Effective ideas to keep kids occupied at home

Hey mamas!

As schools closed for summer vacation, many parents (myself included) start wondering—yet again—what kind of magic tricks might keep our kids away from screens. I’ve spent hours reading articles, especially during those long, intense lockdowns, searching for clever ideas that might actually work and keep my children busy.

But here’s the catch: most of the suggested activities require a lot of parental involvement. Take the classic “treasure hunt,” for example. Great in theory, but in practice? It’s a full-blown production. Too much work for me. So, that’s a no. Then there’s the ever-popular “bake cookies/cakes/pastries with your kids.” Really? Who ends up doing the baking and cleaning the flour explosion in the kitchen? That’s right—me.

Don’t get me wrong—I love spending time with my kids. I enjoy playing with them and doing activities together. And yes, every time I bake, I invite them to join. But let’s be honest: their attention span for dough rarely exceeds five minutes. What I’m really looking for are activities that keep them engaged on their own. Because I’m already juggling a full-time job, family responsibilities and keeping the house clean and in order.

So, to be clear: I’m on the hunt for effective, low-effort ways to keep my kids busy without needing my constant participation.

If you’re in the same boat, I’d love to share a few ideas that have worked surprisingly well for my family. These activities don’t eliminate screen time entirely—let’s be realistic. Even if you turn your playroom into Disneyland and hire Mickey Mouse himself, as long as there’s a screen in the house, that’s where they’ll gravitate. The goal here is to minimize screen time as much as possible.

Let’s dive into what’s worked for us:

🧸 1. Declutter the Toy Boxes

There are always toys to declutter. Since my husband and I have explained to our kids the importance of giving unused toys to others who might need them, they’re (thankfully) quite willing to help. It teaches them generosity and sharing—and I get some storage space back. Win-win!

🧘‍♀️ 2. Kids’ Yoga on YouTube

There are countless fun yoga videos for kids online. It’s a great way for them to move and burn off some energy. That said, in our house, this only lasts about 20 minutes before they start arguing over which video to follow. Still, it’s something!

🧼 3. Wash the Toys

This is by far their favorite. I fill the baby bathtub with soapy water and place it inside the actual bathtub (to avoid a flood), then let them wash their dolls, cars, spinning tops, superheroes—you name it. They love it, and it keeps them busy for over an hour. Bonus: they know to lay everything out on a towel to dry. Well trained!

🏗️ 4. Build a City with All the Toys

I ask them to combine Legos, Playmobils, Barbies, Smurfs, PJ Masks, trains, animals, teddy bears—whatever they can find—to build a city or a farm. They love creating something to show us, knowing they’ll get compliments (and maybe a treat). Do they play with it afterward? Nope. They head straight to the TV. But hey, I got 45 minutes of peace.

🎨 5. Draw and Mail to Grandparents

I often ask them to draw something special to send to their grandparents in Greece. Even if they’re not super excited, they still do it—because they know how happy it makes grandma and grandpa, who proudly display the artwork on their fridge.

📖 6. Story Time—Sibling Edition

I ask my older child to read a story to the younger ones. It’s a win-win: he practices reading, the little ones enjoy a story, and I get a 10-minute break. Bliss.

🏰 7. Build a Castle or Boat in the Living Room

With pillows, blankets, and ottomans, they create castles or pirate ships and go on imaginary adventures. It’s fun, creative, and doesn’t leave a huge mess. Perfect.

🌿 8. Backyard Cleanup

When the weather’s nice, I ask them to clean up the backyard—picking up little bits of trash blown in by the wind. They wear gloves, grab a bag, and take it seriously. It boosts their self-esteem because they feel like they’re helping out. And yes, there’s usually a small reward afterward (candies + one hour of TV—what can you do?).

I hope these ideas spark some inspiration for your own home! If you have other tricks that work, please share them—I’m always looking for new ways to keep the kids busy.

And remember: yes, it’s exhausting sometimes, especially when it’s just you and your partner holding down the fort. But these moments are fleeting. They grow up so fast—so let’s try to enjoy these chaotic, beautiful, screen-free slices of family life while we can!

Take care,

Katerina