7 Quiet Activities to Help Your Children Unwind

Any parent will tell you their kids can be absolute tornadoes – whirling through the house as they look for something to keep them busy. It’s often when you’re trying to get a few chores done, or simply enjoying some ‘me time’. That’s where quiet activities to help your children unwind can come in handy.

Encouraging your little ones to have some time to unwind on their own is a great way to fit in some quiet time throughout the day (although if your kids are on the younger side, some supervision may be required).

If you want to implement quiet time in your home, or looking for some new activities to help your kids unwind, here are seven to consider. 

Unwind with books

Books are often a go-to way for us adults to unwind at the end of a busy day and can be equally as helpful for little ones. If your kids are on the younger side and aren’t ready for reading just yet, you can get some sensory or picture books for them to flip through. Sticker books are also a great alternative as they are visual, provide hours of fun, and can help younger kids develop their hand-eye coordination.

If your kids are preschool or school age, go to your local library and have them pick out some books that you can bring out for quiet time. This way you can easily (and freely) switch up the books, and it’s something your kids can look forward to every day.

Play with jigsaw puzzles and card games

Jigsaw puzzles and games that your kids can play by themselves or with their siblings are great quiet time activities. Additionally, solo card games like solitaire offer a perfect opportunity for children to entertain themselves while also sharpening their problem-solving skills and focus.

When it comes to jigsaw puzzles, keep the number of pieces in mind. If your kids are on the younger side, puzzles from four to 50 pieces are ideal. When they hit school age, introduce puzzles that are a little more challenging with 100 plus pieces.

Games are great for your kids’ quiet time, provided they don’t frustrate them easily. Simple board and card games that are appropriate for all ages are the best. Plus, there are plenty of one-player card games that are ideal for some solo playtime. 

Flex their building skills with Lego sets

As well as jigsaw puzzles and games, Lego sets can also be used for quiet time for kids of all ages, due to the variety of sets and their difficulty levels.

Different Lego sets can be found for different age groups. If your kids are on the younger side, Duplo sets can help them develop their motor and sensory skills, as well as their imagination. Whereas, for your preschool and school-age kids, Lego sets can help build role-playing, creative, and STEM-based skills. 

From cars to castles or dinosaurs, there are plenty of Dupo and Lego kits out there that will suit your little one’s interests.  

Create a masterpiece with arts & crafts supplies

Arts and crafts are another timeless quiet activity for your kids that will help them unwind after a long day – it’s also a great, budget-friendly for parents.

All you need is some crayons, textas, or pencils, and some paper or cardboard. Sometimes it can even be as easy as giving them a coloring-in book! You can also hunt around for anything at home – think toilet paper rolls or old cardboard boxes. 

While arts and crafts is an easy quiet time activity to set up, it can provide many physical and mental benefits. As well as enabling your kids’ creativity and imagination, arts and crafts can also help them develop social skills, patience, and confidence. 

H2: 5. Experiment with science kits

Science kits are great quiet time activities for school-age kids generally, but especially for those who are showing an interest in science at school.

From the solar system to gemstone digging, and dinosaur kits, your kids will lose themselves in the world of science. These kits are also great for letting them have new opportunities to learn and experiment in the comfort of their own home. They can also help improve their problem-solving skills, extend their creativity, and can help them become more comfortable with STEM subjects and concepts.

Keep busy with busy boxes

Busy boxes are boxes filled with small, open-ended toys and other items for kids to play with. They are great for quiet time as your kids can pick and choose what they play with, and can help develop their motor skills, creativity, and curiosity.

You can buy busy boxes online, but you can also put your own together with some small toys your kids already have, and some child-safe small items around the house. With DIY busy boxes, if it’s been a few weeks or if your kids are becoming bored with it, you can easily make another one.  

Role play with dolls and toy cars

Dolls and toy cars are great for quiet time as they are portable toys that can be played with anywhere, and provide endless imaginative possibilities for your kids. They can create and play out stories with dolls and toy cars with their siblings or individually.

Both toys provide kids with individual benefits. Dolls are known for helping kids develop their caring and nurturing side, as well as emotional and social skills through role-playing. Toy cars, on the other hand, can help your kids learn about STEM concepts, and the environment around them, and develop their language skills.

With these quiet activities, you can easily start quiet time in your home and/or help your kids unwind. If you’re starting up quiet activities to help your children unwind, remember your kid’s age, energy levels, as well as other circumstances, will affect when quiet time is and how well it is spent by your kids. Start small and give your kids time to get used to it, they’ll be mastering it before you know it.

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