An unexpected week of class suspension got parents thinking—how to keep kids busy at home without resorting to screen time? No need to overthink. More often than not, all it takes is to look around and make the most of what we already have. From simple games like hide-and-seek and motor skill exercises to creative art projects, there are plenty of ways to keep kids happily preoccupied—no gadgets required.

Moms Georgia P. Remulla and Meghann Hernandez share how their children’s crafts and playtime not only keep them busy but spark joy, laughter, and a bit of colorful chaos—proving that sometimes, a little rain is all it takes to turn boredom into cherished family bonding memories.

On rainy days, when we feel we’ve overdone screen time and ditch the gadgets, it usually turns into controlled chaos at home. My kids get bored like any other, so we have to get creative fast. Right now, they’re in a full-on Godzilla phase. We have a toy Godzilla hat and spend half the day stomping around the house, chasing each other like a mini monster movie. On quieter days, we hide under tables and wait to be found, which usually ends in a lot of giggling—and someone bumping their head (not too hard!).

Some days, we cut up fruits with kid friendly-knives, build a fort in their playroom, and collect coins together so I can teach them the value of saving early. Lately, I’ve been pulling them into arts and crafts. We have mountains of crayons and coloring books, though every page still ends up with some version of Godzilla. The best part? They’ve started writing their names in between the chaos. No screens, just imagination, noise, and a house that looks like a craft and toy store exploded.—Georgia P Remulla, Heavens Portfolio's general manager, mom to two boys, 3 and 1

Being cooped up at home on rainy days is a great opportunity for my children and me to bond over arts and crafts. Our drawers are always brimming with craft supplies such as buttons, pens, colors, papers, beads, leftover fabrics, and ribbons, among others.

On one rainy day last month, my eldest spent most of the day creating a whole collection of coasters, which she eventually sold online. My youngest, on the other hand, crafted miniature character plushies out of fabric scraps and proudly gave them to classmates when they returned to school.

My kids love crafting as much as I do, and seeing them channel their creativity and work with colorful materials reminds me so much of my own childhood.—Meghann Hernandez, The Westin Manila's assistant director of marketing communications, mom to two daughters, 18 and 7

One of the best things we’ve done lately—especially for rainy days stuck at home—was to transform our daughter Mattie’s room into a Montessori-inspired play-and-learn space. Everything’s laid out on reachable shelves: a dollhouse with all its accessories, a kitchen setup, arts and crafts, activity sheets, puzzles, and painting tools. The rule is simple: She picks what she wants, plays, finishes, packs away—then she can move on to the next. We rotate the toys and materials weekly to keep things exciting. It’s been a game-changer. Mattie gets to explore and be creative independently (without relying on screens), and I get to work from home while she’s meaningfully engaged. Just like in school, she is learning to make decisions, stay focused, and clean up after herself. Plus, I don’t hear “I’m bored!” every so often anymore.—Nicole Morales, The Beauty Edit founder, mom to one daughter, 5