasten the two ends of the string to two distant chairs, untie the balloon and let the rocket fly!
10. A field obstacle course
You just need some string and a fairly narrow but empty space, like a hallway or a balcony and it's Mission Impossible!
11. A cloud of SOAP.
Just put a bar of SOAP in the microwave!
12. A sticky cobweb
Make a spider web with tape and throw balls of aluminum foil into the web and make them stick.
12. A cardboard box slide!
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If you have stairs at home, all you need are some large pieces of cardboard that are fairly resistant and transform them into a cardboard slide.
14. Giant bubbles
Do you know how to do this? Just use two sticks with a string rope!
15. Rubber Balloons
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Fill the balloons with playdough to create a new toy!
16. Multicolor soap bubble snake
You will need:
- a plastic bottle
- an old sock
- food coloring
- soap bubble liquid (or dishwashing liquid)
Cut the plastic bottle in half and put the sock on the cut side as a covering and secure it with tape. Put some food coloring on the sock, immerse it in the soap bubble liquid and blow air into the sock from the other end of the bottle. Just see what comes out!
17. DIY Tarp game.
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Anyone who has a garden may reuse an old sheet of plastic to create an outdoor tarp game between two trees!
18. Creative T-shirts
White shirts, colored markers, and your children become fashion designers!
