With easy access to the internet and a mobile phone that can provide tons of digital content easily, the question isn’t really if you can keep the kids entertained at home, but how you should do so.

Keeping that in mind, here’s 5 cool ways you can make that happen!

Cook their favorite food with them

Burgers, fries, pizza, whatever your little ones prefer can always be made in a healthier way by substituting ingredients with healthier ones. For instance, fries can be made with sweet potatoes instead of regular potatoes to get a good amount of vitamin A. Furthermore, you can also have them help in cooking by doing some tasks that aren’t dangerous such as washing veggies or spreading sauce.

We have been doing lots of baking at the moment (like most of the nation) and it is a brilliant way to get the kids engaged. (especially those that like to lick the spoon after we are finished)

One thing to keep in mind, is that a mess is to be expected, which can be avoided by keeping a tablecloth underneath their ‘cooking station’.

Staying active

The National Health Service recommends keeping your children active for at least 60 minutes a day. Lighter exercises or playing games that make you active (such as twister) should do the trick, and keep them busy for a good hour or two. If you prefer some other method of keeping them busy, try doing the chores together. Most common chores should be more than enough, and teach them a little responsibility too!

Science experiment

“An adult scientist is a kid, who never grew up”, this quote by Neil Degrasse Tyson couldn’t be more true. The innate curious nature of kids are an excellent way to keep them entertained by trying out a science experiment. Tornado in a bottle, instant ice, pasta rocket, no matter what you pick, it’s almost guaranteed to pique the interest of your little one and keep them busy for quite some time, while also teaching them about the important scientific concepts that they learn in school.

We tried a mix of milk, food colouring and washing up liquid in a cotton ball and this was the result .....

Art

Another activity that demands the creative potential of your little one is making art. Whether they’re painting the pots of your garden plants or unleashing strokes of crayons on the paper, it’s a great way to get them to tap into their artistic side. Scientific studies have also proven that practicing art improves mental faculties in the brain associated with reasoning and higher thinking, especially in kids of the developing age!

Educational games

There’s no reason gaming can’t be beneficial for your little one. While even regular video games have been associated with better reflex actions, you’d be better off with installing games that challenge their problem solving skills as well! Puzzles such as sudoku will improve memory, while crosswords increase their general knowledge. You could even have art-making apps installed if you don’t have the crayons or paints at home for the kids to draw and sketch.

And let's not forget our favourite family card games!

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