By Sarah Landrum

Your nieces and nephews are coming for a visit? Great! But wait — how will you keep them busy? You don’t want to rely totally on electronic devices, but you’re worried about boring the kids with lame activities.

Fear not! The trick is choosing things to do based on ages and interests — and don’t be afraid to introduce something new to keep them engaged. These 16 activities are fun for kids. They’re also not much work for you because the materials are easy to find and keep on hand.

Be Crafty

Not all art projects have to be goal-oriented. Kids can have fun and explore processes without worrying about what they’re going to end up with. Give them supplies such as markers, crayons, different types of paper, recyclables, glue and tape. Then let them go to town. Here are some ideas:

1. Painting is messy. Be the fun aunt and let kids express themselves artistically in the kitchen, where cleanup is easier. Pick paints that fit kids’ developmental ages and interests: finger paints, watercolors, tempera, oils, acrylics, etc.

Don’t limit yourselves to painting with brushes, either. Try yarn, straws, sponges or objects from nature as well. You can even put up big paper or an old white sheet on the side of the house and let them paint a mural “on” your home.

2. Plant flower, fruit or vegetable seeds in pots. While they’re with you, the kids will stay busy by playing in the dirt. What could be better? Then, when they go home, they have something to care for and watch grow.
 
3. Use markers to decorate sock puppets. When they’re done, stage a puppet play. Scrunch down behind the couch or kitchen table to make a “stage.”

4. Paper airplanes keep kids busy for a long time. Folding patterns range from simple to intricate. Decorate them, then fly them indoors or out — seeing which style travels farthest.

Get Your Game On

Kids really like games, but they don’t always have someone to play with. Be a hero and jump in with both feet:

1. There’s nothing wrong with a little screen time, especially if the weather is bad, if you don’t have a lot of room for entertaining or if you don’t have time to prepare. Investigate apps that are cooperative games so you can play together. You can also check out YouTube videos. Kids not only find these fun — they also enjoy learning from them. In fact, 45% of boys and 32% of girls say they use online games “all the time” outside of school. You’re scoring points with both kids and parents.

2. Pick up one or two board games at the store, ask the kids to bring their favorites or pull out ones you haven’t been able to part with. Life? Monopoly? Checkers? Operation? If the weather is nice, shake things up by playing outside in the fresh air. There is a wide variety of fun games include Labyrinth, Forbidden Island, Dominion, Blockus and Zingo.

3. Teach kids card games with a traditional deck of cards, such as Go Fish, Old Maid, Slapjack or Rummy. Can’t remember the rules? Check online.

4. Outdoor games encourage kids to be active while burning off excess energy. Try hide and seek, jumping rope, tag, or monkey in the middle.

Move It, Move It

If the visit is lengthy, get kids moving indoors or out. You don’t need many supplies for these activities:

1. Buy sidewalk chalk and let the kids go crazy along the walk or in the driveway. Pictures, designs, words of wisdom, hopscotch squares — whatever suits their fancy.

2. Neighborhood walks are appropriate year-round. If you don’t know the names of common trees, birds, plants and insects in your area, get an age-appropriate book and work together to identify interesting organisms.
 
3. Bubbles are fun anytime. Try something new and make your own wands from household items. If it’s below freezing, you can still go outside to blow bubbles. They don’t float away, though. They freeze and shatter when touched! If the weather is bad, blow bubbles indoors. What harm is a little soap going to do? The bathroom and kitchen are easy-to-clean up areas.
 
4.Play volleyball. You don’t need a full set-up —just blow up a balloon and hit it back and forth.

Take It Down a Notch

Don’t try to keep going top-speed the entire day. Build in some restful interludes such as the following to let the kids — and you — recharge.

1. Find out what kinds of books the kids like. What are their favorite authors or genres? Buy one they haven’t read. Then take turns reading pages or chapters out loud.
 
2. You don’t want to overdo screen time, but to calm things down or rest a bit, watch a movie together. Share one you really liked when you were their age. Talk about it. Don’t be afraid to hit “Pause” to discuss something. It makes sitting in front of a screen interactive and bonding.

3. Make ice cream sundaes. Provide an extensive assortment of toppings: fruit, sauces, crushed cookies or crackers, candies. Create ice cream works of art, and then savor them.
 
4. Jigsaw puzzles are relaxing and fun to do together. Find one that’s slightly challenging, which is fun, but not frustrating, which leads to boredom. 

Whether it’s a long-awaited visit or a spur-of-the-minute "Auntie in Charge" duty while the parents are out, keeping materials on-hand helps you feel more confident and prepared when nieces and nephews visit. When you’re calm and relaxed, they’re more likely to be, too. Then everyone has more fun.

Sarah Landrum is an aunt of two, a freelance blogger and the founder of Punched Clocks, a blog to help you balance your life and career and find happiness along the way. Follow Sarah on social media for more great tips. You can tweet her @SarahLandrum
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Photo: conrado
Published: July 13, 2016