6 Ideas to Try Right Now
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#1·Any
Audiobook + Drawing
🛒Materials: Phone/tablet (audio only), paper, crayons
- 1Put on a children's audiobook.
- 2Give your child paper and crayons.
- 3Ask them to draw what they hear.
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#2·15–20 min
Sticker Sorting Game
🛒Materials: Sticker sheets, paper divided into sections
- 1Draw sections on paper (colours, shapes, animals).
- 2Give your child a sticker sheet.
- 3Challenge: put each sticker in the right section.
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#3·10 min
Simon Says
🛒Materials: None
- 1One person is Simon.
- 2Simon gives instructions: 'Simon says jump!'
- 3Only follow if it starts with 'Simon says' — catch everyone out!
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#4·10–15 min
Shadow Puppets
🛒Materials: A lamp (or phone torch)
- 1Darken the room and point a lamp at the wall.
- 2Use your hands to make animal shadows.
- 3Tell a story with shadow characters.
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#5·20 min
Backyard Bug Survey
🛒Materials: Paper, pencil, magnifying glass (optional)
- 1Draw a simple data table: Bug | Tally.
- 2Walk slowly around the garden for 10 minutes.
- 3Every bug spotted gets a tally mark — which is most common?
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Introduce the word 'survey' — they feel very grown-up doing science.
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#6·15–20 min
Word Treasure Hunt
🛒Materials: Paper, pencil
- 1Hide 5 paper 'clues' around the house, each with a simple word (e.g. DOOR, TABLE).
- 2Each clue leads to the next hiding spot.
- 3Final clue leads to a small reward (sticker, snack).
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Write words your child can almost-but-not-quite read for the perfect challenge.
