Seven Ways to Keep Kids Occupied

If you have children you’ll know how difficult it can be to keep them out of trouble a lot of time, as they can be incredibly adventurous. If you’re trying to get some work done at home, or if you just want to make sure they aren’t doing anything they shouldn’t be, you might want to consider employing some of these helpful hints and tips to keep them occupied:

1. Get the games out

Board games are a great way of keeping kids entertained and there are lots that you will be able to choose from. Your kids could play Connect Four, Uno, Guess Who? or even Monopoly if they are a little older. No matter which you choose though, make sure they are old enough to play and that none of the parts pose a choking hazard to especially young children.

2. Give them a book

Reading is one of the most important life skills you can teach your child, and if you can get your kids into reading at an early age it will definitely benefit them in later life. You should buy your children some books that are within their age range and which they will enjoy and set them to on reading for a few hours.

3. Go for colouring in

Pretty much every child out there enjoys colouring in, and this is definitely one of the cheaper ways of keeping your kids busy. All you will need to do is invest in a colouring in book and some colouring pencils, crayons or felt-tip pens. You could even find colouring in online that you could print off, which could save you some money.

4. Get the toys out

Children love playing with toys, so let them do it! You could designate a few hours in the day as 'playtime' and could let them play together or on their own with their toys. If they haven't got any decent toys, invest in some, and look out for ones that can help your kids to learn as they go along.

5. Let them play outside

If you have a back garden or a back patio and the weather is quite nice, you might want to think about letting your kids play outside for a change. As long as you create a safe environment for them to play in and they are regularly supervised they will be able to play away the hours, and you could buy some outdoor toys for them such as a swing set, slide, sandbox or paddling pool.

6. Paint some pictures

Many children are naturally creative and they love being given a chance to express themselves, so buy some poster paint and paper and let them loose. Always remember to put newspaper down on the floor and dress them in old clothes before letting them paint though – otherwise you might be cleaning up for longer than expected!

7. Get them involved in what you’re doing

If you’re doing something that they could potentially help you with, such as cooking, you should definitely let them. Cooking, for example, is a skill that they will need in later life, so teaching them from a young age will stand them in good stead for the future.

How do you keep your kids occupied?

Seven Ways to Keep Kids Occupied is a Guest Post by Francis Lawson:

Francis Lawson is a freelance writer, with children themselves and understands the need for a good nursery to look after children when need be.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate link(s). See our Disclosure Policies for more information. We've shared this information to inform you of your option to either use our affiliated links or to go directly to the site of interest.