Fun At-Home Activities for Families & Kids

1. Dig into the backs of the cabinets. If your kids are young enough, the sight of a new toy or Tupperware container might be enough. Head to the garage, the pantry, or the basement and find the funkiest old container or contraption you can. I once took the wheels off an old, broken stroller and taped a few of them together, which led to hours of rolling entertainment and didn't cost me a dime. If you can get just a little bit creative, you might surprise yourself and make something out of nothing.

2. Play creative games. For kids a little older, you might be able to get away with having them do the thinking. Get a piece of cardboard and some pens and have them invent a board game, or turn the living room into a jungle with different habitats identified for the different types of animals. If you have a sporty little child who misses organized baseball or soccer, see if they'll come up with their own team name and design a uniform. You can still play to a kid's interests while they aren't able to engage in the usual activities. Collaborate with your children on creative ideas and see what you can come up with.

3. Get productive. I know this is a particularly hard time for teenagers, who don't want to play games and you don't want to see them glued to a phone all day. It's no easy feat, but challenging them to create a video, design an app, build a website, or write a short story could actually be the push they need to get invested in a hobby. While teens might not love school, a lot of them appreciate the reward of working to get better at something, especially if it's something they can share with friends online.