52 Creative Ideas to Entertain Young Kids

Throughout my years of blogging I have received several e-mails from parents asking what kinds of low cost activities they can do with young kids. 

While there are several ideas online, I have gathered up 52 of my favorite ideas.

That's right! 52 ideas!

That's one for every week of the year. Or do one a day for 52 days. All of these ideas are low cost and many of them may not cost you anything at all. They are simple enough for younger kids however, older kids may enjoy them as well.

 

Dancing Oobleck via Housing a Forest

 

Raised Salt Painting via One Perfect Day

 

Digging for Bugs in the 'Mud' via I Can Teach My Child

 

Melted Crayon on Wood via The Artful Parent

 

Finger Leg Puppets via Picklebums

 

Balloon Bongos via minieco.co.uk

 

Jellyfish in a Bottle via Bhoomplay's Blog

 

PVC Bow & Arrow via Skip to my Lou

 

Cardboard village via Adventures in Pink Sugar Land

 

Make Your Own Dinosaur Eggs via Play Create Explore

 

Tornado in a Bottle via In Lieu of Preschool

 

Cup Races via Almost Unschoolers

 

Marshmallow Shooters via Come Together Kids

 

Rainbow Painted Toast via Share and Remember

 

Blow bubbles when It's below freezing via Science Made Fun

 

Build a Mud Pond via Stay at Home Educator

 

Paint the Snow via Nothing if not Intentional

 

Make play food using sponges via One Perfect Day

 

Send a Hug via Paging Supermom

 

Make a felt board via The Busy Budgeting Mama

 

Edible Candy Necklace via Blondie and Brownies

 

Melt crayons on hot rocks via Eighteen 25

Masking Tape Car Track 

{If you know who this photo belongs to please let me know so that I can give credit}

Decorate Marshmallows via Color me Katie

Make water balloon pinata's via Scrap Happy Heather

Make a cave of stars via Play at Home Mom

Make your own bath toys via Martha Stewart

 

Set up a 'toy' wash via Learning to Play and Playing to Learn

 

Turn your bathtub into a boat via Bath Activities for Kids

 

Outdoor Xylophone via Child Central Station

 

Making Mud Pies vie The Write Start

 

Create a water maze via Shja

 

Make a pin wheel via Domestically Speaking



Disappearing Egg Shell via See Jamie Teach.



Safety Pin Bracelet via Alpha Mom

Felted Finger Puppets via Whip Up

Dream Catcher via 4 Crazy Kings

Giant Squid via Whatever

 Bubble Snakes via Come Together Kids



Cardboard Guitars via Make It and Love It

Love Monsters (Could make any time. Not just valentines Day) via Eighteen25

Rolling Surf Toy via Pi'ikea

Play doctor with pretend band aids via Pink and Green Mama

Photo Bookmarks via Come Together Kids

Toddler Spray Paint via Sun Hats & Wellie Boots.


 
Cloud Dough via Juggling With Kids 

Drive in Movie via Not Just a Houswife 

 Paper Destruction via Creative with Kids


 
Dry Erase Coloring (quiet) Book via  Icandy Handmade


 
DIY Sidewalk Paint via All Things Simple 

Let your child glue their head to magazine pages vie Lightning in a bottle

Play superhero via The Southern Institute