You want your kids to thrive.
You aspire for them to be voracious readers, creative and independent thinkers, to engage in the world without plugging in a device.
You wish you could find simple solutions to make it all happen.
You need to find the right activity, or the right book that sparks their minds and leads them to explore their own creative fire.
You long for peaceful family time to connect with your kids without giving up the dream that they will entertain themselves independently.
I hear you. That was me. (And still is, to be honest.)
There’s good—no, great—news.
I believe that simple unplugged learning activities like games and reading aloud will grow your kids into intelligent, curious and connected members of your family.
I promise, it’s not about complicated crafts, or expensive products.
I promise, it's not about spending every last minute with your child.
I promise, you can do it.
As a working parent, it is a godsend to have easy access to great activities that do not require me to be Martha Stewart or a super-equipped homeschooling parent...I just love that your blog gives my tired brain ideas and energy. - Anon Reader
Imagine you wake up in the morning, and instead of crying out, “WHAT DO WE DO ALL DAY?” you feel relaxed, knowing that whatever the day brings you will have a couple of go-to ideas that don't just keep the kids occupied but stimulate their brains.
Imagine that whether you want to do an activity with your kids, or whether you just want them to play by themselves, you will know exactly what to do.
You won’t have to resort to another movie, or another 15 minutes on the iPad to keep your kids engaged.
Imagine that. Feels pretty good, right?
If you are ready to see your kids thrive at home and at school, the What Do We Do All Day community can help.
You will get special (and easy!) unplugged ways to connect with your kids through reading, playing and learning activities.
I cannot even tell you how fabulous you are for posting this today! Spring Break starts at 3:40 tomorrow afternoon and I had no clue what I was going to do with my girls. (The week kind of snuck up on me!) Problem solved!! They will love this, especially my 8 year old. Thank you so much for sharing your great ideas. - Suzanne
About the parent who figured out “WHAT DO WE DO ALL DAY?”
Hey there. I'm Erica, a Generation X mom and theater nerd by training.
Oh boy. One day I woke up and realized my stay at home parenting style wasn’t working for me. My kids were moody, uncreative and always bickering with each other. I was using the TV as a crutch to get through the day and I hated it.
I threw all caution to the wind, got rid of the zombifying TV and immersed myself in discovering ways that that we could connect to the real world, while having fun learning and being creative. Since I don’t like fussy crafts, I knew I had to find uncomplicated activities. I followed their lead and together we learned about math and science. I taught them about my passion for games and reading, and being silly. (Oh, and I got to put all that dramatic training to use with silly voices during read aloud time.)
It was so rewarding.
Now, it feels wonderful when my kids ask me to go to the library for more books, or when they pull out their art journal without my prompting them, and especially when they start playing a game together (so I can drink my cup of tea in peace!).
Now I want to help YOU figure out, “WHAT DO WE DO ALL DAY?”
I have done the leg work for you and I want to share it. My kids have put me through the wringer and I now have more than 200 EASY activities that will keep your kids learning and playing at home.
- Keep sane with this Gigantic List of Indoor Activities for Kids
We read. A Lot. Every Monday I share a new book list. They’ve become quite famous, if I do say so myself. I have over 100 book lists, and you won’t find a Barbie or a Ninjago book among the selections.
- Start your reading adventure with the Master Index of Book Lists.
Connect with your kids and learn at the same time. Play unplugged games. We’ve tried and tested them all, store bought and DIY.
- Get playing and laughing with all our game recommendations.
Once you start reaping the benefits of seeing your kids connect to real life in meaningful, unplugged ways, you will never want to go back!
- These are my favorite useful resources for parents with curious kids.
Do you know what makes me happiest? Hearing about your successes.
Simple and engaging. My 7 year old enjoyed this game. I was able to sit down and play while also teaching her something. It didn’t take too long and was rewarding for us both. - Jen
Thank you so much for the time and effort that goes into curating these lists. My family has enjoyed so many of your recommended books and I love that I can request any of these from the library and know that we will love them. - Rachel
This actually worked. And I have 5 kids….. Thank you, you magical genius. - Grace
Will you tell me your story? What do YOU do all day?
What are your struggles, what are your successes? What activities do your kids like to do? I want to know. You can email me, or hit reply to any of my newsletters. Let's stay sane, together.
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