Working from home with children: Cool ideas for role and sensor games with the children's table “Flisat” from Ikea
During the Corona crisis, a large part of the working population is dependent on home offices. Working with children from home is a major challenge for parents. While adolescents can also work on their own, toddlers of kindergarten or primary school age still need around-the-clock care. For adults who have to work at the same time, it means double the burden. And although there is currently a lot of discussion about the extent to which the exit restrictions can be relaxed, one thing is certain: in the coming weeks, they will have to continue to do justice to the job and the youngsters alone. Because home office is exhausting, chaotic and definitely not a “nice family time”. Nevertheless, it is possible to keep toddlers busy for longer periods. We reveal a few tricks and craft ideas that make working from home more or less successful. You need a children's table with a removable tabletop and boxes for toys. The children's table “Flisat” from Ikea, for example, is ideally suited and can be retrofitted with Trofast boxes.
Work from home: combine childcare and home office
Couples with children usually look after them in alternating shifts. What actually sounds like a good solution is difficult to put into practice. Parents of small children know that the children are rarely in a room. Instead, the little ones like to run and play in the whole apartment or in the whole house, without taking care of the working partner. It is difficult to explain to children between the ages of 1 and 6 why dad or mom is actually in another room and should not be disturbed. Single parents find it even more difficult. You just have to keep the kids busy and work at the same time. A really big challenge that can be mastered with creativity. Here are some simple tricks and game ideas that help the children stay in a room. It is also possible that lunch will now be cooked. Here are some ideas:
Employ children with oobleck: make oobleck and carry out experiments with it
What is Oobleck? Oobleck is a liquid that has special properties. Visually, it resembles slime. If the children put pressure on them, then it becomes hard. When you let it go, it becomes fluid. Oobleck is made from corn starch and water. Simply stir in 1.5 cups of cornstarch to a cup of water in a large bowl until the mixture reaches a honey-like consistency. You can add food coloring to it, but it can dye children's clothes and hands.
When is the right time for this game idea? 40 minutes before lunch. Then the children have a job during which a partner can prepare the food. At the same time, the little ones have to be in a room because you play with oobleck on the dining table. There is also a decisive advantage: you have to wash your child's hands before eating anyway.
What age is Oobleck suitable for? Oobleck is a game idea for children from 4 to 10 years, because there are numerous ways to play. It is perfect for families with several children, because everyone can play together without arguing. For toddlers of kindergarten age, just touching the wonder mass is a lot of fun, because it resists the pressure of the children's hands. Older children can place the bowl with the liquid on vibrating surfaces and observe how it behaves.
Effort for parents: Moderate You must first stir the liquid with the children and then clean the table before lunch. However, since Oobleck can be removed from surfaces fairly quickly and effortlessly and generally does not leave stains, you should rather expect a moderate effort.
Working with children from home: playing with blackboard magnets
How to play Place stacking cups in rainbow colors in the first box: yellow, orange, red, green, purple and blue. In the second box, fill in table magnets in the colors yellow, orange, red, green, purple and blue. The children should either “catch” the table magnets with a magnetic rod (which they can also make themselves out of a stick, string and a fridge magnet) or with a magnetic shovel and put them in the appropriate cup. Yellow magnets come in the yellow mug, green ones – in the green, etc.
When is the right time for this game idea? Breakfast, because it takes a good half an hour for all the table magnets to be sorted.
For which age is the sensor game suitable for children? Children from the age of three can play with it. It is only suitable in certain circumstances for families with several children, because there is a risk that the children will argue loudly who has caught and sorted more table magnets.
Effort for parents: Low. You only need to explain the rules to the children and then let them play. Nevertheless, toddlers should only play under parental supervision, because they can swallow the small magnets.
Working with children from home: Sensor games for 2 and 3 year old children
How to play Color rice with food coloring (first wash the rice thoroughly!) And fill it into the largest box. In a bowl, mix 8 cups of flour, 1 cup of sunflower oil and food coloring and slowly stir in all the ingredients until the consistency resembles sand. Fill a second box with it. Spread confetti, sugar sprinkles, cake candles and several small balloons into the two boxes. In the last – third box you can put funnel, plastic cup, measuring spoon and tea strainer.
When is the right time to organize a sensor game for toddlers? Whenever you need half an hour to make phone calls. It is important to watch the children. Because small children could swallow small particles in the boxes.
Effort for parents: Moderate. Of course you have to make the “sand” out of flour yourself and always take care of the children. When playing it is guaranteed to be a mess on the table, but you can quickly collect the rice and the “sand”.
Home office with children of kindergarten age: game idea with soapy water
How to play The next idea does not need to be explained. You need lukewarm water in which you can dissolve detergent, sponges and dishes. It is best to choose dishes made of metal or plastic. Glass and porcelain are unsuitable because the children could break them and injure themselves.
Suitable for: Children from the 1st year
Duration: Depending on the age from 30 minutes to 40 minutes
Effort for parents: Low
Working with children from home: role-playing games with farm in box
Would you like to engage your children in role-playing games while you work from home? The next game idea is suitable for children in elementary school. For the left box you need peas, chickpeas and animal figures. For the left box: earth (make sand according to the recipe above and color it with brown cocoa), small stones, blue glass beads. In addition, you can use animals from Easter decorations or other toys. For example, you can distribute a cow, chick, pig, carrot and horse in the farm.
Suitable for: Let children from three years of age play only under the supervision of their parents!
Duration: 40 minutes maximum
Effort for parents: Moderately, it takes 15 minutes to prepare
Home office with children in primary school: soap from natural materials
The next game idea is super straightforward. You need lukewarm water and fresh flower blossoms of your choice. In the second box, place the child's small disposable glasses, preferably made of plastic, as well as spoons of various sizes and funnels. Fun for children in elementary school is guaranteed!
Suitable for: Children from 1 year
Duration: 20 minutes
Effort for parents: Low
Home office with children: sandpit with a beach theme
Children need variety. They are especially happy when you find a new use for the old toys. That is why the sandpit with the beach theme comes with the sand made of flour and the shell from the last vacation as well as blue glass beads and a wooden puzzle with the “sea” theme. The children can play with the pictures of the sea creatures or arrange the shells in the “sandpit”.
Suitable for: Children from 2 years
Duration: 30-40 minutes
Effort for parents: Moderate
Working from home with children: the “underwater” box
A nice idea for a short coffee break in the afternoon. Buy a set of plastic underwater plants and seahorses, fish, and octopuses, and fill the two boxes with water. Now is the right time to explain to the little ones what animals and plants live in the ocean. The children can then “catch” the fish with a large sieve and release them in the other box. The possibilities are endless and you are guaranteed to have at least 40 minutes to work.
Suitable for: Children from 4 years
Duration: 50 minutes
Effort for parents: Low
Keeping children busy: Sensor game “Polar ice caps”
The next sensor game is ideal for children of kindergarten age, i.e. between 3 and 5 years. You need very little ingredients: blue glass beads, water, blue food coloring, a spray bottle with lukewarm water and ice cubes in a spherical shape and penguin figures. Fill the large ice box with a little colored water so that it covers the bottom. Arrange the ice cubes on a corner and spread the penguins in the water.
Suitable for: Children from 3 years
Duration: 40 minutes or until the ice cubes melt completely
Effort for parents: Low
Working from home: Game “Where do these animals live” for children from 4 years
The next idea for a fun game is to learn where different animals live. You need a yellow, a blue, a grass green and an emerald green sheet of felt. Fold all the sheets in the middle and arrange them. From the green leaves and tree slices, as well as an artificial boxwood, several stones and green colored sheep's wool becomes a forest. The yellow and blue leaves, the remaining stones and the blue glass beads become a beach. Now you only need different animal figures that the child should arrange accordingly. Then it can re-enact its favorite fairy tale with animals or just think up an RPG yourself.
Suitable for: Children from 3 years
Duration: 40 minutes
Effort for parents: Low
Children deal with corona virus exit restrictions: “Safari” sensor game
With chickpeas, peas, yellow felt, animal figures of African animals like lion, zebra, elephant etc. you can make an imaginative sensor game for children from 4 years. Use plastic trees, wooden rainbow puzzles and small stones to complete the safari look of the decoration in the box. Now it's the little ones' turn and can come up with various fun role-playing games with the animals.
Suitable for: Children from 4 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Effort for parents: Moderately, you need to color the chickpeas green
Work from home and keep the kids busy: Sensor game for 4 year olds
The next suggestion is a lot of fun for toddlers. However, it is important that the children always play under parental supervision, because there are small parts that could be swallowed. You need food colors and chickpeas for this idea. Divide the chickpeas into four and color the first in blue, the second in red, the third in green and the fourth in purple. In the next box you arrange a funnel and a paper towel. The third box has tools for fine motor skills. Ask the kids to fill the canned chickpeas using the tools, funnel, and paper towel roll.
Suitable for: Children from 4 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Effort for parents: Moderate
If you work from home and need to look after children at the same time, you are certainly facing a major challenge. In these cases, a children's table with a removable tabletop and boxes for toys proves to be a real all-rounder. You just need a bit of creativity to come up with age-appropriate games. Browse through our picture gallery, be inspired by the other suggestions and you are guaranteed to come up with further ideas. Never leave your children unattended while playing because there is a risk of them swallowing small particles.
Cut out the number from cardboard, the children should look for them and spread them in numbered muffin cases
Water with food coloring in the right and oobleck in the left box
Build frozen castle with magnet blocks
Pour chocolate sprinkles and mashmallows into biscuit cutters
Put water and lemons or slices of lime in a box
Fill the water pearls into a stacking cup
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