20 Things to Do with Your Kids at Home

Note: The views in this post are the opinions of Pastor Grant, and not necessarily those of Grace Church. Read wisely. And also not while drinking anything you might spit out while laughing.

We are all looking for things to do with our kids that go beyond Netflix. Hopefully these suggestions will help. Word of warning: these are pro-parenting moves. If you are new to parenting or aren’t very good at close-up magic, then these next moves might prove difficult for you. But go slow and never give up. Remember this: “We do these things not because they are easy, but because we thought they would be easy.” – Pastor Clint (probably)

Play “dial-up internet” 

• When they want to get online, tell them they have to yell at everyone to stay off the phone and then make screeching and static noises for 3 minutes.
• When your phone rings, shut off their device and say, “Sorry, I have to answer this.”

Talk to them about what’s going on in our world.

Our kids pick up on everything. So don’t be afraid to talk to them directly about coronavirus. Show them how Jesus is our hero in this and in everything. Check out this great video Miss EY recorded to help with this, and this article from Mr. Mallory.

Invite them into the “adventure” of doing chores.

With the right story, any chore can become an adventure. For example, tell them that the attic could hold all kinds of wonders; maybe there is a Christmas gift you hid and forgot about, a Goonies-esque treasure map, or asbestos! Let them know that the only way they will find these gems is to clean it out.

Teach them about art.

• Show them Victor Gabriel Gilbert’s painting of Sleeping Beauty.
• Tell them to do their own version of this classic with markers.
• Volunteer to be their model and take a nap for at least 2 hours.

Let them cut their own bangs. 

I know this sounds like a bad parenting move, but the reality is that one day they will see a YouTube tutorial or just get upset enough to think, “I need bangs right now.” Let them make the mistake now while no one can leave their house, and you will save them from making that mistake down the road.

Bedtime stories with GraceKids! 

Everyday we post videos of gK! staff and volunteers reading bedtime stories to your kids! You can find them by searching for our Parent’s Facebook pages: Grace Orlando Parents, Grace Oveido Parents, and Grace Winter Garden Parents.

Dance Party!

• Maybe your kids like to dance. Great! Macarena with them.
• Maybe your kids don’t like to dance. Irrelevant! Put on music and show them the very public dancing you will perform at their wedding one day.
• Cha Cha real smooth

Teach them how to adjust the thermostat.

It will be unpredictable and expensive!

Teach them about taxes at every meal. 

• Apparently we are all homeschool teachers now. So don’t miss a great opportunity to teach them about taxes at the dinner table.
• Before every meal yell “tax time” and reach over and take a bite out of whatever they are eating.
• If they get upset just shrug and say, “Government.”

Worship with them on Sunday mornings.

Before our online worship experience starts every Sunday talk to them about what to expect and why we worship together. Grab a sermon guide for them from discovergrace.com/family. Feel free to pause the experience to answer their questions and explain whatever would be helpful to explain to them.

Watch all of Star Wars. 

Do or do not, there is no try.

Get outside.

Remember that kids are like flowers; they are beautiful, need sunlight, need to be watered regularly and can thrive in dirt.

Have Day PJs and Night PJs

Let’s face it: you don’t care if they are getting dressed. At least have them change into “day PJs” to avoid feeling a personal shame that will make you eat all of your quarantine snacks in one sitting.

Use Mapquest

• Ask them where they want to go when this is over.
• Make a list.
• Make them go to mapquest.com (it’s still there) and print off the directions.

Play “landline”

Tie a string from their phone to the kitchen wall.

Introduce them to Minesweeper

Do your kids love Minecraft? They won’t love this.

FaceTime the Grandparents

It’s just a good idea. Plus, my mom reads everything I write so I had to put this on the list.

I love you, Mom.

Introduce them to commercials.

I don’t think my kids understand the joy of commercial breaks.

Pause their shows at random and pull up 4 minutes of commercials on YouTube before letting them continue watching their shows.

Repeat at random until they start to use the commercial breaks properly:

• Going to the kitchen for a refill or to aimlessly look through the pantry
• Going to the bathroom and yelling, “Is it back on yet?”
• Turning to another show to see what else is on

Give out trophies.

All of our kids have some trophy from that one year they did dance or T-Ball.

Create your own races and competitions to award them their trophies again.

Bonus: If you compete with them, you could win the trophies yourself! And you will probably win because I bet you are way faster than them!

Use our graceKIDS! Resources!

We have graceKIDS! LIVE, family activities, worship videos and more here: discovergrace.com/family