Quiet activities?

**AnyDream** · July 7th, 2014, 08:09 PM

Hi, I'm looking for some ideas for activities that are good for quiet, sitting still times for school aged kids, eg in the evenings. Often they're tired but still want something to do. I'm after suggestions that will be soothing rather than stimulating, so I'm thinking things with a sensory, repetitive or even spatial aspect, but nothing "hard" or complicated. Suggestions?

So far I've thought of:
Detailed colouring/mandalas
Tangram puzzles
Finger knitting/entry level crochet
knitting nancy
Pompom making

Anything else? What do your kids do in the evening?

**Trillian** · July 7th, 2014, 08:18 PM

The younger 3 here have really gotten into playing cards these holidays. It's not always quiet

but they enjoy it. Have taught them patience/solitaire, poker and 21 because they were looking to play something more than just Uno, snap and go fish.

**Mum2SweetCs** · July 7th, 2014, 08:20 PM

Dd (6) loves playing dominos and jenga

But also not so quiet.

I also got her a special diary which she spends alot of time writing in.

Others i can think of:
Card making
Scrapbooking
Loom bands

**nothing2lose** · July 7th, 2014, 09:16 PM

My DD draws, plays Minecraft, writes short stories, writes out song lyrics, reads...

**black_rose** · July 8th, 2014, 02:20 AM

Loom banding just calms my kids right down. Also a bath then storytime, dd1 can read to the younger two now. Also brushing each other's hair and tying shoe laces have been their focus lately too. Dd1 is starting to write a letter or in a journal about her day too.

**Frangipani Lou** · July 8th, 2014, 02:34 AM

Not so quiet but popping bubble wrap is calming!

**Floweryfields** · July 8th, 2014, 11:59 AM

Jigsaw puzzles?

**wysiwyg** · July 8th, 2014, 12:40 PM

Hama beads, and I like doing too.

**meow** · July 8th, 2014, 06:55 PM

I used to love spirograph as a kid- hours of absorbing entertainment.

**AnyDream** · July 27th, 2014, 04:59 AM

Thanks everyone, some great suggestions here.

**MamaPan** · August 3rd, 2014, 02:27 AM

love hama beads
also where's wally is a hit
non fiction reading also - almanac or guiness records current hits

**Snacks** · August 7th, 2014, 04:02 PM

I second puzzles: as well as jigsaws, how about written ones? Like word searches, crossword, mazes or sudoku. Nat really enjoys creating word search puzzles.
Chalk or mini whiteboard drawing.
I recently re-discovered fuzzy felt! I remember playing with it as a kid & I think it's geared towards younger kids but older kids can create their own felt figures for the scene. Felt isn't expensive either.