COVID-19 has made us adjust a lot of things in a short period. To stop the outbreak from spreading, schools have shut down, jobs have transitioned to remote working, etc. Now that you and the kids are home every day, how can you keep them engaged and entertained despite the situation outside? This vast transition can be challenging both for you and your child.
Here are some creative indoor activities that can keep your kids engaged while at home:
Go On Virtual Tours
Touring landmarks is the number one leisure activity. You can still do this—but virtually. It’s not nearly rewarding as in real life, but it can be a fun and exciting way to pass the time.
You can virtually tour museums, safaris and zoos, national park, and landmarks such as:
- The National History Museum
- The Van Gogh Museum
- Explore.org (wildlife webcams)
- National parks virtual tour
There is a long list of free virtual tours that you can find online. Or, a simple search on Google Maps can take you on a trip all over the world. “Walking” around with your kids and making up stories along the way can be a fun and unpredictable experience.
Get Creative With Arts And Crafts
Sky’s the limit with indulging in the hobby of arts and crafts. It can be a way for children to express ideas and emotions and to explore processes and outcomes.
You can bring out a classic paper and crayons combination, and kids can be entertained for hours. Painting is another activity—finger painting is highly-stimulating for toddlers—to get their creative juices flowing. You can also create DIY crafts out of recycled materials and natural objects.
Introduce Them To Music
You can also use the quarantine period as a time to introduce your child to music. Music is therapeutic and helps alleviate the anxiety this crisis brings. If you know how to play a musical instrument and your child is old enough to pick it up, why not pass on the knowledge to them? If you have a toddler, on the other hand, you can buy them toy instruments for starters and let them have a feel of it.
A lot of celebrities and musicians are also holding live concerts at this time that you can watch with your kids. Or if your kid is into dancing, playing out exciting music for them can help them hone their talent.
Teach Them A Recipe
With many restaurants closing for business, you can take this time to teach your kids how to cook or bake. You can have them help with the preparation when you’re preparing a dish for your mealtime. You can also teach them family recipes and follow instructions from a kid’s cookbook. You’ll not only teach them how to cook, but they can also learn how to measure ingredients precisely.
Damon Korb, M.D., points out that, “This break is an opportunity for all of us to get back to the basics and get out of our digital lives. Don’t look at these activities as just chores, but things that your young adult will someday need to be able to do on their own.”
Do A Science Experiment
Simple science experiments can teach kids how things work in a fun way. You can show them how chemical reactions work through a classic volcano experiment or create a DIY lava lamp to introduce some physics lessons. There are tons of science experiments and projects that you can do together with your kids. Check out Science Buddies for more ideas!
Reading and Storytelling
Learning should never stop even in quarantine. Take advantage of this time to read some new books for your child. If they are ready for chapter books, then you can take out your favorite books from the shelf and have them read it. If you have small kids, you can pick a children’s book and read it out loud to them.
Bring Out the Board Games and Mind Puzzles
Back in the days, you’ve probably spent vacation nights and family gatherings with your cousins playing Monopoly or Scrabble. Go old school and teach your child these games that you enjoyed before. It is not only a fun way to pass the time but also an opportunity to teach them skills and strategies while adding in some lessons while you’re playing.
Conclusion
Even amid a pandemic, your child doesn’t stop growing. You shouldn’t let this situation hinder their growth. They will carry their experience and memories of this period until adulthood. We hope that this article helped you come up with some exciting ideas on how you can spend this quarantine period with your child. Stay safe!