The Best Ways to Entertain Kids When You're Exhausted

My body battery’s at 6%, but there are five hours left in the day. The kids are full of energy, and I am running on fumes.

Here's my survival guide for those days when you're just plain exhausted:

• 1. Get Outside by Water or Trees.

  Forests and beaches with pounding surf (also waterfalls and even water fountains) contain negative ions, which are believed to produce biochemical reactions that increase our levels of serotonin. My kids are entertained by nature and I get a mood boost. Win/win.

  2. Make Art.

  I keep a Pinterest board of art and science projects (some of my favorite places for inspo are Sibia Torres Padilla, Cassandra Evans,Tara Rondinelli and Emily Calandrelli) that I can easily call on when I’m exhausted and/or my kids are dysregulated (they go hand in hand am I right?!). This week, they turned a box into a fort and I didn’t stop them when they glued their Native Shoes shoes to the roof (I figured I could wash it off when I had more energy…choose your battles? 🤷🏼‍♀️)

  3. Read Books!

  This is my absolute go-to. "Who wants to read ten books?" has never resulted in anything other than "MEEEE!!!" I get to lie horizontally on the couch or my bed while an hour passes with no tantrums or bickering. Hello?! 🏆

This is the ultimate low-energy, high-reward activity. It’s a chance for connection and quiet time all at once.

What buys you sanity while the time passes? And don’t say the sleeping game—my kids are already onto me with that! 😆

Hey There!

Looking for something fun to do? Browse our 🖍️ Activity Guide here for a treasure trove of hands-on activities that make learning and playing a total blast! And don't forget to ✨ follow us here on Instagram for fresh, fun ideas that keep the adventure going—even after the project is complete!