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Must-Have Essentials for Surviving a Long Stay at Home

I wanted to create one place with helpful resources for anyone stuck at home. I’ve already shared my favorite free educational websites for kids and free teaching resources, and today I’m collecting ideas to help you have fun at home — whether you’re homeschooling, working from home, or practicing social distancing. Below you’ll find activities, routines, easy dinner recipes, and favorite treats to keep your family entertained and fed. I’ll continue to keep this page updated with practical ideas like recipes, cleaning tips, crafts, and simple kid-friendly projects such as dance parties, painting, and sidewalk chalk art.

Stuck at home ideas for families

FUN ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

These fun at-home kid activities are perfect for keeping little hands and minds busy. From sidewalk stained-glass chalk art to simple team-building projects, here are a few favorites that are easy to set up and fun to do together.

1
SIDEWALK CHALK STAINGLASS 4 (1)

Stained Glass Sidewalk Chalk Art with Kids

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FREE EDUCATIONAL WEBSITES DUE TO PANDEMIC

300+ ULTIMATE LIST Free Educational Websites for kids, parents & teachers!

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A group of kids posing for the camera in front of a dinosaur made of paper towel rolls.

Make a GIANT dinosaur out of toilet paper rolls

4
Person kneading fluffy slime.

Fluffy Slime Recipe (non-sticky slime!)

5
Paper hands with words written on them.

DIY prayer hands for kids

6
A close up of a hands holding red play dough apple craft.

Apple Scented Play Dough

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paint-with-kool-aid

Make paint with Kool-aid! (scented water-color paint)

8
Cupcakes resting on a wire rack with a variety of icings and sprinkles in cups all around them.

Family Cake Wars

9
A boy holding a Glider made from an egg carton with text above him.

DIY egg carton glider (GREAT team building activity!)

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A close up of tie dye sneakers.

DIY Tie Dye Sneakers

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Chalkboard markers on a wooden table.

DIY photo book for kids to draw on

12
A group of kids sitting in homemade cardboard cars watching television on a porch.

DIY cardboard box cars and movie night

13
A mail box made out of a Fruity Pebbles cereal box.

DIY Cereal MailBox

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Text about craft supplies.

DIY Creative Gift for Kids (cheap gift gives hours of crafting!)

CHORES, CLEANING & ROUTINES FOR FAMILIES

When you’re home for an extended period, a plan makes household tasks manageable. Below are age-appropriate chores, practical cleaning lists, and routine ideas to help keep your home running smoothly.

1
age appropriate chores for kids

Age Appropriate Chores for Young Children through Teenagers

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chores without nagging

Teaching kids to do chores WITHOUT nagging them

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A young boy lying on a red wagon looking up to the sky.

Should kids have more chores?

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no whining or crying

How to teach your kids to do chores without whining and crying

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first chores for kids

First Chores for kids – where to begin

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Swap screentime for chores cards

Chore Chart

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A little girl doing dishes at the kitchen sink with text above her.

Chore Chart – The best I’ve ever used!

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kitchen surfaces

Cleaning the kitchen surfaces

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A screenshot of text.

Daily Cleaning List to clean every room {Free Printable}

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Clip board holding a checklist with text above it.

Spring Cleaning Checklist (free printable)

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cleaning schedule

Daily, Weekly, Monthly Cleaning Schedule

EASY DINNER RECIPES

These easy recipes are family-friendly and quick to prepare—perfect for weeknight dinners or when you want something comforting and straightforward.

1
A bowl of chicken pot pie soup in a white bowl.

Simple Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Pie Soup

2
A tortilla lying on a table with radishes and lemon beside it.

Lime Chicken Tacos

3
A plate of mini Chicken Pot Pie muffins on a white plate.

Mini Chicken Pot Pie

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ALFREDO CHICKEN BROCCOLI

Alfredo Chicken Broccoli

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A bowl of food with cream cheese on the top.

Crock Pot Fiesta Chicken (Slow Cooker Chicken with salsa)

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A close up a sandwich on a bun.

Slow Cooker Coke Chicken

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A plate of food, with Chicken potatoes and green beans.

Sheet Pan Garlic Chicken Recipe

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A close up of Macaroni and Cheese in a small white bowl.

Quick and Easy Macaroni and Cheese Recipe for One

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Slow cooker tuscan beef stew

Slow Cooker Tuscan Beef Stew

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https://www.yourmodernfamily.com/french-dip-sandwiches-crock-pot/

French Dip Sandwiches Crock Pot – low calorie

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A close up of a plate of food with Taco Pizza.

Mini Taco Pizza Recipe

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A plate of pepperoni pizza twists and a cup of red sauce.

Homemade Pepperoni Pizza Twists

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A plate filled with Taco and Cheese cups for a football party.

Taco Casserole Cups

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A plate of Tacos with a can of diced tomatoes beside it.

Steak Tacos with Pico de Gallo

OUR FAVORITE TREATS!

Baking is a great way to spend time at home. Here are our favorite cookie, muffin, and dessert recipes that are easy to make and delicious to share.

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3 ingredient funfetti cookies

3 Ingredient Cookies – Funfetti Cookies

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Bunny Sprinkle COOKIES

Bunny Sprinkle Cookies

3
diy valentine fortune cookies

Homemade Fortune Cookies

4
bunny bottom easter cookies

Easter Bunny Bottom Cookies

5
taking cookies - healthier choc chip cookies

Healthier Chocolate Chip Cookies

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green eggs & ham cookies

Green Eggs & Ham Gluten Free Cookies

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Oreo Spiders

Oreo Spider Cookies

8
A decorated jar of Chocolate Peppermint Cookie Mix.

Chocolate Peppermint Cookie Mix (GIFT IN A JAR)

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A bowl of dessert in a bowl with Cake and Chocolate syrup.

One Minute Chocolate Chip Mug Cake

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pin for easter white chocolate bark

Easter White Chocolate Bark

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A close up of Banana Chocolate Chip muffins still in a muffin tin with a bottle of white milk beside them.

Whole wheat Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins (or loaf)

12
Homemade chocolate chip cookies on a wooden table.

Grandma’s SOFTEST Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

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Valentines Pretzel Buttons with Hershey Kisses an

Valentine Pretzel Buttons

These Valentine Pretzel Buttons are a perfect salty-and-sweet snack. Only three ingredients and ready in minutes.

14
A blue and white polka dotted cup holding a banana muffin.

High Protein Crazy Banana Muffins

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Organic Apple Muffins

Organic Apple Muffins Recipe

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banana bread

Banana Bread Recipe

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A baked scoop of Dump Cake on a white plate with blueberries around it.

Dump Cake Recipe

18
A piece of pudding jello cake on a plate with text below it.

Pudding Pop Cake (AKA: Pudding Jello Cake)

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cinnamon roll skillet cake

Cinnamon Roll Skillet Cake (Gluten Free)