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At-home Activities: Screen-free Play

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Whether it’s been a few days or a week or two, there’s a good chance that you’re running out of things to do around the house with your little one. If that’s the case, let’s amp up the creativity and fun a bit for you both—without the screens. At NeighborSchools, it’s our mission to arm parents with the best possible guidance and resources to ensure the health, safety and well-being of their kiddos. In addition to connecting parents to quality home daycares, we’re working to curate the best ways to care for your kids while they’re home.

In our second post of a three-part series, we’re sharing 7 quick & easy screen-free activities for kids to do at home.


 1. Glow Bath : Whoop whoop! How can the kids complain about taking baths when there are glow sticks involved? It’s simple and cheap, plus you get to put on your favorite jam to dance to!

1. Glow Bath : Whoop whoop! How can the kids complain about taking baths when there are glow sticks involved? It’s simple and cheap, plus you get to put on your favorite jam to dance to!


 2. Give a mouse a... headband : Help your young readers develop their fine motor skills by making this cute mouse headband! And, of course, don’t forget the little mouse cookies.

2. Give a mouse a… headband : Help your young readers develop their fine motor skills by making this cute mouse headband! And, of course, don’t forget the little mouse cookies.


   3. Hot chocolate on a stick : Both you and your kids deserve a treat at the end of a long day at home. Make some hot chocolate sticks with popsicle sticks, chocolate chips, and marshmallows. Stir into a hot mug of milk and transform it into decadent hot chocolate!

3. Hot chocolate on a stick : Both you and your kids deserve a treat at the end of a long day at home. Make some hot chocolate sticks with popsicle sticks, chocolate chips, and marshmallows. Stir into a hot mug of milk and transform it into decadent hot chocolate!


 4. Goodnight Moon : The days are getting longer and spring is coming, and there's a full moon coming on April 7th! A quiet evening stroll is a great way to get some fresh air and help your little one appreciate the wonders of the world.

4. Goodnight Moon : The days are getting longer and spring is coming, and there’s a full moon coming on April 7th! A quiet evening stroll is a great way to get some fresh air and help your little one appreciate the wonders of the world.


 5. Orange You Glad We Made This Feeder? (free): Discover DIY outdoor activities through Tinkergarten. Build a “Tree of Thanks”, feed some local birds or take a “Listening Walk”. Access 50+ DIY activities for kids 0-2, 3-5, 6-8, or 8+ to get some fresh air with the kids.

5. Orange You Glad We Made This Feeder? (free): Discover DIY outdoor activities through Tinkergarten. Build a “Tree of Thanks”, feed some local birds or take a “Listening Walk”. Access 50+ DIY activities for kids 0-2, 3-5, 6-8, or 8+ to get some fresh air with the kids.


 6. Wait, don’t throw that out yet! Going through food quicker than usual? Cut a slot in the side of your cereal box and transform it into a mailbox! Or save single-serve applesauce and yogurt containers to stack into towers! Next time you sort your trash, look at it with a little one’s eyes—you’ll find a lot of treasure!

6. Wait, don’t throw that out yet! Going through food quicker than usual? Cut a slot in the side of your cereal box and transform it into a mailbox! Or save single-serve applesauce and yogurt containers to stack into towers! Next time you sort your trash, look at it with a little one’s eyes—you’ll find a lot of treasure!


 7. Reading Time : You might already do this every day, or maybe you’re surprised to realize it’s actually been quite a while since you’ve curled up with a book alongside your kiddo! Rachael Ringenberg from Erstwhile Dear has some great tips and book recommendations (did someone say Boxcar Children?) suited for kids younger than four.

7. Reading Time : You might already do this every day, or maybe you’re surprised to realize it’s actually been quite a while since you’ve curled up with a book alongside your kiddo! Rachael Ringenberg from Erstwhile Dear has some great tips and book recommendations (did someone say Boxcar Children?) suited for kids younger than four.


For 40+ more ideas, check out Easy, no prep toddler activities from Busy Toddler! Or for a list of all of the arts and crafts a momma might need, take a look at this list of favorites from Domestikated Life.

Bridget Garsh

Bridget Garsh

Mom to Hudson & Brooks, COO and Co-Founder

About NeighborSchools

NeighborSchools help working parents find the best home daycares for busy lives and precious little ones. Now more than ever, child care options are scarce, crazy expensive, and, in many cases, really stuffy and corporate. NeighborSchools finally offers an alternative: fully licensed providers, with years of experience, caring for a small number of children, all right in the neighborhood. Every month thousands of working parents use NeighborSchools to learn about their options and find the right provider for them.

It’s completely free to browse daycares, see photos, read parent reviews, and try out MagicMatch, our fancy new technology that lets you see exactly which daycares have a spot for you.

Bridget Garsh

Bridget Garsh

Mom to Hudson & Brooks, COO and Co-Founder