12 Quiet Activities for Kids to Keep Them Busy
Looking for something to keep your kids busy without making a lot of noise? Here are 12 quiet activities for kids that should do the trick! From coloring to building, these activities are perfect for a calm morning or afternoon. So if you’re looking for a way to keep your little ones occupied, give one of these ideas a try.
I used to dream of snuggling in a big chair with my boys and reading books for hours. And somehow in that dream, we all had cups of hot chocolate that no one spilled and the fire was warm and cozy.
That dream doesn’t work for many reasons–some being we have no fireplace, and my kids spill hot chocolate every time.
The main reason this dream has never come true is that my boys are never still for very long. They need to be busy at all times.
Last summer they got really into audiobooks. They sat and listened for hours to the same books over and over again. Eventually, they could quote parts of their favorites.
I wondered, what was the difference between these hours spent listening to audiobooks, and the few minutes I could keep them occupied with me on the couch?
Then, I realized, all of the hours they spent with audiobooks, they were busy with other activities at the same time. Whether they were drawing, creating endless marble runs, or building complex Lego projects, they were always doing something.
So, I changed my reading strategy and found hands-on, quiet activities for kids they could do while I read. It has changed our morning routine and homeschool for the better!
Some Examples of Quiet Play
In order to fit our needs, quiet time games and activities need to fit these criteria:
- Be quiet. Obviously, any kind of toy that makes music or has sound is out.
- Not make a big mess. We need quiet activities during our morning routine. It’s part of our school day, so we don’t want to have to clean up a mess before we get out our books.
- Have some educational value. Even though the purpose is to stay quiet, our quiet play needs to serve some purpose or build a skill.
- Keep hands busy. My kids listen better if they are occupied, so keeping their hands busy with a project is an important part of staying quiet.
It might seem like there aren’t a lot of things kids can do that fit all of these objectives, but there really are! Keep reading to see our favorite quiet activities that keep us busy during reading.
As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
15 Quiet Activities for Kids
We use these quiet time activities to help us stay focused, learning and listening during our morning time routine.
Puzzles
Puzzles are the perfect quiet time activity for kids, and they are available for nearly any age group. We use smaller ones when we’re reading at the table, but large floor puzzles are perfect to spread out on the floor on rainy days.
Paint with Watercolors
Paint doesn’t have to be too messy or complicated. All you need is a simple watercolor set and some paper. This set comes with paint, brushes and paper. I’ve also found that kids love to use their watercolors with cotton swabs, too.
Rubik’s Cube
If you have a kid with an analytical brain, give them a Rubik’s cube. They’ve been one of the best-selling toys for years for a reason. This quiet activity for kids provides stress-relief while also improving focus and concentration, and math and science skills.
Magnet Tiles
My sister bought us some of these for Christmas a few years ago, and we were hooked. There are so many possibilities! You can start with a small, basic set which is perfect if your kids are younger.
As they get older and more experienced, the sets grow and pieces become more complicated, too. We have a couple of different sets, and they all work together.
Create with Playdough
Playdough is one of our favorite quiet time activities! As long as you keep it from getting crumbly, and the colors separated, it’s not super messy.
There are so many fun color options, too. You can easily find plenty of playdough accessories that make it more fun, but I like to keep it simple with printable playdough mats. We’re currently loving our dinosaur playdough mats.
Simple Lego Sets
My boys would play Lego all day, every day, especially if it meant they didn’t have to do school work! So when I allow them to play with Lego during our reading time, I have to choose something easy that they can put together in less than an hour, or easily be cleaned up and put away.
Related: 8 Creative Construction Toys for Kids Who Love to Build
Mess-Free Coloring
Easy coloring with markers and no mess? Yes, please! Crayola Color Wonder just might be a mom’s best friend. There are a ton of different sets to choose from, and they are perfect for toddlers and younger kids who aren’t quite ready for paint or pencils yet.
Boogie Boards
These magic sketch pads are absolute must-haves in our house! They’re so fun because you can draw all you want and never have to worry about paper or pens. (Although I keep several extra styluses on hand.) We love to use them during long church services because they’re quiet and easily fit in my purse.
Bible Story Coloring Pages
I try to keep some simple coloring pages ready to print whenever we need them. There are so many options available for kids of all ages, including these free printable Daniel and the Lions’ Den Coloring Pages. These are our favorite pencils for our coloring pages.
Doodles and Drawing
Sometimes we try so hard to find exciting things for our kids to do…but they just want something simple. Give your kids some paper and pencils, crayons or markers and you just might be surprised what they come up with. There are also a ton of great books that teach simple doodles to both kids and adults.
Tangram Puzzles
I don’t know how I missed out on tangram puzzles for so long! They’re super fun for kids of different ages. There are many patterns kids can make, from easy ones for younger kids or more complicated ones as they get older.
Matching Games
If you want a quiet activity for kids they can use over and over again, try a matching game! These are a lot of fun, and help children improve their memory and concentration skills while they play.
If you’re looking for a few ideas to keep your kids busy and entertained, these have you covered. From quiet activities for kids like puzzles and playdough to more creative endeavors like painting and coloring, there’s something for everyone.
And if you need even more inspiration, be sure to check out the products on Amazon – everything from magnetic tiles to watercolor paint sets. So get ready to have some fun with your little ones – these activities are sure to keep them occupied (and quiet!) for hours on end.
You may also like:
