If you are like me, then you are constantly looking for activities for your kids while school is out during this pandemic. As a parent, I feel so guilty when I put my kids in front of the tv in order to take a call or get something done. I have actively been on the hunt for fun things that will keep my kids busy and stimulate their brains at the same time. While being essentially quarantined to our homes other than going on walks and neighborhood bike rides, finding new activities to stimulate my children’s brains has been a daily chore. I am sharing my favorite Amazon finds that have kept my children occupied in the hopes that this list may help you!
Here are my top Amazon finds for kids that I could not imagine being without right now!
1. Water Beads
These are the number one thing my kids wake up wanting to play with and what they play with right before bed. They are non-toxic and last for use over and over again. They are great for my toddler and my Kindergartener and are a wonderful sensory play experience for kids. This set comes with two scoops to help your children with their motor skills. Hands down my favorite purchase over the last month! I put these in our water table with a few cups of water and they grow over a couple hours. You can put them in a bowl, a bathtub or plastic bin and your kids will love them!
2. Butterfly Life Cycle Hand Puppet
My children love looking for caterpillars and both love the book The Hungry Caterpillar. When I stumbled upon this monarch butterfly life cycle puppet and plush toy, I knew I had to get it. It is so fun to watch their faces filled with wonder when the caterpillar turns into a chrysalis and then into a beautiful butterfly! (It does this through zippers but seriously looks like a magic trick) Many people are catching caterpillars with their kids right now to study the life cycles of a caterpillar for Earth Day. Whether you are watching live caterpillars, reading a book or singing the songs, this puppet is fun for the young children to watch and the older kids to play and transform themselves. My toddler stares with amazement as my Kindergartener puts his hands in the wings and makes the butterfly fly!
3. Dance Party Light
I put this dance party light in my 6 year old son’s Easter basket and since Easter we have had a dance party almost every day! You can mount it to a wall or just place it on the floor or a counter. Just plug it in and put on some tunes and you have a legit club like scene for a family dance party! It even has a remote that my son loves to control with colors with. What better way to help get your kids’ wiggles out before bed time other than a dance party? We have even laid in bed in the dark watching the lights while listening to music. Did I mention it was sound activated too?!?
4. PlayMais
I heard about these from a fellow mom friend and still don’t know how to pronounce the name correctly, but these keep my kids busy for hours! They are made from corn starch so are non toxic and minimal mess. The kit comes with a piece if fabric to saturate and that’s all your children need to stick these pieces together to create anything they can come up with.
5. Counting and Sorting Bears
My son played with these all the time at his former preschool so I decided to purchase these for my toddler. She loved them just as much as my son. They are great for teaching toddlers their colors and this kit comes with tongs so your child can pick up the bears with the tongs and place them into the correct color cups. You can also use these with your older children for addition and subtraction. These counting bears are fun for play and learning.
6. Sight Word Flash Cards
If you have a preschooler, Kindergartener or first grader then you are likely working on sight words like we are. None of us want our children to fall behind while preschools and grade schools are closed, so it is important to continue the same work as much as we can. These flash cards allow children to work independently on their sight words or with an adult. My son loves “playing school” with these.
Happy Homeschooling friends!
-Lauren
