Inside this post, I’ll share exactly how to grab a few things around the house to get your kids to play together without fighting.Need some fun play ideas??You’ve got it, friend. Let’s dive in! Show
Spoiler alert: my kids don’t always get along.Here’s how “the fighting” typically goes down…
Not to solve the problem.But to suggest a few ways to be constructive together instead of killing each other. I figure that it’s the least that I can do. I am their Mom after all. And, I like avoiding the ER. I’ve seen boredom jars and a few other ways to get kids engaged, but I’ve found our list of 10 easy suggestions to get kids playing together has been the most successful solution for our family. The “Witching Hour”Let’s get real. This isn’t just about our kids fighting, but it’s about them hitting a WALL. I’ve always called it “witching hour.” When my kids are battling it out on the couch and all I can hear is, “he said this”, “she said that!,” I normally know what time it is: 4:00pm. It’s literally like clockwork.The kids have been home just long enough from school that they are restless, but it’s the time of day when I need to get dinner prepped, to finish up morning chores, or to put wine glasses in the dishwasher for later that night. Yep. It’s witching hour.Trust me. It can be a challenge to get siblings to play together at any time of day, but this time of day seems to be even harder. So, please know that you aren’t alone. Give your kids the option of doing one of these 10+ ideas to encourage your kids to play togetherOR they have the option to do a “play bath” AWAY from one another. I’ll get to that at the end of the post. But, let’s start with the list…This post contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you – see our disclosure policy. 10 Ways to Encourage Sibling Play1. BubblesPut out a few bubble wands (especially great for families with babies and toddlers). If I plan on leaving my kids for a few minutes, I try to get them started by saying things like:
I also love turning this on for my kids (it’s magical) or using these bubbles that don’t spill for my younger kids. 2. Cushions and PillowsThis one might not work for you, but my kids play with this for hours. Gather pillows from different rooms and take cushions off of the couch. Let kids build, crawl, and play with the pillows.
This is my kid’s favorite thing to do, but your kids will start taking cushions off of your couch daily after this. Just a warning. 3. Empty Re-usable Bags & PursesHave you ever seen Grandma’s open their bags and let kids take things out and put them back in? They’re on to something! Younger kids especially love this game. Get out your purses from the closet, backpacks, wallets, and re-usable bags alongside some favorite soft toys or play food. Let them load and unload the bags
This was a go-to game for us when my kids were under 4 years old. It’s great for big siblings to play with littles too. Tip: Add a treat in one of the bags for kids to find (my kids love finding these but if they’re really lucky they get this). 4. Fabric & ScarvesWho doesn’t love fort building? If you don’t want to take cushions off of the couch, let kids go crazy with a few sheets, rubber bands, and chairs to build a fort. My kids love adding a few books and blankets to make a cozy reading space. 5. GamesGet your kids playing with simple games:
6. MagnetsGather anything large and metallic in the house alongside a magnetic wand or other magnets (Look on your fridge, you might have some options that you didn’t think of!).
PS. We made a magnetic wall in our house with this and our kids LOVE it! 7. Musical & DanceDrums, rattles, shakers, bells, keyboard or anything else in the house. We use Alexa to play music (all you have to say is “Alexa, play music”) and my kids love to dance. PS. Check out our post about making instruments glow in the dark! 8. BalloonsBlow up a few balloons and let kids hit them around the room. It’s so simple, but you’d be amazed with how long kids will play with balloons! 9. TunnelsWe love our tunnel, but you can open up old cardboard boxes to create tunnels and pathways too. My kids love putting the tunnel around each other, pushing the tunnel down to the ground, and letting it POP up towards the ceiling. It’s too much fun to watch! 10. WaterNothing brings children together like water play. This is safest for the young children, too. Fill a small tub with water, a few cups, and some plastic toys. OR, you can put your kids in the bath and let them play. It contains the water, keeps them happy, and gets bath done early. That’s a win/win! Choose one of these ideas below and add them to your child’s bathtub:
Keep this list handy for when witching hour hits your house. And, remember, you’re not alone! Getting our kids to play together peacefully isn’t always possible, but these ideas are a FABULOUS place to start when you need to change the vibe in your house. You’ve got this, friend! Need more? Check out More Ways to Connect as a FamilyWhat sisters can do together?Sister Sleepovers. If your girls are still little, give them one day a month to have a sister sleepover. ... . Pamper Each Other. ... . Binge Watch a Netflix Series Together. ... . Start Your Own Book Club. ... . Dance Until You Can't Breathe. ... . Take Your Sister on a Date. ... . Go School Clothes Shopping Together. ... . Embark on a Project Together.. How can I have fun with my siblings?20 Things To Do With A Sibling. Play hide and seek. Image: Unsplash. ... . Play a board game. Board games are a tried and true way of allowing kids to practice their interpersonal skills and while keeping themselves entertained. ... . Use socks as puppets for a puppet show. Got some extra socks? ... . Pretend to set up a store.. How can I spend time with my little sister?Add some excitement to your hang-out time by going somewhere fun. However, make sure you have your parents' permission to leave the house with your little sister.. Reading books.. Playing video games.. Drawing.. Playing on your phone.. What should I play with my sister?Noisy games – clapping to a song together, playing tag, making funny noises at each other, hide and seek with toys. Quiet games – hand shadows on the wall, drawing pictures together on paper or on an iPad, blowing bubbles, lying on the grass watching clouds move.
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