How are you'll keeping the little ones occupied?
I bought plenty puzzles, colouring books and activity books.

I sent a care package to my neighbour. It consisted of my grandkids washable finger paints , brushes and computer paper. Her youngest daughter always enjoyed painting when my grandkids visit. Guess I'm going have to go shopping to replace.

We got some different kits like paint by number, tie-die, crystal growing...and having them help build a raised garden.

Give a child a game. They have one game to play.
Give a child a deck of cards. They have games to play for the rest of their life.

That's my suggestion. Buy them a pack of playing cards and a rule book for card games. You normally can find decent ones fairly cheap.

I bought a stack of comics off Indiegogo that I'm going to send my sister. She was going to visit last month before the spread of Covid-19 in New Jersey happen. So, her grandkids and great grandkids will have something to do for awhile. Probably going to add more stuff in the box as well.

I must admit I'm very glad to not have young kids anymore right now.

I'd say games, movies, a bit outdoors (we are still allowed outdoors, incl kids provided 3 max). Schoolwork.
Give them some chores to do so it's not just hanging and bleehhh...

Maybe even a good idea to make a routine, like schoolwork in the morning for x amount of time, relaxing & playing etc. etc. so they really have a routine and variation, like they have at school.

You specify "little ones" but prettens and midteen kids also need to keep active.
I imagine 'little ones' means early elementary k-3rd grade?
Most of the time if you give them something it will keep them occupied till something else distracts them.

When the child starts to ask 'why' about everything and their imagination awakes, things to keep them occupied gets a bit more difficult.
Give them something which enlightens them about the world around them.
Give them something that inspires imagination.

Puberty changes their focus.
Give them something to teach them about how their body changes.
Give them things which inspire their self-confidence and empathy for others.

If you are dealing with the "insanity in a box" from your mid-teens,
They need alone time to reflect on their changing emotions and feelings.
They need wisdom from you on how to deal with stress and the relationships with their friends which may be waning because of sheltering restrictions.
Believe it or not, they had a life outside your home and it has changed.
They need their phone and their facetime with their friends.
Give them guidance and allow them to socialize naturally as possible.
Help them thru difficulties with love and wisdom but allow them to experience their own mistakes. Teach them how to not repeat their mistakes.
Listen to them. You have two ears and one mouth, listen twice as much as you talk.

Ideas

Teach food preparation:
Young ones ~ how to make a bowl of cereal, how to pour a glass of milk, which dishes can be put in a microwave, etc...
Pre-teens ~ How to make mac & cheese, how to microwave a PB&J sammich, how to make a family simple dessert, etc...
Mid-teen ~ how to properly use the grill, how to cook a steak, how to prepare a full family dinner, how to make cupcakes, etc...

Stacking and balancing things can occupy young minds.
Get the kids together and build a homemade diorama.
Write a letter to a super-hero.
Sort a junk drawer.
Use a dry-erase marker to draw goofy faces on a mirror.
Have a paper airplane flight distance race.
Have pinecone races (basic relay race).
Make pinecone creatures.
Plant a garden.
Clear some land, make a trail in the woods
Make a fort.
Play alligator getcha.
Ring around the rosie, hide & go seek, dodge-ball, musical chairs
Tell jokes on a makeshift stage.
Make up a silly song.
Say "Beep" before and after you talk.
Build matchbox cars roads in the gravel driveway.
Create an army man battle scene in the yard.
Count how many licks it takes to get to the center of a tootsie pop.
Practice singing your favorite song.
Make up your own words to your favorite song.
Do some tumbling.
Pull a pickle on a string and tell them its the families new pet.
Feed and water the pickle. Take it outside to do its business.

Let your imagination out, encourage them to do so as well (within safety and reason).

Sounds like hypnotism Tom!
If the kid moves, Pickle will bite.

And the kid will have nightmares..

A number of people in my neighborhood are leaving different colored chalk curbside for kids (of all ages) to leave messages,drawings etc.on the sidewalk or in the street. .Easter greetings.reminders to make noise at 7 PM to how appreciation for medical workers,messages of hope or love ,outlines of hands,political stuff ,you get the idea.

Erm, yeah, I don't think its a very good idea to expose kids to terrorism.
I would look into where you got your pickle from because around here, pickles don't bite. They kiss. Its called a pickle pucker.

Use a dry-erase marker to draw goofy faces on a mirror.
I like this idea ... I could get that for my granddaughter ...


are u a commercial now Tom ... cute ...Count how many licks it takes to get to the center of a tootsie pop.

your so right ... my young nephew showed me a magic trick ... really cool ...
so I showed to my granddaughter at her birthday party and she did it for those
that where there ... really easy but he had me at first ...

To expand a bit...

Draw the goofy face using your own reflection then allow the kids to line their faces up with what you drew.
Then have them do the same thing with their faces and you put your face in the spot so it looks like you have their goofy face.
Your distance from the mirror will make glasses, ear rings and a bone in the nose line up.