While the state-wide stay-at-home order has been lifted and today marks the first day in Phase Two, many families are still fearful to venture out or do group activities. Coming up with entertaining, affordable activities for your family is no longer an easy task. If you are looking for some creative fun to replace your routine movie nights, look no further! We have compiled a list of ideas to keep your kids occupied and having fun that will put a smile on your face!
Picnic at the Park
Though most playground areas are closed to prevent the spread of the virus, many parks are still open. You could always call around your area and see which parks are still open. Prepare some snacks or light lunches and take the kids to play with a soccer ball or water balloons. Now is the time to enjoy nature and the outdoors with your kids. You could use this time to teach your kids a valuable lesson: there is more to life than video games and TV!
Arts & Crafts
A fun, creative way to pass the time is making arts and crafts. Use sites like Pinterest to look for cute crafts. Have your kids join you in finding one they would like to do. Gather all of the materials and have an arts and crafts night with snacks and music.
Check out these great craft ideas:
- https://www.crafts-for-all-seasons.com/lizard-lanyard.html
- https://www.dltk-holidays.com/spring/mmayday-basket.htm
- https://crayonsandcravings.com/paper-fortune-cookies/
Bring Out the Board Games
Remember all those board games shoved into the hallway closet and long forgotten? Now is the time for a family game night! Let the kids pick one and have a turn playing each game for the night. If you don’t have any board games, create your own! Use a ball and an empty bucket to create an indoor basketball game.
Look into these creative DIY games:
- https://frugalfun4boys.com/laundry-basket-skee-ball-with-ball-pit-balls/
- https://vanessasvalues.blogspot.com/2012/02/february-fun-paddle-balloon.html
Gardening
Gardening is not only a great skill to learn, but also a fun, productive activity that the whole family could enjoy. Show your children how to pull weeds, or water plants. Buy some seeds and soil and create a small herb garden. This experience will create memories for them that will last a lifetime. It will also be a rewarding experience for kids as they see their hard work turn into something yummy!
Here are some tips & tricks for kid-friendly gardening:
- https://www.hgtv.com/outdoors/gardens/garden-styles-and-types/plant-a-child-friendly-garden
- https://www.hgtv.com/outdoors/flowers-and-plants/plants-kids-love-to-touch-pictures
Pen Pals
During the ongoing pandemic, people everywhere have turned to things less electronic for means of entertainment. Nature is being appreciated more and activities that were considered outdated are now being taken up again. A fun experience for your kids during this time might be having a pen pal. There’s nothing more special that making a hand-written card or letter and mailing it out. Then the best part comes when they receive something in return! Have your kids write to their cousins, grandparents, or contact their friends’ parents and ask for their addresses. This will make them think about what to write and it will also be an educational activity.
Whatever activity you choose to take part in with your family, the important thing is staying together during this stressful time. Kids can also become stressed or worried with the drastic change in routines and can also benefit from a little fun.