As you will have no doubt seen, the next stage of the Coronavirus delay phase has been announced, with further instructions around self-isolation. To help us all get through any time cooped up at home with our little ones, we asked our staff for the activities that are firm favourites with the children that could be easily done at home! This will be the first part of a new series of blogs we are going to release, affectionately titled…
The Muddy Boots Self-Isolation Survival Kit!
- Pan band – what can you find in the kitchen cupboards that you can use to make your own family band?
- Potion making with herbs – use jars, bowls or bottles to create potions. Make them smell nice using herbs and fill them with things you can find in the garden like leaves and flowers.
- Yoga – google some children friendly yoga moves to do as a family. Good for some chill out time.
- Homemade playdough – have look for some simple playdough recipes – there are lots online to choose from depending on what ingredients you have in your cupboard. Then just add utensils and other things from around the house to play with.
- Build forts and dens – this might be outside or inside – use anything you have: sheets, blankets, cushions etc to create the biggest and best fort you can
- Toy car wash – a nice simple one – bowl of soapy water, cloths and your toy cars. You can also set up a bath for your dolls as well.
- Making instruments with boxes – another noisy one! Fill empty boxes with lots of different materials – which one makes the loudest noise?
- Writing or drawing in different materials – lots of great materials for this – flour, salt and foam are all good. You can make patterns or try writing some letters or drawing pictures
- Baking – lots of great ideas online, see what you have in your cupboard – what yummy treats can you make!?
- Fashion shows – dig those old clothes and accessories out and set up your catwalk
- Junk modelling – Use any old boxes, packets etc that you have around to make some fantastic models. Can you make a robot? Who can build the tallest tower?
- Treasure hunts – set clues to follow around the house – who can find them all first and find the treasure!
- Painting – lots of painting ideas but two of our favourites are: using cotton wool and pegs instead of paintbrushes or painting on cling film or tin foil. Or why not combine both!? What else can you din to paint with or on?
- Sharing stories – share books you already have at home. If you’re short on books or have read those old favourites one too many time then you could always check out CBeebies story time or follow Oliver Jeffers on Instagram who will be reading one of his stories on there everyday
- Obstacle course – Indoors or outdoors – use whatever you have to create an obstacle course. Who can get across it the quickest?
- Memory game – an oldie but a goodie: 5 items on a tray, cover them and remove one. Which one is missing?
- Family movie – take the time to watch some family classics!
- Treasure baskets – great one for babies – gather some natural, real life things from around the house e.g. wooden spoons, sponges, colanders – sit back and see what they do!
- Sensory bottles – easy to create: use empty clear bottles and add them with anything you fancy. Water and glitter or food colouring is always good.
- Bubbles and balloons – always popular if you have some stashed away from a party or a party bag
- Making puppets – what could you use to make puppets? Spoons? Socks? Paper plates? Who can make the funniest face?
- Gloop – if you have cornflour in your cupboard: add water and make gloop. Very therapeutic and fascinating to see how it changes when you try to mix it!
- Racing games – Get out into the garden and try out some races. Running, jumping or balancing things on heads are some good basic ideas.
- Observational drawings – Spend some time drawing things from around your home or garden. You could draw each other or even your favourite toy.
- Cbeebies games – a great wealth of educational games on the CBeebies website or app.
- Play café – can you set up your own café? You could use the playdough you make or even sell the tasty treats you baked!
- Hide and seek – simple but effective!
- Bug hunting – get outside and see what bugs you can find. Who can find the creepy crawlie with the most legs?
- Water play – fill a washing up bowl with water and add bubbles. Then use empty container, cups and whatever else you fancy to explore the water and the bubbles.