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Life looks different right now than it ever has before in our lifetime. With the news always pulling our attention away from the people we love and the general uncertainty that seems to loom around each new day, it’s no wonder that adding isolation to fear has many of us wondering what on earth we are going to do. Much less how to find fun things to do with kids when we’re stuck at home.
The general atmosphere has shifted and even for us moms who are used to being home, things are changing. There are no more play dates, library visits, afternoon playground visits. And it can feel very suffocating.
However this doesn’t have to be a time of short patience, short tempers, and cabin fever. This can be a time when we pour into our children. They may not have the whole COVID-19 story, but they can tell that something is different, and they know and understand that something is wrong.
Let’s use this time together to connect, make memories, and do those things that we always want to get to but never seem to have enough time for.
Today I wanted to share a few ways that we are doing this in our home with the hope that it blesses you and your family during this time of quarantine.
1. Get Messy
There are a million and one things to do with kids on Pinterest, including craft and sensory play ideas. Most of which look amazing, but I don’t want to clean up the mess! This is the time to get messy. Pick a day when the weather is warm and the sun is shining and take the mess outside.
We will mostly be using A Year of Tales Preschool, but here are some ideas from my Pinterest Boards below:
Preschool Activities by Letter of the Alphabet
2. Get Outside
Enjoy God’s creation in all of its splendor and get outside! Go for a walk. Go for a hike.
Bonus for Mom: Take walks alone too! When you carve out time to fill your tank, you’ll be more present and attentive when you’re back with your littles. So get outside and pop in your ear buds to listen to a new book or podcast. Some of my favorites are:
Books:
The Masterpiece by Francine Rivers
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Own Your Life by Sally Clarkson
Podcasts:
Speak Truth Into The Lives Of Your Littles
Your words matter! These affirmations will help you build up and encourage your child.
3. Read A Book Together
My kids love to snuggle up and read. We are a Charlotte Mason inspired homeschooling family, so we read all throughout the day, but whether reading is a part of your regular rhythm or not, you can make it a special treat by snuggling in your jammies first thing in the morning, taking it outside on picnic blankets or a hammock, or even laying a blanket and pillows in front of the fireplace on a cool morning.
Pick a book together and let them ask as many questions as they’d like. Do all the different voices, or let Audible do some of the reading for you while you rub backs or tiny feet. We decided to start the Boxcar Children, but some other good choices are:
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
Three Tales of My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
The Complete Tales of Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne
The Complete Tales of Beatrix Potter by Beatrix Potter
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
Anne of Greene Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
Don’t forget a good book for mom! End your day with a bath and a book, or read during quiet time. Lounge on a blanket with a book while your kids play in the backyard. Take time to feed your soul during this time so you have a full well to draw from as you pour out into the ones you love.
A Few More Faves For Mom:
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Rhythms of Renewal by Rebekah LyonsI could name books forever. If you want any more suggestions, send me a DM on Instagram or shoot me an email!
4. Bake Something Together
This is a favorite in our home. Cookies, cupcakes, and brownies are always a guaranteed way to bring a smile.
Here are a few recipes we love:
Yellow Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting
And for all you Paleo mamas, here are a few of my faves:
5. Have Special Tea Times
We try to have Poetry Tea Times each week, but honestly it’s one of the first things to go when we get behind. And that’s a shame because my boys look forward to it!
Pull out a fancy table cloth, candles, good china, and serve the treats you’ve been baking. Pour tea from a real teapot into fancy teacups, and your kids will feel like you’ve placed all your trust in them. Then they’ll sit enraptured as you read, teach, or just catch up!
6. Make One-On-One Time For Each Child
This one can be hard but is so so worth it. I’ve been laying with my little guy while he falls asleep. Rubbing his back and snuggling. Then I spend 30 minutes one on one with each of my older boys.
I let them choose the activity. Even if it’s not something I want to do. Then I give them my undivided attention and talk to them about all the things going on in their little minds.
It’s amazing to watch them open up and blossom as I praise a tower they’ve built, or when they beat me at a board game.
Don’t overlook this opportunity to really connect one on one.
Speak Truth Into The Lives Of Your Littles
Your words matter! These affirmations will help you build up and encourage your child.
7. Build Forts
Everyone loves a good hideout!
Build a fort together. Move chairs and couches. Hang sheets. Get inside and have a pizza party or family movie night.
We have this set from Fort Magic. And if your littles are into building like mine are, it’s a good investment for both forts and STEM learning.
8. Sing And Dance
Turn up the music. Sing loudly. Dance until you drop.
Sometimes we put on our socks and slide across the floor Tom Cruise style. Your kids will laugh and get some of that much needed energy out!
9. Have A Popcorn And Movie Night
We try to have regular family movie nights, but again, this is one of those things that gets put off when life gets in the way.
Now is the perfect time to have a midday movie when it’s raining outside. Make it special with popcorn and M&Ms that you stash away for times like these.
10. Start A Garden
This is a perfect project for the spring. Get outside. Get dirty. Give your kids and yourself a purpose in this season.
Gardening is a great way to teach your kids the value of work, patience, and perseverance. They’ll learn where their food comes from and the importance of farming. Not to mention how rewarding it is when they get to pick the fruits of their labor.
And, maybe most importantly right now, watching seeds grow and bloom is a great way to have a visual representation of hope.
11. Have A Family Game Night
We love board games. As a family who gameschools quite a bit, we also have a good collection.
Our kids never tire of playing games as a family. This is an especially good time to get dad in on the fun if he’s working from home and no longer has to commute, because this should free up some time in the evening where you can get together as a family for a game night.
Some of our favorites are:
Cooperative Games:
Feed the Woozle (Full Disclosure: this is not a favorite of mine but the kids LOVE it)
GameWright Games:
12. Have A Candlelit Dinner
Make your meals extra special. Let the kids help cook. Have them set the table with nice plates, and if they’re old enough, maybe add wine glasses for them to drink out of (they love this!). Light some candles, and make it an event.
Now is the time to make memories that last a lifetime. Start a new tradition that will carry on for generations. And get to know your kids where they are right here, right now.
Instead of looking at this as a jail sentence, let’s look at this as an opportunity.
What about you? What are your favorite things to do when you’re stuck at home? Leave your recommendations in the comments below!
Want to see how we are doing this IRL? Follow me on Instagram so we can inspire and encourage one another on this mom life journey!
Did you love these ideas for fun things to do with kids? Pin them so you can come back to them later!
