Decide ahead. Print a few and keep them on the fridge, so the next one's already picked.
Use a timer. Warn at five minutes, stop on the bell, even if it's going well.
Nothing to buy. Paper, a ball, a pot, a book. Each card lists what to grab.
Ages 1–5 28
- Tummy time with Dad3–5 min, a few times a day · $0 · Ages 0–1
- Toy cleanup race: picture bins, a song and a timer15 min · $0 · Ages 1–4
- Picture-book point-and-name for toddlers15 min · $0 · Ages 1–3
- Toddler pouring station with cups and funnels30 min · $0 · Ages 1–3
- Toddler snack helper: wash, tear, stir, pour20 min · About $5 · Ages 2–4
- Rainy-day hallway obstacle course30 min · $0 · Ages 2–6
- Set up a calm-down corner30 min · $0 · Ages 2–7
- A week of “when-then”: calm limits that stick10 min a day · $0 · Ages 2–8
- Catch them being good: a week of specific praise10 min a day · $0 · Ages 2–10
- Remote-control Dad: pause, rewind, fast-forward15 min · $0 · Ages 2–6
- Freeze dance with Dad's playlist20 min · $0 · Ages 2–8
- The screen-free swap box30 min · $0 · Ages 3–10
- The feelings check-in: a number, a word, what helps15 min · $0 · Ages 3–8
- Pretend shop and a wait jar (ages 3 to 5)20 min · $0 · Ages 3–5
- Telling your kid someone has died20 min · $0 · Ages 3+
- Build a snack board for the family30 min · About $10 · Ages 3–10
- Sticker storybook: they stick, you write30 min · About $5 · Ages 3–7
- Trash-can basketball league30 min · $0 · Ages 3–10
- Spend, save, give: three jars30 min · $0 · Ages 4–9
- Sort, fold, put away: the laundry crew30 min · $0 · Ages 4–10
- The nightly question journal10 min a night · About $5 · Ages 4–14
- Balloon volleyball in the living room30 min · $0 · Ages 4–10
- Storm watch: count the thunder, then talk about fear30 min · $0 · Ages 4–10
- Show your kid what you do at work30 min · $0 · Ages 5–12
- A chore chart you'll actually keep30 min · $0 · Ages 5–14
- The school-morning launch pad30 min · $0–$10 · Ages 5–12
- Play Kim's game: remember the tray20 min · $0 · Ages 5+
- Play Quicksight and Farsight: two eye games30 min · $0 · Ages 5–12
Ages 6–9 28
- Rainy-day hallway obstacle course30 min · $0 · Ages 2–6
- Set up a calm-down corner30 min · $0 · Ages 2–7
- A week of “when-then”: calm limits that stick10 min a day · $0 · Ages 2–8
- Catch them being good: a week of specific praise10 min a day · $0 · Ages 2–10
- Remote-control Dad: pause, rewind, fast-forward15 min · $0 · Ages 2–6
- Freeze dance with Dad's playlist20 min · $0 · Ages 2–8
- The screen-free swap box30 min · $0 · Ages 3–10
- The feelings check-in: a number, a word, what helps15 min · $0 · Ages 3–8
- Telling your kid someone has died20 min · $0 · Ages 3+
- Build a snack board for the family30 min · About $10 · Ages 3–10
- Sticker storybook: they stick, you write30 min · About $5 · Ages 3–7
- Trash-can basketball league30 min · $0 · Ages 3–10
- Spend, save, give: three jars30 min · $0 · Ages 4–9
- Sort, fold, put away: the laundry crew30 min · $0 · Ages 4–10
- The nightly question journal10 min a night · About $5 · Ages 4–14
- Balloon volleyball in the living room30 min · $0 · Ages 4–10
- Storm watch: count the thunder, then talk about fear30 min · $0 · Ages 4–10
- Show your kid what you do at work30 min · $0 · Ages 5–12
- A chore chart you'll actually keep30 min · $0 · Ages 5–14
- The school-morning launch pad30 min · $0–$10 · Ages 5–12
- Play Kim's game: remember the tray20 min · $0 · Ages 5+
- Play Quicksight and Farsight: two eye games30 min · $0 · Ages 5–12
- Chapter-book nights: 20 minutes, voices, cliffhangers30 min · $0 · Ages 6–11
- Talking with your kid about scary news20 min · $0 · Ages 6–14
- First aid: press, cover, call30 min · About $10 · Ages 6+
- Send secret words with the wig-wag code30 min · $0 · Ages 7+
- Park the phones outside the bedrooms30 min to set up · $0–$25 · Ages 8–17
- The online safety talk: photos, secrets and sextortion20 min · $0 · Ages 9–17
Ages 10–12 20
- Catch them being good: a week of specific praise10 min a day · $0 · Ages 2–10
- The screen-free swap box30 min · $0 · Ages 3–10
- Telling your kid someone has died20 min · $0 · Ages 3+
- Build a snack board for the family30 min · About $10 · Ages 3–10
- Trash-can basketball league30 min · $0 · Ages 3–10
- Sort, fold, put away: the laundry crew30 min · $0 · Ages 4–10
- The nightly question journal10 min a night · About $5 · Ages 4–14
- Balloon volleyball in the living room30 min · $0 · Ages 4–10
- Storm watch: count the thunder, then talk about fear30 min · $0 · Ages 4–10
- Show your kid what you do at work30 min · $0 · Ages 5–12
- A chore chart you'll actually keep30 min · $0 · Ages 5–14
- The school-morning launch pad30 min · $0–$10 · Ages 5–12
- Play Kim's game: remember the tray20 min · $0 · Ages 5+
- Play Quicksight and Farsight: two eye games30 min · $0 · Ages 5–12
- Chapter-book nights: 20 minutes, voices, cliffhangers30 min · $0 · Ages 6–11
- Talking with your kid about scary news20 min · $0 · Ages 6–14
- First aid: press, cover, call30 min · About $10 · Ages 6+
- Send secret words with the wig-wag code30 min · $0 · Ages 7+
- Park the phones outside the bedrooms30 min to set up · $0–$25 · Ages 8–17
- The online safety talk: photos, secrets and sextortion20 min · $0 · Ages 9–17
13 and up 9
- Telling your kid someone has died20 min · $0 · Ages 3+
- The nightly question journal10 min a night · About $5 · Ages 4–14
- A chore chart you'll actually keep30 min · $0 · Ages 5–14
- Play Kim's game: remember the tray20 min · $0 · Ages 5+
- Talking with your kid about scary news20 min · $0 · Ages 6–14
- First aid: press, cover, call30 min · About $10 · Ages 6+
- Send secret words with the wig-wag code30 min · $0 · Ages 7+
- Park the phones outside the bedrooms30 min to set up · $0–$25 · Ages 8–17
- The online safety talk: photos, secrets and sextortion20 min · $0 · Ages 9–17
A plan can show under more than one age group. By age instead: Under 1 · 1–2 · 3–5 · 6–9 · 10–12 · 13+. More lists: Free things to do with kids · 15-minute activities for kids · Father-daughter and father-son date ideas · Rainy day activities for kids · Things to do with a toddler at home · Bonding activities for dads and teens · Indoor activities for kids under 30 minutes · Outdoor activities for kids · Things to do at Dad's house · Screen-free activities for kids · Chores for kids by age.