Discover our ideas for games and activities that you can do with your children at home
Have a clear routine
Establishing a routine for the day is crucial. Make sure they wake up at around the same time each day (same for bedtime, which should never be after 9:30 p.m., especially for the little ones) and eat breakfast together. The children usually have school to keep them busy in the morning, you should have a “school” time slot in the morning even when the children stay at home: older children usually have homework to do or online lessons to follow, while that the youngest can participate in projects (salt dough, homemade slime – we recommend the detergent-free versions, as they are safer -, origami, sculptures in aluminum foil…), drawing, learning to writing and other activities similar to those offered in kindergartens and daycare centres. This allows them to keep normal activities, without disrupting their routine.
Activities you can do at home with your children
Everything is possible, from dancing to simple sports activities. Whether the games are structured or free, what matters most is participating with them: it’s a great opportunity to exercise together and share pleasant and entertaining moments. Daily exercise is very important for children, especially during periods when sports activities are suspended, as it helps develop their motor skills, while keeping them entertained. Those lucky enough to have a garden or a balcony can exercise outdoors, but there are plenty of indoor sports and exercises available for everyone to stay active with their children.
Board games for children
The time spent indoors offers the opportunity to play a nice board game with mum and dad, and possibly with their siblings: the games have great educational value and strengthen children’s skills, teaching them to socialize and grasp important concepts such as the value of respecting the rules of the game.
10 things you can do at home with your kids
Here is a list of ten rules for families prepared by the Italian Society of Preventive and Social Pediatrics (SIPPS), with entertaining games and activities that can be shared with children at home to proactively develop their emotional and cognitive skills. :
1. Let them help you with everyday tasks like doing the laundry, using the vacuum cleaner, putting things away: the time spent accompanying and imitating the parents is an excellent contribution to the cognitive and emotional development of the child: it exercises both general and fine motor skills and learns to interact with people.
2. Teach them to dress themselves : When it comes to personal autonomy, we often tend to step in as parents and do things ourselves. Take this opportunity to explore the necessary steps with your child, day by day.
3. Share the kitchen activities : have them make a meatball, squeeze an orange, cut a banana or a hard-boiled egg: think about the satisfaction your children will have from eating or drinking something they have made with their own hands.
4. String, Group Objects : Learning basic concepts like addition and subtraction is as easy as playing a game. Teach kids to group similar objects together, string pasta into necklaces and bracelets , or pick seasonal fruit in baskets.
5. Tie Knots and Loops : All you need is a colorful string to learn how to tie knots, then shoe laces.
6. Playing with a ball, a ball of paper or a piece of string : these activities can be done at home and require cooperation, whether between two or more children or between parents and children. It’s a way to encourage harmonious movement, socialization and awareness of one’s surroundings. If you’re indoors, try using a piece of paper held together with tape to form a ball—it’s a quieter option.
7. Read stories to children, expand and emphasize them : Try using a different style and tone for each character to create a more engaging atmosphere as you dedicate this special, serene time to your child. Evenings are a great time for stories and will help children fall asleep.
8. Use cardboard boxes of different sizes : build houses, cars, planes, swords, armor and helmets. All it takes is scissors, tape and glue to make an automobile or spaceship your child can sit in and become a pilot, astronaut, knight or princess.
9. Jump and dance to music together : Dancing, moving and imitating mom and dad’s steps encourage children to relax and feel more comfortable during this unusual time.
10. Sing, individually and together . Listening to others and to yourself, memorizing easy songs, and learning rhyme will help children improve their pronunciation.
