5 Minute Activities to Do with Kids (From aged 8 plus)
School is out for the coronavirus and kids need entertaining.
If they've been watching television and video games for too long, drag them away and try and complete a 5 minute task. It's easier to motivate yourself and the kids to do things when they don't take that long.
Imagine how much you can learn if you do one or two of these everyday.
If they've been watching television and video games for too long, drag them away and try and complete a 5 minute task. It's easier to motivate yourself and the kids to do things when they don't take that long.
Imagine how much you can learn if you do one or two of these everyday.
Cooking Activities
1.) Make a fruit salad.
Kids can peel the fruit and older kids can chop it. Soft fruits like strawberries are easier for younger kids to chop.
2.) Make a pizza
Buy a pre-made base and have kids do the toppings. Spread the tomato sauce first, sprinkle with cheese and add their favorite toppings as well. The bonus with is that dinner is done and you've occupied the kids.
3.) Make their own sandwich
They can also cut them with shape cutters into different shapes before eating.
4.) Biscuit or cake decorating
Kids can make icing to decorate biscuits and cakes. Then sprinkle them with marshmallows or other toppings.
5.) Do a mug cake recipe
Making a mug cake is a really easy activity which essentially involves mixing a few ingredients, pouring them into a mug and then putting it in the microwave for a couple of minutes. Add whipped cream and sprinkles to serve.
Kids can peel the fruit and older kids can chop it. Soft fruits like strawberries are easier for younger kids to chop.
2.) Make a pizza
Buy a pre-made base and have kids do the toppings. Spread the tomato sauce first, sprinkle with cheese and add their favorite toppings as well. The bonus with is that dinner is done and you've occupied the kids.
3.) Make their own sandwich
They can also cut them with shape cutters into different shapes before eating.
4.) Biscuit or cake decorating
Kids can make icing to decorate biscuits and cakes. Then sprinkle them with marshmallows or other toppings.
5.) Do a mug cake recipe
Making a mug cake is a really easy activity which essentially involves mixing a few ingredients, pouring them into a mug and then putting it in the microwave for a couple of minutes. Add whipped cream and sprinkles to serve.
Paper Activities
6.) Make paper airplanes
Follow this very easy and quick video on youtube. And when you've finished the airplane kids can decorate them with pens and stickers.
7.) Make an origami fortune teller
This activity is a blast from the past. Check out this video telling you how to make a fortune teller. It's quick and fun and you get to find out what happens in your future too!
Follow this very easy and quick video on youtube. And when you've finished the airplane kids can decorate them with pens and stickers.
7.) Make an origami fortune teller
This activity is a blast from the past. Check out this video telling you how to make a fortune teller. It's quick and fun and you get to find out what happens in your future too!
Gardening Activities
8.) Plant Cress Seeds
You can do it with a small yoghurt pot and some compost. Or be even more creative. Mr Bloom has a short video showing you how to make a cress head.
9.) Plant a sunflower
Sunflowers are another plant that's quick to plant and easy to grow. Check out this article on how to do it.
You can do it with a small yoghurt pot and some compost. Or be even more creative. Mr Bloom has a short video showing you how to make a cress head.
9.) Plant a sunflower
Sunflowers are another plant that's quick to plant and easy to grow. Check out this article on how to do it.
5 Minute Games to play
10.) The Yes and No Game
The idea of this game is that you ask your child questions. They have to answer them without saying yes or no. If they do, you win, if not, they do. You can set a timer for 5 minutes and see who wins at the end.
11.) 20 Questions
You think of a famous person. The other person or people ask you questions to try and find out who the person you are thinking of is but they can only be questions to which you can answer yes or no. They have 20 questions to find out the answer and win.
12.) Charades
The classic game of charades is always fun to play and quick too. Check out this article on how to play charades with kids.
13.) Hopskotch
One to play if you have some outdoor space. If your self isolating make sure it's in the backyard or there is nobody around.
14.) Tic Tac Toe / Naughts and crosses
A simple game to play, could be played on paper or a chalk board.
15.) Rock, paper, scissors
Fun, easy to play and quick!
16.) Pictionary
Draw an object and see if they can guess what it is. It's best played with at least 3 people as the first one to guess what it is, wins
17.) Hangman
Hangman is a quick and easy game to play on paper. And it's obviously great for spelling, writing and thinking too.
18.) Thumb wrestling / Thumb wars
Lay your thumb on top of your closed fist. Then each player taps their thumb on alternating sides of their fists while reciting, "1, 2, 3, 4, we declare a thumb war, 5, 6, 7, 8, try to keep your thumbs straight." Go in for the attack, trying to pin your opponent's thumb under yours. Watch your opponent's moves closely.
Ispy
A classic but quick game which is perfect as a five minute time filler.
The idea of this game is that you ask your child questions. They have to answer them without saying yes or no. If they do, you win, if not, they do. You can set a timer for 5 minutes and see who wins at the end.
11.) 20 Questions
You think of a famous person. The other person or people ask you questions to try and find out who the person you are thinking of is but they can only be questions to which you can answer yes or no. They have 20 questions to find out the answer and win.
12.) Charades
The classic game of charades is always fun to play and quick too. Check out this article on how to play charades with kids.
13.) Hopskotch
One to play if you have some outdoor space. If your self isolating make sure it's in the backyard or there is nobody around.
14.) Tic Tac Toe / Naughts and crosses
A simple game to play, could be played on paper or a chalk board.
15.) Rock, paper, scissors
Fun, easy to play and quick!
16.) Pictionary
Draw an object and see if they can guess what it is. It's best played with at least 3 people as the first one to guess what it is, wins
17.) Hangman
Hangman is a quick and easy game to play on paper. And it's obviously great for spelling, writing and thinking too.
18.) Thumb wrestling / Thumb wars
Lay your thumb on top of your closed fist. Then each player taps their thumb on alternating sides of their fists while reciting, "1, 2, 3, 4, we declare a thumb war, 5, 6, 7, 8, try to keep your thumbs straight." Go in for the attack, trying to pin your opponent's thumb under yours. Watch your opponent's moves closely.
Ispy
A classic but quick game which is perfect as a five minute time filler.
Art Activities
19.) Rainbow in Your Window
As school is out in many places and kids aren't going to see their friends anytime soon, they are drawing or painting rainbows to show in their window. It's a really quick activity to draw a rainbow. Plus if your kids can still go out and walk around they can look for rainbows in other people's windows. Check out how rainbows in windows are spreading joy.
20.) Do a coin rubbing
Find a coin and put it under a piece of paper. Rub on top of it with a crayon and see what happens. If you do have a bit more time and do a few different coins, how much do they add up to?
21.) Make a watering can from an old milk jug
It's super simple. Just poke some holes in the top of a miik jug and the water will go through there when they pour it out. See full instructions here.
As school is out in many places and kids aren't going to see their friends anytime soon, they are drawing or painting rainbows to show in their window. It's a really quick activity to draw a rainbow. Plus if your kids can still go out and walk around they can look for rainbows in other people's windows. Check out how rainbows in windows are spreading joy.
20.) Do a coin rubbing
Find a coin and put it under a piece of paper. Rub on top of it with a crayon and see what happens. If you do have a bit more time and do a few different coins, how much do they add up to?
21.) Make a watering can from an old milk jug
It's super simple. Just poke some holes in the top of a miik jug and the water will go through there when they pour it out. See full instructions here.
Online Quizzes and activites
CBBC Quizzes
There are tons of fun online quizzes here. One of my favorites which takes around 5 minutes or less is to find out which classic children's book you should read next.
Play BBC bitesize games
There's lots of online games here on this resource which you can play in sessions of 5 to 10 minutes. The games will save your progress as you go along.
There are tons of fun online quizzes here. One of my favorites which takes around 5 minutes or less is to find out which classic children's book you should read next.
Play BBC bitesize games
There's lots of online games here on this resource which you can play in sessions of 5 to 10 minutes. The games will save your progress as you go along.
Educational
Language learning
Learn how to say hello and goodbye in a different language. Or if why not learn how to count up to 10.
Counting to 21
Kids take turns saying up to 3 numbers (starting at 1 and working their way up) and the person who says 21 is out! For example:
Player 1: 1,2,
Player 2: 3,4,5
Player 3: 6
Player 1: 7,8,9
Player 2:10,11
Player 3:13,14,15
Player 1: 16,17,18
Player 2: 19,20
In this game Player 3 has to say 21 and would be out. Player 1 and 2 would then face each other.
Alphabet Game
Write down 5 categories on a piece of paper. It could be first names, countries, cities, color, fruit or vegetable, tv show, book, movie etc. Then you choose a letter from the alphabet and set a timer for a set number of minutes and see if you can find a word beginning with the right letter for each category in that time. At the end of the game, the scoring is as follows - 2 points for an original answer (that nobody else has), 1 point for an answer somebody else has and no point if you don't have an answer or for a wrong answer. The person with the most points wins.
You can extend this game longer than five minutes if you wish, but a 5 minute game now and then is easy to set up and play quickly.
English 5 Minute Activity Sheets
These English 5 minute activity sheets are great. Fun to practice vocabulary and quick thinking. You have to list 3 things for each category.
Learn how to say hello and goodbye in a different language. Or if why not learn how to count up to 10.
Counting to 21
Kids take turns saying up to 3 numbers (starting at 1 and working their way up) and the person who says 21 is out! For example:
Player 1: 1,2,
Player 2: 3,4,5
Player 3: 6
Player 1: 7,8,9
Player 2:10,11
Player 3:13,14,15
Player 1: 16,17,18
Player 2: 19,20
In this game Player 3 has to say 21 and would be out. Player 1 and 2 would then face each other.
Alphabet Game
Write down 5 categories on a piece of paper. It could be first names, countries, cities, color, fruit or vegetable, tv show, book, movie etc. Then you choose a letter from the alphabet and set a timer for a set number of minutes and see if you can find a word beginning with the right letter for each category in that time. At the end of the game, the scoring is as follows - 2 points for an original answer (that nobody else has), 1 point for an answer somebody else has and no point if you don't have an answer or for a wrong answer. The person with the most points wins.
You can extend this game longer than five minutes if you wish, but a 5 minute game now and then is easy to set up and play quickly.
English 5 Minute Activity Sheets
These English 5 minute activity sheets are great. Fun to practice vocabulary and quick thinking. You have to list 3 things for each category.
Workout and move
5 minute workouts for kids
These 5 minute workouts on youtube are awesome. There's quite a few of them and kids and parents can definitely do these together. If you have a few more minutes (I mean who doesn't at the moment) the active8 workouts are just as good.
Do 5 minutes exercise
You don't need to rely on youtube. You can do your own workout routine with the kids. Pick a few exercises such as running on the spot, star jumps, squats, high knees, lunges - set a time for 5 minutes and change exercises after 10 reps. Put some music on, set a timer for 5 minutes and then stop!
These 5 minute workouts on youtube are awesome. There's quite a few of them and kids and parents can definitely do these together. If you have a few more minutes (I mean who doesn't at the moment) the active8 workouts are just as good.
Do 5 minutes exercise
You don't need to rely on youtube. You can do your own workout routine with the kids. Pick a few exercises such as running on the spot, star jumps, squats, high knees, lunges - set a time for 5 minutes and change exercises after 10 reps. Put some music on, set a timer for 5 minutes and then stop!
Connecting with others
Write letters and draw pictures for people who are self isolating
There are a lot of people who would love to receive a letter from a child, for example - grandparents, aunties and uncles - even teachers who are still working at school. There are also projects where kids are writing to people in nursing homes. Take 5 mintues and draw a picture or write a quick note to cheer somebody else up.
Google Hangouts / Zoom Conversations / Phone calls
Take 5 minutes to connect with others via one of the mediums above. It could be with a grandparent or other relative. As a side note google hangouts is great for kids to keep in touch with their friends from school.
There are a lot of people who would love to receive a letter from a child, for example - grandparents, aunties and uncles - even teachers who are still working at school. There are also projects where kids are writing to people in nursing homes. Take 5 mintues and draw a picture or write a quick note to cheer somebody else up.
Google Hangouts / Zoom Conversations / Phone calls
Take 5 minutes to connect with others via one of the mediums above. It could be with a grandparent or other relative. As a side note google hangouts is great for kids to keep in touch with their friends from school.
5 minute Science
Five minute science experiments
Have a go at some easy five minute science experiments.
Online science on facebook.
Watch some 5 minute science experiments and be amazed.
Have a go at some easy five minute science experiments.
Online science on facebook.
Watch some 5 minute science experiments and be amazed.
Outdoor Activities
Scavenger Hunts
You con do these in the yard or when you're out for a walk. Just have a list of things they have to spot of find. Ideas could include specific insects, birds, a flower, leaves, squirrel, a spider web etc. You can have a five minute timer and see how many they can find in that time. Here are some scavenger hunt ideas for the backyard
Number Game
When you're out and about write down all the two digit numbers you can see in 2 minutes (door numbers, road signs etc) After you have written them all down can you add them up? You can make it a competition. The person who has the highest number when they are all added up at the end wins. You can do a spot check to make sure that the numbers they have written are out there somewhere.
Go for a 5 minute night walk and look at the stars
There are less people at night so it's easier to self distance away from others. Have a look at the stars and see if you can spot any constellations.
Go on a bug hunt
How many insects can you spot in 5 minutes. This can easily be done in the backyard.
Chalk a picture
Chalk is fun to use on outdoors. Use a chalk to draw a picture.
You con do these in the yard or when you're out for a walk. Just have a list of things they have to spot of find. Ideas could include specific insects, birds, a flower, leaves, squirrel, a spider web etc. You can have a five minute timer and see how many they can find in that time. Here are some scavenger hunt ideas for the backyard
Number Game
When you're out and about write down all the two digit numbers you can see in 2 minutes (door numbers, road signs etc) After you have written them all down can you add them up? You can make it a competition. The person who has the highest number when they are all added up at the end wins. You can do a spot check to make sure that the numbers they have written are out there somewhere.
Go for a 5 minute night walk and look at the stars
There are less people at night so it's easier to self distance away from others. Have a look at the stars and see if you can spot any constellations.
Go on a bug hunt
How many insects can you spot in 5 minutes. This can easily be done in the backyard.
Chalk a picture
Chalk is fun to use on outdoors. Use a chalk to draw a picture.
