Today's activity board
Pick a slate that suits the weather, the mood in the house and the ages in front of you. Use the buttons to show only indoor or outdoor ideas, or only the ones that fit a given age.
Each slate shows the age range chalked in on a ruler from 2 to 12, plus energy and mess on a scale of one to three marks. Ages are a rough guide; you know your child best.
Indoorsabout 20 min
Cushion obstacle course
- Energy
- high
- Mess
- medium
You need: Sofa cushions, pillows, a blanket
Lay a route to crawl over, under and around. Time each run and let kids rebuild it.
More like thisIndoorsabout 30 min
Blanket fort den
- Energy
- low
- Mess
- medium
You need: Chairs, blankets, clothespins, a flashlight
Drape blankets over chairs, then use the fort for books, snacks or a quiet game.
More like thisIndoorsabout 15 min
Draw and guess
- Energy
- low
- Mess
- medium
You need: Chalkboard and chalk
One player draws a secret word. The rest guess before the picture is done.
More like thisOutdoorsabout 20 min
Hopscotch
- Energy
- high
- Mess
- medium
You need: Sidewalk chalk, a small stone or beanbag
Toss the marker, hop the grid on one foot, skip the marked square and hop back.
More like thisOutdoorsabout 30 min
Nature scavenger hunt
- Energy
- medium
- Mess
- medium
You need: A short list or picture card, a bag
Find a smooth stone, a feather, three kinds of leaves and something yellow.
More like thisOutdoorsabout 20 min
Freeze tag
- Energy
- high
- Mess
- low
You need: An open space, a few players
Tagged players freeze until a teammate crawls under their legs or taps them free.
More like thisOutdoorsabout 15 min
Bubble chase
- Energy
- medium
- Mess
- medium
You need: Bubble solution and a wand
An adult blows bubbles. Kids pop them with a clap, a stomp or one finger.
More like thisIndoorsabout 20 min
Quiet bin
- Energy
- low
- Mess
- low
You need: A box of blocks, puzzles and picture books
Bring out the bin only at quiet time so the toys stay interesting.
More like thisIndoorsabout 30 min
Listen and build
- Energy
- low
- Mess
- low
You need: An audiobook or podcast for kids, building blocks
Play a story while kids build something from it, like the house or the ship.
More like thisWhere to start
Rainy-day games
Ways to burn off energy indoors, then settle back down before dinner.
Chalkboard ideas
Games, letters and drawing on a wall board or a small handheld slate.
Sidewalk chalk
Hopscotch, four square, action paths and a whole chalk town.
Outdoor play
Nature hunts, bubbles and simple ideas for the yard, park or trail.
Screen-free routines
A daily rhythm, quiet time and easy swaps for the hours that drag.
Activities by age
What tends to work for ages 2 to 4, 5 to 8 and 9 to 12.
A simple mix for any day
Children tend to do best when busy play and calm play take turns. A long stretch of either one often ends in tears. Try this pattern on a free afternoon:
- Start with something that moves the body, like a cushion course or a game of freeze tag.
- Follow it with a sitting activity: drawing, a chalkboard game or building blocks.
- Have a snack and a drink of water.
- Go outside if you can, even for fifteen minutes, for chalk, bubbles or a short walk.
- End with something quiet, such as a book in a blanket fort or a story while kids build.
The screen-free routines page turns this into a full day plan, with tips for keeping it going when the novelty wears off.
Keeping play safe
Every idea here assumes an adult is nearby and knows the children. Ages on the slates are rough, so adjust for your own kids. Keep small objects away from children under 3, since they can be a choking hazard. Outdoors, keep chalk games away from traffic, use shade and water on hot days, and stay within arm's reach of young children near any water. For questions about your child's health or development, ask your pediatrician.
Common questions
Do kids need special supplies for these activities?
Very few. Most slates use household things: cushions, blankets, tape, a ball or a box of chalk. Where an activity needs something, the slate lists it under "You need".
What if my child loses interest after five minutes?
That is normal, especially for younger children. Short bursts are fine. Change one rule, add a timer, or switch to a different slate and come back later.
Do you sell or recommend products?
No. We don't sell anything or name brands. Read more on the about page.