Hey! If you’re quarantined at home with a preschool-aged or elementary-aged kid, like I am

(or if, like, you yourself are bored, no judgement),

for two-ish weeks and your daily activities are seeming redundant, here are some I have done in my pre-k classroom that are easy to do and you most likely already have the materials to work with:

--Baking soda and vinegar (optional to dye it with food coloring): when you mix these things together, they fizz! Use a spoon (or if you have it, a dropper) to mix the vinegar with baking soda.

**cover the surface with a towel you don’t mind getting possibly ruined, and use bowls or trays that you also don’t care possibly getting ruined.

--Freeze small objects in ice (either in a beach pale or in cups etc.) and have them use paint brushes and salt water to free the objects. This takes time and is fun!

--STEM activities, like using popsicle sticks (if you have them?), straws, tooth picks, cups, etc. to make structures, and then balancing things on it (toys, household objects, etc) to see how well your structure holds up.

--Corn starch and water; it’s a solid until you hold it, then it starts melting!

--Water colors + salt; sprinkle salt on a freshly water colored portrait to create a bubble/underwater effect after it dries.

--Sink or float test: while in the bath, or in a really big bowl filled with water, predict which household (waterproof or disposable) objects will sink or float, and then test!

--An easy DIY play dough recipe:

https://funlearningforkids.com/easy-play-dough-recipe-without-cream-tartar/

--Spray shaving cream on a covered, flat and smooth surface and let them play.

--Dirty toy cars? Have them go through the “car wash.” Literally soapy water in a large Tupperware and a toothbrush.

--I give credit to my mom for this one because she would do this for me as a kid; freeze water in a large square tupperware and have dolls or action figures go ice skating.

--Bake something together! This uses measuring/math/science! And it’s edible (usually!)

--Free art 🎨— art is not just painting or coloring; it can be sculpting, making a story book together, making music on pots and pans, dancing, acting out a story (made up or a favorite one) with dress up clothes, etc etc. Using different things to glue on to make a collage or picture, there are so many mediums!

--CosmicKids Yoga, The Learning Station, or Jack Hartmann on YouTube for gross motor movement activities to get the sillies out, when outside isn't an option!

--SciShow Kids on YouTube to learn cool, interesting stuff that is explained in a simple, easy way kids can understand.

--Obviously, read books!

--Bring nature in doors (pinecones, leaves, rocks, etc.) and inspect using magnifying glasses, use it in art some how, build with them.

--Go on a hunt around the yard or block and count how many of something you see! Or just work on identifying a particular object, without counting.

--If you have seeds (store bought, or from a fruit you ate) plant it in a cup with some dirt and see if it grows.

-- This may take a little extra effort, but draw or print/ cut out photos of things, and hide them around the house, then go on a scavenger hunt for them. Make up your own theme, like ocean things to find, or bears, or safari animals, etc.

-- Cutting paper with scissors. Literally, that's it. It's good fine-motor, small muscle building. If they can, you can draw something and have them follow the line. Or if they want, they can draw something and try to cut it out.

-- Making bracelets (if you have beads) or lacing through household objects with holes (macaroni, a colander, a slotted spoon)with yarn or string. Another fine-motor activity.

-- Another one that uses some extra effort: Draw an animal or person on a paper bag, and cut a hole for the mouth. With tweezers or those kid training-chopsticks (with the holder that keeps them together), have them try to feed the (whatever you drew on the bag) things like cotton balls or other smallish objects. Again, fine motor.

-- If they're old enough, practice tying shoes. lol

***Obviously, some of these activities should be monitored, depending on their age.****

I will continue to add more as I think of them!