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Young girl blowing bubbles and playing in the garden.

Activities for kids to do while you work at home

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It's not easy to keep kids entertained while working at home – These activities for kids to do while you work remotely, involve messy play and lots of fun.

When you work from home, and you have small kids, invariably they want your attention. While you may not always be able to give them the consideration they want, you can make the moments you spend with them impactful. These activities will help you to balance being at home with your kids while you are working.

Outdoor classroom day is an initiative that helps kids to learn through messy play – the outdoors has more tools for teaching than you can think of. So first on our list is turning your garden or outdoor space into a classroom. A great activity to get your kids outside is to let your kids grow and cultivate their own garden.

Not only is this a great way for your children to learn about how plants, fruit and vegetables are grown but it's an opportunity for them to experience the sense of achievement and pride that comes with growing their own garden.

Make washable paint

This little tip turns art and craft on its head. No more worrying about paint all over the house and your kids' clothes. It's not only effortless to make, but also affordable and easy to clean. It can be used to paint pictures or even as sidewalk chalk for outdoor activities that will thrill and tire out your little ones. Here is how you make it: 

  • Mix 1 tablespoon of cornflour with 1 tablespoon of cold water until creamy and smooth inconsistency. 

  • Add 1 cup of boiling water and stir until thick. 

  • Divide the mixture into small disposable containers and add a few drops of your preferred, coloured food colourings to each one. 

  • Ensure that the food colouring is mixed in properly and there you have it! A paint mixture perfect for little ones to get creative with.

Homemade bubbles

These floating, shimmering spheres are an absolute hit with children of many ages, and they are really simple to make at home. You can make your own bubbles by;

  • Mixing 6 cups of warm water with ½ a cup of corn starch, making sure the corn starch is dissolved. 

  • Next add ½ of cup dish soap, 1 tablespoon of baking powder and 1 tablespoon of glycerine – and voila! You have beautiful bubbles and endless hours of fun.

This bubble mixture is also perfect for turning into another day of entertainment. Use it for bubble painting by separating the mixture into small plastic bowls and adding a drop of your favourite food colouring to each dish. Blow the bubbles onto a sheet of white paper and watch a beautiful picture take shape.

Taste safe mud

While messy play is one of the best ways for kids to learn, sometimes it can be tough to deal with the aftermath. Mud is ones of the most appealing things for kids involved in messy play, but it somehow always seems to find its way into their mouths - yuck. 

This 3-ingredient edible mud is still very much rooted in the philosophy of messy play, but it's definitely easier to swallow because it's edible. 

  • Simply mix 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder and 1 cup of flour in a large bowl. 

  • Then slowly whisk in ¾ of a cup of water with the cocoa powder and flour until the mixture looks like mud – it should be thick enough to coat a spoon without running off. 

  • This makes the perfect swamp for toy farm animals and diggers or a seek and sort game for hidden items from around your house.

If you find messy play, well, quite messy, don't stress - we have loads of tips for stain removal. From how to hand wash clothes, to picking the best detergent for the job, OMO has it all. Now you can focus on making messy play a moment of fun and learning for your kids.