Entertaining kids now

My bright 7 year old GDs love colouring in and drawing. Making up stories, jig saws, etc. Amazon have loads = they don't mind doing the same jigsaws again. Make some cards to keep for birthdays, etc. Craft is ok for a while - puppets from socks lavender bags - lavender in a largish circle of fabric sealed in with an elastic band and a piece of ribbon tied around. Try some old fashioned "French knitting. Nails in a wooden cotton reel different coloured wool woven to make a long strand - makes a coaster. fold paper to open up and put horoscopes inside. Have fun

I-SPy books are a good shout, my friend who just turned 60 is out and about with her wildflowers one and has just earnt her first certificate

I wish I were enbubbled with my grandkids - they are in London and Edam and I haven't seen them since Xmas. Watching the newest baby grow up via photos is hard. Anyway, a friend of mine has created a website packed with fab and simple ideas for art and crafts activities that she has tested out with her own children: colourfulminds.co.uk/

And if you want to try playing a game WITH her @watermeadow I made one about my grandchildren running away from my kisses - it is very easy to play on a laptop, is about being co-operative and making dens to hide from unwanted kisses. When I say easy, I made it so grandparents can play even if they haven't played a game before. There is a free download of level 1 for pc or mac here: wonzie-world.itch.io/kissy-kissy

I love your word enbubbled, btw! I’m going to use that.

Getting in the fresh air as much as possible. The old I Spy books are good for ideas on what to do while you’re out and about. Crafting, Lego, treasure and scavenger hunts (there are lots online), baking, playing shops, writing stories, puzzle books and endless reading when you’re stuck in. You do need to tackle the schoolwork though. My DGS’s schools seem to have managed to make a lot of it fun and interesting, with online projects and challenges that keep them interested.

Having a cosy home cinema afternoon together when all else fails, with popcorn or ice cream.

You should negotiate time on her computer. Make time on her iPad a reward and part of the routine. Turn off the Wi-Fi .

Read her something she enjoys and let her read every other page or even an odd paragraph.

She must keep up with her school work. Sing the times tables; ideas on google.of
Work first then play in small doses to start. Lots of praise and some stickers should help. She needs to learn to value her schooling and be proud of her successes. Her childhood is a fleeting thing.

Nature walks, any plants you don’t recognise she can use the iPad to look it up. There are lots of apps for young children with educational work on them.
At 8 she should really be doing some schooling and you could use the time to help her catch up as you will be her personal tutor.
Cooking is good for Maths, writing recipes down, good for her English, try to make her games a bit more educational, it’s a great opportunity for you both.

If it were me i think i would have some time doing some kind of school work.

Then get her to follow one of the exercise routines that are available at the moment, you could do it with her if you able to.

Then a walk taking a little picnic if weather suitable, is there a local park where she could ride a bike or scooter if she has one. Take a skipping rope or ball for her, once home she could then play on her Ipad while you have a rest.

Cooking, painting or drawing, teaching her to crochet or knit if you know how, are all things children enjoy too.

It wasn’t with me, they did it at home, but Gdcs made pictures with various different leaves they’d collected from their garden, sticking them on paper.

Anything craft goes down well with ours, particularly with Gdd 5, but Gds nearly 4 enjoys them too. I’ve found very cheap supplies in pound shops - gel pens, glitter pens, glitter- glue pens, multicoloured pipe cleaners, paint sticks (as opposed to paintbox and brush), paper shapes, all sorts.
Last Christmas one present I gave them was a big box (covered with Chr. paper) - full of such things, and a good supply of paper.

Making fairy cakes always goes down well with my Gdcs. To make it easier I melt the butter and add a little baking powder - no need for creaming, just mixing up. They always turn out fine. They particularly enjoy putting the paper cake cases into the tins! I have to let them do half each.

Be outdoors as much as you can. On a nice day plan where to go and get her involved in preparing a picnic, add in a little task of drawing the picnic items and writing a description, Copying your words if necessary.
Outdoors play with a ball a frisbee etc take a bike ? Scooter ?
Do some kind of task eg find different kinds of leaf etc. I’m sure many grans will come up with brilliant ideas.