Quarantined Week Six: Activities to Help Keep Our Kids Focused & Healthy

As another week has passed, there’s no doubt the kids are only continuing to get antsy. When will life resume to somewhat normal? I’m not sure. But what I do know is that it’s time for our weekly list of activities to keep the young-ins busy!

1. Make a Time Capsule: When was the last time you heard of someone making a time capsule? With all of the technology, kids may not even know what a time capsule is, but that is what makes this such a fun project to do as a family. Everyone is extremely eager to put this time period behind them, I know I am. As I’ve talked to friends about this, the one thing they have repeatedly said is how they will tell their kids about this one day, as it is such a strange time to live in. While it’s been difficult for all, there are still many reasons for us to be grateful. Creating a time capsule that encompasses this bizarre experience might even help your kids feel a bit more thankful in the future. This can be opened in a year, two years, or however long you would like to wait. A time capsule could also be the perfect place to vent about how you have felt during all of this. Take out a box or jar or whatever it may be, have each family member contribute one or two items to it and then hide or bury it. Name it quarantine time capsule or anything you’d like. It can be a fun family project and might just be what the kids need to let out their feelings. 
   
2. Arts & Crafts: Once again, it is time for your weekly dose of an arts and crafts project. This week it is a Homemade Paper Kite. Since it is important for the kids to get outside and play whenever there’s an opportunity, why not have something to fly around? This project is simple and you more than likely have all of the materials you need already! Here’s what you need: paper bags, coloring materials, a hole punch, string, and a popsicle stick. One you have all materials gathered, have the kids decorate the paper bags and color their kite however they would like. Next, you will need the hole punch to make four holes (two on each side of the opening of the bag). Then you will need two pieces of string equal in length to tie one end through and around each hole. Lastly, you will tie the two loops of each string together using a long piece of string, winding the other end of the string around a popsicle stick (the handle of your kite). Voila! Have the kids go outside on a windy day and watch their kite soar! 
   
3. Have a Picnic: Looking to mix up your daily lunch routine? Host a family indoor (or outdoor if you have a yard or patio) picnic! Grab a sheet or blanket, prepare a meal, and lay out a nice picnic for the family to enjoy. The best part is you won’t be dealing with any ants or bees if you’re inside! Make this a daily lunchtime ritual where everyone takes a break from school or work and sits down together for a nice old-fashioned quarantine picnic. Spark the conversation by having your kids tell you one thing they are grateful for each day before eating! Want to play a game? Play the classic memory game “I’m going to a picnic and I’m bringing..” Everyone takes a turn and remembers in order what everyone else is bringing and then proceeds to add one thing during each turn. It’s an afternoon of family picnic fun!
   
4. Chair Hat Toss: Remember horseshoes? Chair hat toss is an indoor version of that and is a   very entertaining past-time for the whole family! It is fairly easy to set up and can effectively keep the kids focused for a good amount of time. Simply turn over a kitchen chair so that its legs are sticking up. The chair legs will act as the pole in horseshoes. Then, grab a baseball hat (or any hat for that matter) lying around. Take turns having the kids throw a hat onto the legs of the chair. Boom, there you have a game of chair hat toss! Too easy? Change it up by adding a challenging element to the game. Have each leg be a different point value and color code them with a piece of tape to distinguish their value. Play to 21! If both hats land on the same leg, they cancel each other out for points that round. If the kids are having a blast and you have cardboard or rope to spare, have them make DIY rings to toss instead of the hats! This game will provide endless fun and may even spark their interest in horseshoes.
   
5. Chores Bingo: With the kids home all day, the house is bound to get a little messier than usual. You may even find it is becoming difficult to get the kids to clean up after themselves. Why not make doing chores and spring cleaning be fun! Wondering how you can do this? Look no further than a game of bingo! I have come to find that these kids absolutely love bingo. And so, I have come up with a way to combine bingo and chores in what is called ‘Chores Bingo’. It’s simple and can be done over and over again with new chores added to it, or with the same weekly ones you always do. Squares can include tasks such as “put away your clothes,” “brush your teeth,” “rinse your dish off and put it in the dishwasher,” “put your toys away,” and more. Cross of each square as they finish the chore. Once they get a bingo, let there be a prize! Maybe they get to choose the movie for family movie night, game to play, or dinner for the night. You can even task them with getting different types of bingos! For example, they have to get a blackout bingo (fill the whole board), get an X for a bingo, fill the whole border, or four corners for additional prizes. There are a plethora of possibilities for chores bingo, and this game can last even once quarantine is over!
   
6. BrainPOP: It’s always important to keep those minds active and learning. While some are back to school (virtually of course), others are still looking for more resources to help their kids learn. BrainPOP offers free access to a variety of subjects such as science, english, art, music, health, and more! In addition, they provide daily topics for tips and tricks on distance learning as well as guides for parents. BrainPOP is perfect for that curious learner in your household, or even for those who are looking to indulge in a different subject matter. Stop by to check out all they have to offer and you might just have the next scientist in your home!