10 games to do at home with the kids on vacation

The holidays arrive and, with them, the most common concern of mothers and fathers of young children: how to keep them entertained, since they are used to always doing something nice at school? Going out all the time for something different in malls and parks is very difficult; in addition to being expensive, mothers and fathers are not always able to take vacations together with school breaks. The solution, then, is to set up as many activities as possible at home.

We bring here ten suggestions of homemade games that are simple to produce and very tasty for the whole family. The list was put together with the help of educational psychologists Ana Carla Freitas, Bárbara Trindade and Zuleica Dias.

–> Up to 2 years old

– Puppet theater (from 6 months)

Works on baby’s interest in colors, movements, sounds and voices.

How to do it: With a puppet in each hand or a finger puppet in each finger, create dialogues between the puppets and involve the baby in the conversation. Make different voices, use the dolls to caress and kiss the baby’s cheeks, arms and legs. You can improvise toys with socks: just draw eyes, nose and mouth in the right places. Babies believe and love!

How long: About 15 minutes; after that, the baby loses interest.

– Paperpecker (from 6 months)

An absolutely simple game that can be played at any time and more than once a day.

How to do it: Put lots of leaves around the baby and allow him to crumple and tear freely. When he looks bored, pick up the ones that are already in pieces and throw them in the air, making a paper rain. Encourage him to start over – but without forcing, huh?

For how long: That’s up to the baby to decide: as long as he feels like it, let the game go on.

– Building blocks (from 1 year old)

What child doesn’t love to play building with blocks?

How to do it: Give the child lots of building block set pieces and let him explore them freely, with no models to follow.

How long: About 30 minutes.

– Taking care of dolls (from 1 year old)

A make-believe that works on the sense of responsibility. It never hurts to remember that a doll is a toy for both girls and boys, ok?

How to do it: Make dolls, clothes and accessories available to the child. Help put on and take off clothes and diapers and fit the doll in the baby’s lap, propose imaginary baths for the doll and walks with her around the house, invent voices for the dolls to “talk” to the child.

How long: From 30 minutes to 1 hour.

–> From 2 to 4 years old

– Painting gallery (from 2 years old)

Painting is a delight! In order not to have a headache, put the child in a clothes that can be stained or provide a nice apron to cover it.

How to do it: Place gouache paints, watercolors and crayons on a table or on the floor + papers of different materials and textures (cardboard, EVA, cardboard). Let the child use it however they want and “display” the drawings on the walls of the house.

How long: About 1 hour.

– Take it by the tail! (from 3 years old)

It’s a fun game that develops children’s strategies.

How to do it: Give the child some strips of paper or fabric and attach them to the back of the waistband of the pants, simulating a tail. Do the same for your outfit. The objectives of the game are to get the child’s ribbons and protect their own ribbons; instruct the child to do the same – pick up ribbons and protect themselves.

How long: 15 minutes until the kids get tired.

– Hide and seek (from 3 years old)

Classic game that can be played in any room and never loses its appeal.

How to do it: Ask the child to cover their eyes and hide (you) in a place where they can find you easily. Then ask her to hide while you keep your eyes covered. A cool tip: whenever you find the child or she finds you, say “Achooou!” or “Acheeeei!” – all the little ones love this.

For how long: 15 minutes until the child gets tired.

–> From 4 to 6 years old

– Obstacle trail (from 4 years old)

It works on movement notions and encourages overcoming challenges.

How to do it: With the help of pillows, chairs and objects that are not dangerous, create a circuit with obstacles at home. Mark a starting and finishing point and tell the child to overcome obstacles. When the trail is finished, change some objects and start all over again.

How long: About 1 hour.

– What letter is this? (from 5 years old)

Reinforcement of setting the letters and numbers in which the child is already interested at school, on the streets, in life in general.

How to do it: Spread letters on the floor or on a table – they can be made of EVA, wooden blocks, painted on paper or any material, bought ready-made or made at home – and ask the child to find the ones you ask for. Tip: ask for the letters separately (“Where is the R?”) or ask for the letters that begin words that the child already knows (“I want the C from my heart, where is it?”).

How long: About 30 minutes.

– Hot potato (from 5 years old)

Here, the child has to be smart and think fast. It can be done between mother and child or with a small group of friends.

How to do it: Everyone sit on the floor and start passing the potato from one hand to the other. Sing, meanwhile, “Potato that goes hot, potato that’s gone. Whoever keeps the potato: poor thing, it got burned!” (in the rhythm of “Lollipop that beats beats”). Whoever has the potato in their hand at the end of the song loses.

How long: About 30 minutes.

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