Now that you’re stuck at home with the kids during the pandemic, you’ve probably been scrambling for ways to keep them entertained and occupied when they are not being homeschooled (or at least trying to be homeschooled).
There are quite a few suggestions out there from well-meaning bloggers and parents that are indeed fun for kids to try. However, these activities are almost guaranteed to leave your house in a terrible state.
If you are lucky enough to have a job that still allows you to shelter safely in place while continuing to catch up on your work, then the last thing that you need is another mess that needs to be cleaned up. Not to worry though. To help you out, here are 5 tricks to have fun with your kid in these crazy times:
Pretend play
Playing pretend is one of the best ways for kids to learn. Your kids’ academics are now in your hands. As such, skills such as recognizing letters, learning vocabulary, and new words, as well as reading, are vital for their foundation and all fall to you.
Read all the books you have
Now is the perfect time to introduce your kids to all your favorite classics growing up. If you don’t have books accessible close by, almost everything is available to order online these days. Most public libraries also now have apps with a lot of free and affordable books on offer with your membership.
Take the kids around the neighborhood
Just because people are still social distancing doesn’t mean that you have to be sedentary and stuck in the house all day. Instead, simply grab the kids, strap on your walking shoes and take them around the neighborhood in a kids’ wagon– they’ll go bananas!
Do something in your backyard
If you have an open area, then you can do something, anything fun, and kid-friendly. It could be anything from sports to building a playhouse. No backyard? No problem. Play a little hopscotch on your driveway, toss Frisbees or set up a mini-golf area- anything that will involve the whole family.
Host a video game tournament
Allow technology to make things easier for you. Break out the Xbox or PlayStation and create rules for a fun family tournament. Play for streaks or days and ensure that you track all participant’s scores so that they can be beaten.
Final Thoughts
So, your kid or kids or bored. Perhaps you’ve tried everything under the sun to keep them occupied and entertained but coronavirus is still wreaking havoc. To ensure that you don’t lose it, these amazing ideas will engage your kids when they have nothing to do.
