7 Indoor fun activities for kids during loadshedding

By: Natasha Archary

With loadshedding here to stay, it’s going to take some creativity to keep the kids occupied, entertained and learning at the same time, during prolonged periods without power.

Eskom just announced that the cold weekend ahead will alternate between Stages 1 and 2 until Monday, and the rolling blackouts are most likely going to be a South African’s reality for a long time.

So, maybe give these 7 indoor activities a go when you’re hit with zero electricity and spend some time with the kids exploring their imagination.

Sensory Play

Oobleck Slime

Kids love to immerse themselves in anything sticky, icky and colourful and this aids sensory development so put the wet-wipes down and scower around your kitchen for the following items to make Oobleck Slime.

All you’ll need is about a cup of cornstarch and some water and food colouring. Mix it all together until you have an ooey-gooey liquid/solid slime.

Oobleck has a consistency that is liquid when you allow it to slip from your hands but is solid on impact. Neither wet, nor dry, it’s best to just make a batch to experience what Oobleck is.

Water Balloons

Fill up a bag of balloons with water, tie them up and arrange them in a bath tub or inflatable pool for hours of outdoor fun.

Kids will love to pop the water balloons with their hands or feet and these “water bombs” are a fun way to keep toddlers and older kids busy during the holidays.

Use Your Imagination

Rainbow Bubble Snakes

Plastic bottles
An old sock
Food Colouring
Dish washing liquid
Shallow container
Elastic Bands

Assemble by:

Cutting out the base of the bottle
Dip the sock in the dish soap & food colouring mixture
Covering the base of the bottle with the sock & securing in place

All that’s needed for hours of indoor fun with the little ones is to blow gently through the opening of the bottle and watch their rainbow bubble snakes take shape.

Also read: Kaya Drive: Indoor fun for those days loadshedding hits home

Make a river

What makes summer fun? Water! So turn your backyard into a little explorers jungle by creating a foil river for them to rescue many paper boats from.

Foil
Hose

Arrange the foil into a long enough moat to catch the running water. Now, we know the country is going through dire water crisis so make sure the river is not set up on a slanting slope so that the water stays within the foil route. You can get creative and even make a pond at the end of the river to catch all the water for the paper boats to float around in.

Arts and Crafts

There’s more rain expected this weekend and finding some indoor fun activities that stimulates creativity may be needed to turn the dull weather around. Kids love paint and anything that involves nurturing their artistic side is a win in any parenting book but these ways of painting have to be given a try.

Bubble Wrap Artwork

Simply tape some bubble wrap around your child’s feet and put some art-paper or canvas on a level surface and have them stomp around in paint and then the canvas for a masterpiece you can then hang up in their room.

Splatter painting

This is easy, give your child some art-paper and acrylic paint and a paintbrush. Then have them dip the tip of the paintbrush (not the bristles) into the paint and splatter away. Chances are you’ll have a messy toddler and living area but the good news is it cleans up no fuss.

Straw Painting

For the neat freak in you, arrange a sheet of paper inside a shallow box with splots of paint scattered around the paper, hand your child a straw and have them blow onto the paint and watch the magic unfold.

There’s so much fun to be had both indoors and outdoors this Easter. From camping in your backyard, starting a flower garden with your little one or just watching the sun-set while you sip on your favourite iced beverage.

Whatever your plans are, ensure that the kids have enough to do during their time away from school or boredom will surely drive everyone crazy with cabin fever.