After spending so many months in quarantine, you’re probably running out of ideas to keep your children entertained. Here are five creative ways to keep your kids busy while still staying safe and social distancing.
Have a Picnic
The good news is that quarantining doesn’t require you to stay inside your house at all times. If your kids have cabin fever, plan a family picnic in your backyard. All you need is a canvas tote bag filled with snacks, drinks and a few blankets. If you want to amp up the experience, bring along some fun board games or puzzles to keep your children entertained. Having a picnic is a great way for your kids to get some fresh air and vitamin D, which they’ve probably been lacking as a result of lockdown. As an additional benefit, picnics have been showing to reduce stress, boost mood and allow families to build strong bonds.
Write to a Pen Pal
In today’s digital age, the importance of writing physical letters has largely been forgotten. However, encouraging your kids to write to their friends can keep them entertained and also have numerous benefits for their physical and mental health. Having a pen pal will allow your children a much-needed break from constantly staring at a screen, and it can also improve reading and writing skills, promote patience and support development of social skills. In addition, waiting for a letter back from a pen pal can give your children something to look forward to every day.
Plan a Weekend Movie Night
Planning a movie night every Friday or Saturday can be a great reward for your kids after a long and busy week. If you want to add some excitement to the experience, have everyone in your home pick a few of their favorite family-friendly movies. Then, write each movie on a small slip of paper, place them in a jar and take turns each week picking a name from the jar. This is a good way to take everyone’s opinions into account when choosing a movie for, and it also adds an element of mystery and fun. Make sure to pop some popcorn beforehand to recreate the full movie experience.
Bake Your Favorite Recipes
Baking with your children is a fun experience that can create lasting memories. If you want to keep your kids interested, letting them pick a recipe is more likely to get them excited about baking. If your kids are young, pick out three or four age-appropriate recipes for them to choose from. Older kids can pick out their own recipes from magazines or YouTube videos. It’s important that you’re patient, as your children are likely to make mistakes or create messes. Help your children if they’re struggling, but don’t do all the work for them. Perseverance is the only way they’ll learn and grow.
Encourage Physical Activity
After being cooped up in the house for so long, your kids are definitely in need of some exercise. Taking a brisk walk outside can be a great way to get some fresh air and burn off a little energy. However, if your kids are younger, you can make exercising more exciting by turning your house into an indoor jungle gym. Equipment like exercise balls, parachutes and inflatable sandboxes can go a long way in keeping kids of all ages entertained. Not only is exercising a great way to keep your children busy, but it can also have numerous benefits for their overall well-being. Exercising has been shown to enhance mood, improve concentration, and build stronger bones and muscle. Encourage your children to exercise for about 30 minutes a day in order to reap the full benefits.
Quarantining doesn’t have to be an unpleasant experience if you have the right tools to add some excitement in your children’s lives. Using these five creative ideas can help you keep your children entertained during lockdown.