Home Indoor Fun Live, From the Living Room: How Real NYC Kids Are Having Fun at Home by Mimi O'ConnorApril 19, 2020 Search more like this musicslimeart kitarts and craftsbakingbanana breaddance partydiyindoor soccerkennedy centersoccerstreet dancetraining wheelsbike Advertisement Trending Now Viral & Trending School’s Cell Phone Policy Goes Viral after Mom Refuses to Comply: ‘Nope’ News California Becomes 1st State to Provide Free Meals to Public School Kids News CDC’s New COVID Guidelines: Kids Can Stay in Class If Exposed News Nanny Job Listing Goes Viral Because It’s Bonkers News The ‘Sweet Magnolias’ Cast Is Posting Sneak Peeks of Season 3 on Instagram Advertisement Yes, it’s a bit tough to be a New York City parent right now, to say the least. Give yourself a big pat on the back for continuing to keep on, keepin’ on. We’ve come to realize that making sure everybody has a chunk of time to chill out, tune in, get crazy (i.e., “have fun”, whatever that means to them) is essential to staying sane right about now. And that of course, includes kids—especially kids! We asked around to find out what’s keeping NYC kids happy (or distracted, or laughing or engaged) these days, and are passing along our findings, because hey, one of these might be just the thing your kid needs! Read on, and be inspired! (P.S. Here’s what local kids businesses are doing online, and you can find tons more fun on our calendar of virtual events!) Vanessa Shuster-Raizberg Indoor Soccer, Dog Baths & Activity Books “I like doing soccer trick shots and printing coloring/activity books with our new printer.”—Peter, 6From Peter’s mom: “And doggy bubble baths! He didn’t know poodles could swim!” LaToya Jordan DIY Peleton, Drawing & Vicariously Gaming “Drawing, watching YouTubers play Minecraft and Roblox, and riding my bike inside.”—Billie, 7Note from Billie’s mom: “We set up her bike as a stationary bike [by] putting the training wheels in a pair of my husband’s big sneakers, based on a viral Facebook post. We just started doing Peloton classes together or sometimes she’ll get on her tablet and ride.” Food Fun, Rock Painting & Planting Seeds “Making faces or animals out of food. Rock and shell painting, making structures out of paper recycling, planting seeds, looking through old pictures or documents.”—Rosalind, 5 and 1/2 Maria Ondova Kocisova Skateboarding at Night & Rock Painting “Going outside when nobody is outside—like a vampire—on his beloved skateboard, painting rocks, going on scooters in the park and finding the place where are people are away and playing frisbee.” —Gabriel, 9 hannah tasker on unsplash A Classic with a Twist & Eggs “Jumping off the couch onto an air mattress…and making scrambled eggs.”—George, 7, Natalie, 6, KensingtonNote from George’s mom: “He loves cracking the eggs.” Alyson Vitticore Paper Bag Puppets “Creepy yet funny and fun. Bag puppets of any kind!…We also LOVE Cosmic Kids Yoga!”Viola, 6 Ilana Haas Arts & Crafts Delivered! “Arts and crafts stuff. We have beads, plaster craft painting from a local store who delivered, coloring pictures.”—Elizabeth, 6, Lyla, 3 and 1/2, Samantha, 2Editor’s note: That’s Party Plaster Place on Metropolitan Avenue in Forest Hills! Adam Suerte A New Identity Every Day “Getting her face painted almost daily.”—Posy, 9 Minecraft Weekday Gaming “Getting to play Minecraft and Roblox on weekdays!”—Benjamin, 8 and 1/2From Benjamin’s Mom: “They are usually only allowed on weekends.” Mel Wadle Boller Putting on a Show! “We act out a book or story—so far PJ Masks and Piggy and Gerald—with costumes, props and scenery and record it weekly.”—JJ, 3 and 1/2 and Mickey, 6 Roblox Family & Roblox “Spending time with my family, playing Roblox/Bloxsburg and watching YouTube videos.”—Daphne, 9 Crayola Art, Art & More Art “This art kit!” —Sabrina, 7 Pixabay Baking & Concert Promoting “Baked banana bread. (Mashed bananas!) Also—started a band. Played no instruments but created a logo and made amazing signs for the band and taped them up around the apartment.”—Aaron, Five and 1/2 Hubbard Street Dance Chicago Paddleball, Simply Piano, Dance Parties & More “Paddle ball with mom in the backyard, Simply Piano app, Storyline Online, dance party in sister’s room, Adventure Time.” —Sofia, 7 Steve Buissinne via Pixabay Online Chess! “Impact Coaching Network daily chess tournaments.”—Hunter, 8, Jackson, 6 Drew Tarvin Flickr Forts, Mom-led Kickboxing, Heading Up to the Roof Band practice and songwriting sessions over Zoom, making forts, Wii Dance, mommy-led kick boxing workouts, playing Risk over the internet with friends (fun for adults too). Sitting on the fire escape and going up to the roof for the first time!”—Jack, 10, and Eli, 11 PBS Kids via YouTube Hanging with Daniel & Elsa “Watching Daniel Tiger and Frozen!”—Evelyn, 2 and 1/2 Photo by Саша Лазарев from Pexels Playroom Physics “Launching baby dolls [in the air] and trying to catch them.”—Charlotte, 6 and 1/2 Pixabay Pokemon, Inside & Out “I’m barely seeing my kid because he’s playing some online Pokemon game with his friends, whenever school’s out. Sometimes we play Pokemon Go outside, which gives him the chance to lecture me about various Pokemon characters while I sneak in a little exercise.”—Harry, 13 Netflix The Frizz Magic Schoolbus Rides Again on Netflix!—Lucy, 7 The Craft Factory Choice Time…at Home Monster High on YouTube and drawing. And making projects, like ‘Choice Time’ at school.—Edith, 8 iStock FaceTime! “FaceTiming with friends.”—Caley, 12 Mo Willems via YouTube/Kennedy Center Silly Videos, Doodling & Smoothies “Watching funny videos on Youtube, Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems, and making smoothies.”—Zelda, 7Zelda’s mom: “Filling the bird feeder is also a big hit.” Andrea Piacquadio via Pexels Music & Drawing “‘I’m listening to music while I do my schoolwork and I’m into drawing a lot now.”—Aviva, 10 Jencu via flickr Slime, New Skills & Failed Rollerskating “Playing with slime.” —Alice, 7From Alice’s mom: “We’re taking the opportunity to learn some new skills: we’re making our own Roblox game and she’s learning to play guitar! We tried inline skates but they’re too loud in an apt…” —Mimi O’ConnorRELATED STORIES: Special Delivery: NYC Pizzas to Order Right NowWe Got You: Online Activities & Classes for Indoor FunReach Out: NYC’s Top Parenting & Support Groups Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)Click to share on Copy (Opens in new window) Search more like this musicslimeart kitarts and craftsbakingbanana breaddance partydiyindoor soccerkennedy centersoccerstreet dancetraining wheelsbike Welcome to our Tinybeans family! Be sure to check your email for new activities, recipes and parenting hacks – and to see if you’ve won! Do you have a dog or cat? Select YES below and click submit to start receiving FREE pet ideas and inspiration, news about new pet products, exclusive offers and limited-time promotions. Yes, I have a pet! 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