Your children are the joy of your life as a parent. But if you have to keep them inside for days on end, some of that brightness can start to fade quickly. It doesn’t matter whether the reason is a sickness, a school closing, or something else unforeseen, you need to know how to handle this circumstance.

Even if you love them to bits and enjoy the time you spend together, instances that require you and the kids to remain indoors are more likely to leave you frazzled than calm, collected and resourceful. For this reason, we’ve come up with a list of indoor activities for kids that’ll keep you sane, and your kids entertained during their me time.

1. Alphabet matching for younger children

Alphabet matching is important because it enables beginning readers to figure out how printed text is associated with the spoken language.

For young children, just let them match the letters of the alphabet in any order. Thank them for their effort. like, “Yay, you matched the letter “D”!”

For older children: “Ask them to do it in order (A-B-C-D) and work on what sounds the letter makes while they match it. If your child has a great memory and this is “too easy”, ask them to match randomly by sound only, phonetically – (“Can you match the letter that makes the sound mmmmmm”?).

Use a cookie sheet and a magnetic alphabet set to teach letters to children. Use washable markers (or alphabet stickers) to write the alphabet on the cookie sheet, and then have your child match the magnetic letters to the letters on the sheet.

2. Make them learn about a new country or culture

You don’t have to have travelled the globe to be able to introduce your kids to different cultures or nations. Trying new foods, embracing a new location’s culture through recreations of entertainment (singing and dancing), and learning the fundamentals of a new language are all enjoyable methods to allow your children to explore diverse cultures without having to leave the comfort of your home. Play a game with your kids in which they must point out a location on a map without prompting, and you all must then figure out a way to include one characteristic of that location into your house, if only for one day.

3. Teach them how to garden indoors

Your kids may learn about plant growth and food production through gardening. Consider starting an indoor garden if you and the kids must spend some time indoors and are unable to go outside to enjoy nature. If you’re unsure of where to begin, there are numerous YouTube channels that describe this procedure in detail, even offering suggestions for the items that are the simplest to grow. Try regrowing vegetable scraps, such as lettuce, avocados, green onions, carrot greens, green peppers, or celery, as a starting point.

4. Teach them how to cook and bake

Cooking is a valuable life skill that teaches children about nutrition and food safety, as well as building maths, science, literacy and fine motor skills. Encourage your child’s interest and excitement in foods by teaching them how to cook safely with this guide of age-appropriate kitchen activities.

Parents do need to research the item their child wants to make. Help them shop for the supplies on a budget or locate the ingredients they require in the refrigerator or pantry. Go over the ingredients and directions with them, and then talk about various items of the recipe. Bring out the measuring equipment, and have it do all the pouring, mixing, and measuring. They will need to know how to cook for the rest of their lives!

5. Practice storytelling aloud and writing stories

There is a difference between reading aloud and reading in your head, and you can probably work with your child to get better at this. As they relate stories that originate in their minds, let them gain confidence and make use of their vivacious imagination. You can help them in developing the story if this is a new activity until they feel more comfortable. They can have fun with storytelling now and come to value it later. Ask questions when there is an opportunity to do so to participate in the storytelling activity. After that, try to help them in writing that tale!

6. Play some old educational board games

Board games and puzzles, particularly instructive ones, are fantastic for helping kids of all ages cut back on screen usage and can promote family bonding.

In terms of educational games for children to make use of the time, try games like Yahtzee, Scrabble and chess. Also, get a few puzzles which are great for problem-solving. Other lessons puzzles can help teach include patience, recognition of shapes, and delayed gratification in children.

7. Teach them how to relax

Everyone needs to be able to unwind, and children are not an exception. For most children, bouncing off the walls seems like a normal state of being, but this way of rapidly becoming stale. However, you may teach your children that taking it easy can help them focus better and feel less stressed. If you practise yoga, you can try a guided meditation or a group class with your children. These activities can not only help kids control their unbridled energy, but they can also improve their overall health and flexibility.