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Guest Post by Carrie Spencer
Keep
the Kids Engaged When They Are Stuck Inside
Families everywhere are facing a new reality
with kids home from school indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since
playdates are ill-advised and schoolwork only goes so far, it can feel limiting
when it comes to keeping children occupied. Rainy or too-cold weather only
compounds this. And you can’t let them play Fortnite and Pokemon all day, and
they can only do so many chores. If you’re looking for ideas beyond the
controller, keep reading.
Arts
and Crafts
Arts and crafts are about the most fun you can
have on a rainy day. And you don’t have to have a closet full of supplies
either. Taking your children's ages into account, plan
a few messy hours with paints or paper, glue, and scissors. If you’re short any
of these, head to the junk drawer (because we all have one) and see what you
can source from there. Your kitchen is also a treasure trove of supplies. For
instance, if you have food coloring, flour, salt, and water, you have the
makings of DIY play dough.
Exercise
Lack of physical activity is one of the
leading contributors to childhood obesity, according to the
Obesity Action Council. Even if your kids aren’t overweight, there is no reason
they have to sit still while cooped up indoors.
There are many ways to get them moving. Your
television can be your biggest asset here as it is not simply a place to watch
movies. With a streaming stick TV device, you can instantly broadcast dance lessons and
exercise routines. As an added bonus, your online media device can also tag
along with you when you hit the road for family vacations.
Baking
There are dozens of reasons why bringing the
kids into the kitchen is a good idea. First, it helps them understand where
their food comes from and how it is prepared. Cooking together also forges
strong family bonds.
If neither of these is enough to convince you,
remember that learning how to navigate the refrigerator and stove is a life
skill that will help your kids grow into independent adults. Grab an apron, a
bag of flour, and a few other select ingredients and spend an afternoon
whipping up a batch of chocolate chip cookies or other kid-friendly recipes.
Scavenger Hunt
This one takes a bit of preparation, but you
could easily turn your home into a treasure trove for the youngest members of
your family that are stuck indoors. Plan a scavenger hunt with fun activities
at each clue. You might, for example, have the kids find a photo of their
favorite vacation. Once this is located, have them create a mini scrapbook with
photos and stickers before moving along to the
next hidden item.
Book
Bingo
There are many variations of book bingo, and
you could easily extend the game through an entire season. But when you only
want to plan for a single afternoon, aim to simplify.
Start with Common Sense Media’s list of the 50 best books for children or
simply dig through your own library. Create a bingo card for each child with
things like, “book on monsters,” “scary story,” or “holiday adventure.” Once
your children find or read a story on each subject, they can mark off their
card. Once they reach “bingo,” they can have video game time or another treat.
Being indoors does not have to mean lazing
around on the couch with a gaming system. With a little work, some creativity
and persistence, you can easily entertain your crew from toddler to teen. These
are just a few ideas to spark your imagination; don’t be afraid to come up with
your own!
About the Author
Carrie blogs over at The Spencer's Adventures. She is a family with 2 moms, 3 kids, 2 dogs, 4 cats, 3 goats, 32 chickens, and a whole bunch of bees (with new animals being added all of the time!). It is our goal to live as self-sufficiently and environmentally consciously as possible. We are happy to share the insights we have gained from our family adventures on our mini-farm.
