Kidadl’s Top 30 Ideas For Lockdown Projects

With cultural venues closed and sports classes cancelled, we need to find other inspirations for keeping the kids happy and engaged. Kidadl has hundreds of ideas for families -- it’s what we’re here for -- but we’ve narrowed things down to 30 of the best.

1. Build a reading den.

2. Stage an indoor picnic.

3. Or how about an indoor barbecue?

4. Crafting for 2-3 year olds. This can be the most challenging age group to keep happy during a lockdown. They’re often old enough to know they’re missing out on stuff, but too young to fully understand the reasons. These craft projects will help keep them engaged.

5. Make a lightsaber, or Yoda ears, or paper plate porgs… and other Star Wars craft projects.

6. Make a Lockdown scrapbook. These times might be challenging and not always happy, but you will be talking about them for the rest of your lives. Start putting a scrapbook or memory box together.

7. Bake a cake. And not just any cake. The Kidadl archives will show you how to make anything from a superhero cake to a tiger cake to… an antigravity cake.

8. Does your teen need a new laptop case? Encourage them to make their own with one of these DIY sleeve ideas.

9. Create an indoor beach.

10. Make facemasks for dolls and teddies. As well as being a fun craft project, it’s a good way to talk about the need for facemasks with young children.

11. Dinosaurs are always a hit with the kids. Try one of these crafting ideas, including dinosaur feet, and a dino-dig sandpit.

12. Pirates are another perennial kids’ favourite. Try these buccaneering activities, including how to make a treasure map, hat, treasure chest and even a pirate ship. Yarggghh!

13. Try this flower art. As we head towards winter, flowers are largely absent from our lives. Here are 12 ways to craft your way to an inflorescence. 

14. Make a calendar. If you can’t wait to move on from 2020 and want to look to the future, then try one of these ideas for making a 2021 calendar.  

15. Paper aeroplanes are an easy craft project. Take things to new heights with these nifty designs.

16. Other origami projects are folded into our website. Kidadl has dozens of recipes for paper-based creations, from origami sharks, to artfully folded birthday cards.

17. Put together a piñata using stuff around the home.

18. And if you’re (somehow) sick of craft projects, then try these 17 boredom-busting activities tailored towards toddlers and preschoolers.

Lockdown doesn’t mean you have to stay indoors. We’re encouraged to get out every day for exercise and adventure. Most of these projects can be tackled whether you have a garden or not.

19. Build an outdoor den.

20. 12 ways to make a bird feeder.

21. Minibeasts are everywhere, as a CBeebies song once told us. Try these activities for tracking down and learning about bugs, insects and other creepy crawlies.

22. Host your own Olympic Games, including a torch relay and opening ceremony.

23. Ever made a bug hotel?

24. Teach the kids about seeds and planting.

25. Get good at tennis without leaving the garden.

26. Non-contact games to play outdoors, including ball games, skipping rope ideas and plenty more.

27. Or alternatively, outdoor games tailored for family groups.

28. Collect acorn cups to make helmets for your toys.

29. Be a tourist in your own town. Lockdown rules encourage us to not travel far from home, so make the most of it by rediscovering the best of your local neighbourhood.

30. Go on a scavenger hunt around your local area.