Activity ideas for children aged 5 to 12

Entertaining your children? Try out a mix of things to engage their brains, burn some energy and make them smile.

• Try foot painting. First, lay out a long sheet of paper. Put paper plates with paint on at one end, and a towel and a bowl of water at the other. Then get stomping. It’s best to do this outside or somewhere with an easy-wipe surface.
• Make a book together. Create a picture book cut out from magazines and newspapers. Older children can make up and illustrate their own story, then share it with the rest of the family.
• Set a Lego challenge to see who can build a rocket/car/castle the fastest. With older children, sketch out designs on a piece of paper. Then take turns to pick out an idea to build together.
• Collect rocks and stones to turn into a creative project or ornaments.

• Make your own time capsule. Fill it with letters, photos and anything else, then bury it in the garden or store in an attic. See WikiHow for more suggestions.
• Write a word search and theme it to your child’s hobbies.
• Put on a play based on their favourite book. Write a script, decide who is playing which character, then act it out.
• Create your own science day. Head to Science Fun for some great tips on experiments you can do at home.
• Learn a language. BBC Bitesize has short lessons in different skills.
• Research your family tree. Dig out photos of relatives your child can stick in a family tree album.
• If the night sky is clear, wrap up warm and try some stargazing. The Sky at Night website has tips on what to look for.

• Design and make your own board game.
• Card games are a great way to learn while spending time together. Uno, Snap and Top Trumps can all help sharpen maths and language skills.
• Play hide and seek indoors or out. The whole family can join in.
• Ask to play a computer game with them. This will show you’re taking an interest, as well as give you an insight into how and what they play.

• Have a karaoke competition and dance-off. Download a karaoke app to get you started.
• Older children might enjoy a Nerf gun battle. This type of activity also helps burn energy.
• Organise a family sports day. Set up a mini racetrack, have an egg and spoon race or use cushions for hurdles.

• Get them to help out with dinner. They could choose the menu, prep ingredients or set the table.
• Have a food tasting session. This is particularly good to encourage fussy eaters to try new things.

• Have a spa day to take care of yourself and each other. Use washing up bowls for a foot soak and give each other pedicures. You can make home-made scrubs and face masks from olive oil, sugar and honey.
• Keep connected by video calling friends and relatives so they can see how everyone is doing.
• Turn your home into a cinema. Make the room dark and give your child a blanket to cuddle up underneath. Let them choose an (age-appropriate) film.