Crayons and markers eventually get old-and dried out, scattered, or smeary. Staff writer Ingrid Skjong says: “My 5-year-old loves a ‘mission.’” So Ingrid has been assigning her son tasks like making Easter and Passover cards for relatives and friends (and checking the names off a list), creating as many things as he can with Play-Doh within 20 minutes (setting a timer adds to the excitement), and building something out of Tinkertoys that’s at least as tall as his shoulders. Like adults, children tend to find tasks more interesting and motivating when they have a quantifiable target to achieve. After picking a theme (beach day! skyscrapers!) in the morning, the cousins work on their mega-creations throughout the day and then compare them via FaceTime in the evening. To up the game, my sister suggested we launch our own Lego Masters–style competition between my son and her 7-year-old. That’s why I think Legos are best built the old-fashioned way-without an instruction book. My 10-year-old son loves Lego kits but will inevitably demand help if he realizes at Step 42 that he skipped Step 9. We have no guarantees, but these ideas have been helpful to Wirecutter parents. ( Magic: The Gathering, anyone?) But sometimes sustaining that interest long enough for you to respond to those 10 emails in your inbox, or to vacuum the Cheerios out of the couch cushions, can be a challenge. Creative activities (that last longer than five minutes)Īrts, crafts, Legos, hobbies, and games are terrific ways to engage kids.
If you have additional ideas that your kids love, share them in our comments section below. Set a flexible agenda, take mini breaks to hug and encourage them, and try the following strategies, most of which entail using the tools and toys you likely already have in new ways. To achieve balance, cut yourself (and your kids) some slack. Whether you’re juggling both work and kids at home or you’re just in need of tips to help you (or your childcare provider) get through the day without your regular routine, we’ve rounded up a few low-maintenance solutions for keeping your kids engaged and out of trouble. But now that school is officially closed-and I write this amid my son’s high-pitched pleas to stream The Rise of Skywalker for “only” $20-I’m experiencing a different kind of stress. As every other public gathering place in New York City shut down except for my child’s school, I started to worry.