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Fun Activities at Home for Children

Some days I’m so busy trying to keep up with life (I’m sure you’re familiar with the relentless loads of laundry and dishes) I fail to focus on those moments of excitement and awe each child experiences on a daily basis. Whether it’s making a new noise, experimenting with the feel and sound of their tongue (raspberries are great aren't they? unless their eating that is), or discovering that the tiny frog on the climber moves, children have the greatest capacity for reminding us on a daily basis of the joy and wonder “new” discoveries bring to our lives. Have you noticed that when you focus on the new experiences of your child - it becomes new all of over for you too?

When you’re searching your mind and sanity for those experiences that will scare away the boredom and tears, I recommend observing your child for ideas.

Is he/she driving you absolutely crazy throwing his sippy cup off the highchair tray? Why not collect a few items and encourage the dropping with appropriate (less messy) objects. Experiment with items that fall slowly, land softly, bounce, crash, and thud. When you give your child the opportunity to explore his/her interest in a way that is acceptable you often save your own sanity by giving them permission. Children often quickly move on after their curiosity has been fulfilled. So why not try it?

After the next meal when the sippy cup, spoon, bowl, plate have been continually tossed to the floor and your patience is wearing thin, grab a big book that will make a resounding thud (phonebooks work great), a feather that will float slowly to the floor and not make a sound, a ball that will fall fast and bounce back up, or an empty plastic container with a lid. Spend five minutes giving your child permission to experiment with his/her curiosity in a different format than the constant “no” he/she may be getting when it’s meal time.

Often I find that the behaviors I find the most frustrating are easily fun activities with a little creative thought. And I’ve found that the more I’m aware of what my child wants and is interested in, not only the faster he learns, but the more patient he is with me when I want to do something he doesn’t. So what is your child interested in? What drives you crazy?

Is your little one climbing or trying to climb on everything? What can he/she climb on? Even pulling the mattress or mat out of the crib or pack and play can be an exciting adventure and activity for the child that is just starting to climb.

Back to basics. Empty plastic food containers (you know, the kind that you recycle daily) from baby food, yogurt, cottage cheese, they’re often favorite toys, more popular than the teethers you pay good money for, they stack - just like stacking cups, they shake and squish - and they recycle just as well after being carried around for weeks.

The greatest moments of parenting for me are those when I stop and completely focus on my child, even for just 30 seconds, most of the time that’s all it takes for him to realize I’m paying attention, he’s loved, and I’m right there with him, that 30 seconds makes him feel special, and he’s perfectly content to go back to what he was focused on.

When I choose to follow his lead, imitate his choice of activity, these are often the most fun. Sometimes our raspberry sessions go on for 2 minutes, turn into songs, and hugs, and kisses, then his attention span moves on to the toy he sees out of the corner of his eye and off he goes, letting me finish my train of thought or whatever I’m doing. I have found that the days I do this consistently through out the day are the days that go the smoothest.

Looking for some ideas for fun children activites for home? Check out our growing list of helpful ideas!