17 Free or Cheap Things to Do With Your Kids During the COVID-19 Pandemic

We’ve got lots of kid-friendly activities to do at home that will keep your family safe and your finances sound.

Father and daughter wearing robot costumes at home
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Thanks to the global pandemic and the delta variant that’s extending it, parents have been spending what may seem like an eternity with their kids. Even as schools reopen, disruptions from COVID-19 outbreaks continue to send children home. Consequently, that go-to list of activities that’s been in heavy rotation for more than a year is probably not so much fun anymore for your children.

We’ve looked far and wide to find kid-friendly things you can do while staying safe and at home. All of the items listed are either free or low cost, so they won’t put a serious dent in Mom’s or Dad’s bank account. The activities range from a virtual video game coding course to participating in a family fitness session via YouTube. Take a look.

Senior Retirement Editor, Kiplinger.com

Elaine Silvestrini has had an extensive career as a newspaper and online journalist, primarily covering legal issues at the Tampa Tribune and the Asbury Park Press in New Jersey. In more recent years, she's written for several marketing, legal and financial websites, including Annuity.org and LegalExaminer.com, and the newsletters Auto Insurance Report and Property Insurance Report.