It isn’t the spring you expected, in light of the coronavirus pandemic, but even so you can still treasure the time and make lots of memories with the family while at home during quarantine.
While school is out and you work from, there are lots of ways to keep everyone happy and entertained. From tag to charades, backyard picnics to cardboard clubhouses, there is plenty of fun to be had! Here are some tips to keep your kids happy, healthy, and occupied during ongoing stay-at-home orders. Let’s go!
Everyone, young and old, loves a scavenger hunt. Why not create one for the kids to enjoy? It’s easy to do, and even better, you can make them last for any length of time. Scavenger hunts can take on any form you like, be performed indoors or outdoors, and have as few or as many clues to find as you want.
You can have an indoor scavenger hunt in which you hide treasure for the kids to find, or an outdoor hunt where kids gather certain numbers of specific objects, like a flower, three rocks or five leaves. You get the idea, now get your clues ready, and in place – and let the fun begin!
Think back to your own childhood and the fun you had creating a makeshift fort or clubhouse from empty cardboard boxes, blankets, and pillows. Inside or out, this amazing, though not so sturdy structure, can make for hours of fun filled with imagination.
As the coronavirus continues to affect everyone across the world, lots of locations are offering virtual tours – from museums to zoos to parks. Why not take some time each day to explore a variety of locations as a family? You could even create your very own family bucket list or have everyone keep a travel journal of what they enjoyed most while “visiting” each location. There is truly something for everyone to enjoy whether your family loves animals, museums, national parks, or outer space! You can start at your local zoo, or any number of zoos across the country, where they are live-streaming animals daily.
National Parks in the United states are featuring digital field trips in which you can visit:
Next, you can head around the world on the Smithsonian’s virtual glider, making stops at the Louvre in Paris, The British Museum in London, the Great Wall of China, or a busy watering hole in Africa. And, if you still want more, head out of this world, and enjoy some time aboard the International Space Station (ISS) or exploring the surface of Mars at NASA.
Think back to when you were a kid, all the fun you had playing games with family and friends. While friends may be off-limits for now, teaching your kids your favorite games from childhood will be lots of fun, and give them some new things to share with friends when the shelter-in-place order is over.
Let’s start with indoor games. Break out the playing cards, checkerboards, and board games. Candy Land, Monopoly, Sorry, and Scrabble are all classic fun that never go out of style. And, don’t forget checkers, which is just plain fun, and chess, which features strategic skills everyone can apply.
If you have an accessible sidewalk or driveway, get the sidewalk chalk or painters tape and enjoy a game or Hopscotch or Four Square. Last, but certainly not least, get out in the yard and have a game of Hide and Seek, Red Light Green Light, Simon Says, or Tag in one of its many variations. You and your kids will love playing together as a family!
Cooking together not only offers the chance to bond, but also the opportunity to learn. In fact, cooking and baking are highly educational! Choose from among your favorite kid-friendly family recipes and enjoy making homemade pizza, your family’s favorite casserole, or yummy cookies, cakes, or brownies. You could even try homemade ice cream! Once the food is ready, why not have a picnic on a blanket in the family room, on the deck, or even in the yard.
Staying connected is more important than ever during social distancing. Try the traditional method of communication by writing letters – yes, on paper, with pens, envelopes, and stamps. Who knows? You and your family may start a new family tradition. Of course, FaceTime is a great way to keep in touch and check in on family and friends until you can see them in person again!
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