Quarantined Week Seven: Spring into these 6 Activities

As another week has gone by, it seems like we have been in quarantine forever. With the days and weeks all seeming to intertwine together, it’s difficult to keep track of time. But not to worry, it’s time for another weekly dose of your favorite blog!

1. Take a Dice Walk: Although we may have lost track of what actual day it is (I know I have), one thing is for certain; spring is here to stay. The sun has been shining; the temperature has been rising; and the air is a bit more clear (the one upside to these unpredictable times). I take these as a sign for us to enjoy some of the beautiful outdoors whenever we can! The kids are tired of sitting inside, so why not take advantage of the sunshine and go for some walks — but not just any walk — a dice walk. Change up your daily walk by adding a twist. What exactly is a dice walk? It’s pretty simple. Bring two dice to roll at each intersection. If the dice add up to an odd number, turn left; if it adds up to an even number, turn right. Not only are you getting exercise, but it keeps the kids entertained as you don’t know where your adventure will take you! Maybe you’ll end up walking in circles, or maybe you will find yourself in a newly discovered area of your neighborhood. Either way, there is plenty of fun to be had and you can keep playing each walk you take.
   
2. Create a Spy Maze: Have your kids ever wondered what it would be like to be a spy? Have you secretly wanted to be one as well? Then this is the perfect activity for the family to do! While we may not have laser pointers to crawl under and maneuver our bodies around, there is another way to create a spy maze. Using anything from crepe paper to painters tape, simply tape lines across a hallway wall. Have your kids zigzag the lines to be high and low and going in all kinds of directions! Once they’re happy with their creation, have each family member take turns trying to work their way through the maze without breaking or touching the lines! If they touch the lines or break one, they must start over. This could keep the kids occupied for hours. Just be careful, you might wake up to a paper taped maze in your doorway the next morning that you have to stealthy find your way through!
   
3. Bird Watching: If the virtual field trips of zoos and aquariums aren’t seeming to do the trick to get your child’s animal fix anymore, I have a possible solution for you. Download the iBird app and find how many different birds you can see or hear! Make it a friendly competition with the kids to see who can spot the most species of birds.This can be done either from your backyard, on a walk, or from your balcony! You’ll be surprised how many different types of birds you may see, hear, and learn about. It might just spark a new hobby for your kids too!
   
4. Arts & Crafts: Once again, here is your weekly arts and crafts project that you can do as a family or give to your kids with items you have on hand in the house. This one is a Pinecone Bird Feeder. This craft goes hand-in-hand with the above activity, bird watching. This project is very simple and takes only a few materials! Here’s what you’ll need: pinecones (collected from the yard or on a walk), birdseed (if you don’t have any, an alternative is chopped fruit, bread scraps, sunflower seeds, cracked corn, peanut chips, etc.), peanut butter, string, and a tray. After collecting your pinecones, spread peanut butter all around them with a spoon or plastic knife. While the kids are doing that, take a tray and fill it with birdseed. Once you have finished spreading the peanut butter on the pinecones, roll them in the tray of birdseed until it has stuck around the entire pinecone. Lastly, take a piece of string and tie it around the top to hang from your favorite plant or tree! There you have it, you’ve made your own bird feeder, which will surely bring the birds flocking to your house and help with your bird watching ventures! 
   
5. Create a Show: Instead of having a family movie night, task the kids with creating an after dinner show for the whole family to enjoy! There are a variety of ways the kids can create a show. For instance, they could do a talent show where they display a few of their talents. Or maybe they would like to try a hand at some of their jokes and put on a comedy show! Still not catching their interest? Have them try a fashion show, puppet show, karaoke, game show, or create their own short-story play. With your child’s creative imagination, the possibilities are endless! Take it one step further by FaceTiming other family members to have them participate or be a part of the audience! Who knows, it might just become your family’s new favorite after-dinner ritual. 
   
6. Disney Magic Moments: With summer just around the corner, the kids might be longing for family vacations to amusement parks. While we may not be able to go to one, you can still experience the magic of Disney at home. Disney has launched a brand new site called Disney Magic Moments where both kids and adults can experience the magic of Disney from where you are in the world. They have everything from stories, videos, activities, recipes, and more to bring some more imagination and hope into your home. Comprised of Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel, and National Geographic, there’s an offering for fans alike. Most of all, the company of ‘the most magical place on earth’ might just be what we all need right now. Everyone could use a little magic in their lives and Disney provides that glimmer of hope.