Outline:
Understanding Quiet Time Activities
When my eldest dropped his last nap of the day, I slightly went into a panic. His naptime was my time to get chores done or have a little quiet time to myself—to catch up on the latest book I’m reading or watch a new TV show (that isn’t Ms. Rachel or Sesame Street). So, when my son decided he was no longer a naptime kid, I decided it was the perfect time to start implementing quiet time activities.
But getting some time to myself wasn’t the only reason why I started encouraging a quiet hour. One of my favorite things to do as a kid was to sit in my room by myself, making crafts, journaling, reading, or using my imagination to play. When I felt boredom, it was an opportunity to get creative, sit in my own thoughts, and embrace the silence. As a mom, witnessing my kids use their time completely screen-free is so refreshing as they grow up in the digital age whether they’re playing with their Magna-Tiles or drawing pictures.
And according to experts, quiet time activities promote creativity, independence, and so much more. Whether you’re in need of quiet activities while you’re stuck indoors on a rainy day or want to implement a quiet hour for your kids, too, you’ve come to the right place. I’m sharing what quiet time activities are, how to promote them, and their benefits. Plus, I’m sharing the best quiet time activities for every age.
Benefits of Quiet Time
Besides getting a little me-time in, there are so many added benefits of quiet time for kids. Experts share that having quiet time improves learning, increases independence, encourages reflection, enhances creativity, and promotes mindfulness. So, the next time your kid comes to you with the statement, “Mom, I’m bored,” it may just be the perfect opportunity to talk about having a little bit of quiet time.
How to Promote Quiet Time Activities for Kids
There isn’t a right or wrong way to have quiet time, but if you’re looking for ideas on how to promote it in your own home, I’m sharing a few ways to get you started.
Make a Quiet Time Basket
Depending on their age, having options for them to choose from can be helpful. A great way is to have a designated basket of quiet time activities—or an “analog bag” filled with screen-free, independent activities. For toddlers, this can look like filling up a basket with felt books, playdough, and blocks. For older kids, it may include books, playing cards, or art supplies. Rotate the contents of what’s in the basket every week or whatever is suitable for you and your family. It’s also a chance to introduce them to new hobbies, like scrapbooking or photography.
Create a Quiet Time Area
Create a cozy corner, like a reading nook filled with books and a pallet of blankets and pillows. Having a specific area for quiet time activities can be an inviting way to encourage independent play, especially for toddlers and preschoolers. Hang up their drawings or display their LEGO inventions that they made in this space to remind them how fun it is to have some time to themselves.
Make a Quiet Time Menu
A fun way to choose activities is to make a quiet time menu. For toddlers or kids who can’t read yet, make a menu filled with pictures of activities to choose from. For older kids, divide activities into categories or create a list based on their hobbies or interests.
Set a Timer
While my kids can play independently at any time of the day, I like to set a specific hour that ensures they get their solo time. Personally, I set a timer on my phone, but it can also look like setting a clock in their space or having a night light change a certain color to indicate when their quiet time is over. And you don’t have to limit it to one hour either. Sometimes when my phone goes off, my kids continue playing, going well over 60 minutes.
Quiet Time Activities for Toddlers
When it comes to picking quiet time activities for toddlers, lean into developmentally appropriate toys that promote fine motor skills and their physical and brain development.
- Wooden peg and Montessori puzzles
- Work through a sticker book
- Play with felt boards
- Play with toys, dolls, or action figures
- Play with a sensory bin
- Play with a busy board
- Flip through a quiet book
- Color a picture with dot markers
- Play with playdough
- Build with blocks or LEGO DUPLO bricks
- Practice color sorting with pom-poms
- Color in a Water Wow Book
- Play with cars on a DIY box road
- Listen to audio stories on the Toniebox
- Practice lacing through a weaving board
- Play in a sandbox
Quiet Time Activities for Preschoolers and Young Kids
For kids ages 4 and up, ask them what they would like to do as their quiet time activity. If they’re just now learning how to read, provide a new set of books to choose from, or visit the library beforehand. Having a few options for things to do is key!
- Build with Magna-Tiles or PicassoTiles
- Put a puzzle together
- Paint a picture
- Color in a coloring book
- Draw in a sketchbook
- Listen to audio stories on a Toniebox or Yoto player
- Read a kids’ chapter book
- Make jewelry
- Build a fort
- Play with puppets
- Play “school” with stuffed animals or dolls
- Build a house with cardboard boxes
- Draw with chalk
- Make a picture book
- Make something out of clay
- Write a handwritten note to a friend, teacher, or family member
Quiet Time Activities for Tweens and Teens
Tweens and teens can benefit from quiet, screen-free activities, too. Plus, “going analog” and trying new hobbies are what the “cool kids” are doing right now.
- Write in a journal
- Make a scrapbook
- Read a book
- Listen to an audiobook
- Create something new with a ChompSaw
- Practice photography
- Paint or sketch a picture
- Take up sewing
- Try knitting or crocheting
- Cook a meal
- Bake a sweet treat
- Write a play
- Flower press spring flowers
- Needlepoint
- Play sudoku
- Do a crossword puzzle
- Play solitaire with actual cards
- Write a song
- Write a letter
- Build a new invention
- Make a collage
