How to Keep Your Kids Entertained With Dog-Themed Activities and Fun

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Keeping your family entertained without resorting to screen time is challenging for any parent. It is understandable when you run out of ideas and get mum-fatigue. Keeping everyone fed, happy and safe is mentally and physically exhausting. Here’s how to keep the kids busy with dog-themed activities and fun.

How to Keep Your Kids Entertained With Dog-Themed Activities and Fun

Arts and crafts

It’s always worthwhile to have an arts and crafts box handy as it is a fantastic way to keep children busy and entertained when the weather is less than desirable. It’s also a great way to showcase how to reuse and upcycle cardboard, greeting cards, twist ties, and odd bits of fabric. Here are some dog-themed arts and crafts that the whole family might enjoy:

·  Hand and paw print art

·  Dog-themed potato stamps

·  Popsicle stick dog houses

·  Puppy plate puppets

·  Dog tag necklaces

Kids and canines in the kitchen

We know that anything that falls on the floor in the kitchen is considered dog food for our furry family members. However, the kitchen is also a fantastic activity hub for teaching kids about nutrition, mathematics, and home economics. Here are some recipes that we know your kids will enjoy mixing, creating, and shaping, and your dogs will love to eat:

·  Dog bone shaped sugar cookies

·  Peanut butter and bacon dog biscuits

·  Homemade dog treats

Indoor activities and games

Keeping the family busy but away from television, tablets and computers is challenging when the weather is poor. If you are stuck indoors, here are some ideas for dog-themed activities and games to do with your family:

·  Read books with dogs as the main character such as:

• Big Dog…Little Dog by P.D. Eastman
• Go, Dog. Go! By P.D. Eastman
• The Poky Little Puppy by Janette Sebring Lowrey
• Stay: A Girl, a Dog, A Bucket List by Kate Klise
• Mr. Scruff by Simon James
• Dog Man by Dav Pilkey
• Ribsy by Beverly Cleary
• The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford

·  Create a story with your dog as the central character, complete with pictures

·  Build a dog out of Lego bricks

·  Play Obedience School (a dog-themed version of Simon Says)

·  Play counting games with dog biscuits

·  Have a dog-themed family movie night with options including:

• Lady and the Tramp
• 101 Dalmatians
• The Fox and the Hound
• Oliver and Company
• All Dogs Go to Heaven
• Balto
• Bolt
• The Secret Life of Pets
• Snoopy Come Home
• Beethoven
• Homeward Bound
• My Dog Skip
• Eight Below

Outdoor activities and games

Here are some great outdoor ideas for keeping the family busy in welly boot weather or on a sunny summer day.

·  Play hide and seek with your dog in the yard

·  Fetch

·  Blowing bubbles 

·  Turn on the sprinkler and cool off

·  Head out for a walk

·  Pack a picnic (with dog treats) to eat in the garden or the park

·  Organise a playdate for both the kids and their pets

We are confident that you have found one or two easy, exciting and entertaining ideas for family-friendly activities that you can do with your dog in tow. Be sure to bookmark this page for the next time you need some dog-themed activity inspiration.