Toys to Keep Your Kids Occupied

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Many folks are working from home with their kids for the first time.   They are beginning to understand the struggle that is trying to get their work accomplished while being a snack gopher for their kiddos.

Take it from an experienced work from home mom,  find and stock toys to keep your kids occupied. There will be times when you absolutely need them to be occupied and leave you alone (i.e. when you have a client call, need to finish a report, etc.).    Having a stash of special activities/toys that you can use during these times will be a lifesaver.

This list of toys to keep your kids occupied has been proven to be effective. I have only selected toys that will give you a good ROI (time they are occupied v. investment).

Bridge Books

Bridge books and educational books are not only educational but they can keep your kids occupied for a good amount of time.  There are books for every age, grade, and subject so choose one that will best match your kids level and interests. You can also find a lot of activity books at the dollar store.

 

Lego

Legos are excellent toys to keep your kids occupied.  We keep our Legos under lock and key so we don’t have to pull them out of the bottom of our feet. When we pull them out they are quite the novelty.

You can step up the fun factor by giving your kids a challenge like “make your dream house” or “create your favorite character” using the legos.   You can also find a lot of Lego activities online that your kids can complete.

Osmo

Our house LOVES our Osmo kits.  Osmo turns your tablet into an interactive game.   You can download games and educational activities and purchase different game kits (such as the Super Studio Disney Princess and Pizza Co. Game)  There are even some free games that you can play.   It has been a really great toy to keep in the house because it is fun and educational.

 

Skymags

Another favorite in our household is the Skymags.  These are little magnetic shapes that your kiddos can use to build anything their imagine can dream up.   This is also one of the toys that I don’t mind playing with as well.

Again I keep these bad boys locked up and bring them out for special occasions so the kids become engrossed when they are able to play with them.  You can also pick these up at Home Goods and Marshalls sometimes for fairly cheap.

 

Craft & Art Supply Kit

This item may be a little more messy but it is effective in keeping your children busy.  Give them some art supplies and see what masterpieces they come up with.

You can also make it more fun by giving them an artistic challenge like
“make a crown” or “make a sign for your bedroom door”.

Indoor Trampoline

Kids need to get energy out.   An indoor trampoline is an excellent way for them to expend some energy and keep them busy long enough for you to knock out some work. Disclaimer, you may want to ensure that they are kids are old enough before you leave them unattended. 

 

Snap Pop Beads

 

These little bead are a great toy to keep kids occupied.  They are essentially little beads that you can snap together to make necklaces, rings, bracelets, and other creations.  You can get at least 20-30 minutes at a time with this one.

 

Lulu Jr Illustory Book Making Kit

This kit lets your children write and illustrate their very own book. The included guide walks your children through the process of writing and illustrating their story. Once completed and mailed using the pre-paid envelope, your kid will receive a 7″x9″ bound hardcover book with up to 20 pages (including a dedication page, title page, and “About the Author” page).   Adorable and a great way to keep the occupied so you can jump on that conference call.

Fire Tablet

Sometimes you have to do what you have to do, screen time included. If you are working from home, a device is a great way to keep kids occupied.

I feel less guilty giving my kids free reign over the Fire 7 Kids Edition. The kids edition of this tablet is loaded with Amazon Free Time which gives children access to over 20,000 apps, games, books, videos, audiobooks, and educational content.   You can also easily add screen time limits and set educational goals.

 

What are you favorite toys to keep your kids occupied? What strategies do you use to get some work done when working from home?

 

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