What has kept your kids entertained at home

[Elephanttrunk]

I have 5&7 year old boys who are increasingly becoming bored during our time at home. So I’m looking for some ideas - what has kept your children entertained over these past few months which hasn’t involved you being a constant supervisor? My five year old particularly needs something to occupy him whilst I’m working (the 7 year old happily watches tv/plays switch).

Playing in the garden (once they settle on a game). We have some sports cones and water pistols.
They had lots of fun washing their scooters/bikes and the playhouse
Swing ball
Drawing along on you tube. Rob biddulph is very good
Guess who
Lego
Cooking /baking but that needs supervision
It depends on their moods and the daym some days it seems endless fights and grumpiness so I'm afraid I dont have any magic solutions but also place marling incase someone else does!

Some great ideas there thank you. Our swingball broke recently so thinking of replacing it as I need something to burn some energy in a small garden. Water pistols has given me an idea to get some targets as they have some nerf guns which would hopefully keep them occupied for a little while

As above, water pistols & Lego & swingball.

We also have one of those water slides that is just a long bit of plastic tarpaulin pegged to the grass and you plug a hose into it. Bought it from Lidl for about £15. Money well spent.

Lots and lots of small vehicles and sandpit and piles of gravel.

Space hoppers/ tractors you can sit on.

And they like treasure hunts. I hide something, doesn't matter much what, and they look for it. Or they hide things for each other.

We also got a big piece of card and they made a track with paints and then played with cars but you could also cut pieces our for throwing things through.

Firstly, Tele, unfortunately. Just got into the habit of Tele now as well
Secondly mud kitchen is by far the most successful toy

Honestly, playing minecraft and watching youtube videos of people playing minecraft (they are 5 and 9 and would do that all day if I let them).
Other things that have been successful: playing hide and seek, play doh, arts and crafts I ordered in the Hobbycraft sale last week (very quick delivery), Sylvanian families killed some time this morning and you might have some similar small world character play sets, building shelters for small toy in the garden out of natural materials and wool then using a watering can to see if they were monsoon proof (the idea came from DC2's Rainbows leader who is providing activities and inspiration even through the summer holiday), I haven't tried it yet but
www.kcedventures.com/blog/indoor-scavenger-hunt-for-kids?fbclid=IwAR0zt63FgwSGSllUyclrIIF-NZOln-nH4udJaAvylEPUpAEI4A9e1vVSG2E
looked like a good way for me to get some peace while they went off and looked for things and counted them.

They also very much enjoy baking and walking through the park for an extortionately priced ice cream from the ice cream van, but you asked for ideas that didn't need so much input from you.

Sticks and string. I'm not joking. They've made broomsticks to pretend to be at Hogwarts/Cackles Academy, 'rafts', dens, obstacle courses, pretend campfires...

Honestly? Netflix, X box and Disney plus

Game changer for us is the Harry Potter audio books. The kids want to listen to them so go to their room and lie on their beds and listen or play with toys (normally Lego) whilst listening. It buys me a chunk of peace!

Thanks for the ideas, the 7 year old loves screens and would be on them all day but the 5 year old needs more. I like the audiobook idea