By Krystle J Bailey
We are certainly living through some interesting times these days. Covid-19 Quarantine has rocked our world in innumerable ways including the fact that we are now challenged to come up with new, creative ideas to entertain the family. Once we finish with homeschool, laundry, and dishes, the kids still seem to have an abundance of energy while us parents are tapping out. As a mom of two, I’ve been looking for simple ways to keep them occupied that won’t break the bank or my sanity. Here are 10 simple ideas to keep the family fun flowing.
1. Explore local bike paths. It’s a beautiful way to get outside for fresh air and exercise, while easily maintaining social distancing measures. Whether you walk, run, skateboard, or bike, bike paths are a safe place to spend family time, especially as we continue to see nicer days. Try adding a layer of fun to the adventure: Count how many different kinds of insects you see along the ride, blast your favorite music and dance your way down the path, play I-Spy With My Little Eye, challenge your family to a race, play Simon Says (use verbs such as hop, skip, jump, run, dance). Check out local paths including the Atlantic County Bikeway that starts at the former Shore Mall, Lake Lenape Park West in Mayslanding, and the 6.5 mile Bike path that begins in Somers Point and ends in Pleasantville.
2. Make a post-Covid Bucket List. Every time the kids mention wanting to go somewhere or do something that is currently off the table due to Covid-19, write it on a paper and put it in a jar. When this all comes to an end, you will have a bucket list of things to experience as we step back out into the world. In the meantime, work together to come up with an alternative that you can do together today. Challenge their imaginations by asking them to come up with an alternative. If the family wants to go to the movie theatre, put it in the jar for later then create a make-shift movie theatre at home with some popcorn and candy. If they want to go to an arcade, create a family game night and let them exchange quarters to play. These are the moments that memories are made of.
3. Scavenger hunts. There are hundreds of great scavenger hunts all over the wonderful world of Pinterest. They keep the kids busy forever! Instead of having them bring the items (which leaves for one more mess to clean), have them take pictures of the items and bring you the photo album. This is one that takes very little effort on your part and they can do while you sit back and take a break. We all need that break!
4. Create a time capsule. We are living history! The family will remember this for the rest of their lives. Time capsules are a fun way to capture history and look back on it when they’re older. There are time capsule printables found on the internet but here are some ideas to get you started: Capture their hand prints, collect artwork, have them draw their self portrait and/or print out pictures of them, write a letter to your children, have them write one to you, ask them questions such as how they are feeling and what they are thankful for and document their answers in a journal. Tuck it away for one day in the future when all of this is a distant memory.
5. Spread kindness. On your next walk around the neighborhood, which has become a daily thing for most families, collect some rocks. Bring them home, wash them off, and paint them with kind words and inspirational messages. Then on your next walk, redistribute them throughout the neighborhood. A little kindness goes a long way.
6. Snail Mail. We are all missing our friends! Who doesn’t love receiving snail mail? Especially the kind that doesn’t come in the form of a bill! Draw pictures, write letters, address envelopes, and send away! Parents can get in on the fun too. Surprise a friend or a family member with a hand written note letting them know that you’re thinking about them. We may be isolated but we have the opportunity to be more connected than ever. We just have to be creative and intentional about connecting.
7. Backyard Camping. Whether you’re a glamper like myself who needs to keep a fully functioning bathroom at arms length or you’re an avid camper, camping in the backyard is a family memory the kids will never forget. Depending on your level of love of the outdoors, grab some sleeping bags or grab the bug-free tent and make a night of it. Google search “star gazing from your backyard” for some great how-to articles as you’re staring up at the night sky with your family.
8. Movie Marathons. One of the perks of quarantine has been the sudden release of all the best movies and access to streaming services for the perfect movie marathon. Give the family something to look forward to doing together night after night. Disney+ offers just about every Marvel movie, which is a perfect opportunity to watch them all in chronological order. Disney+ also offers access to every episodic Star Wars movie from the original trilogy through The Rise of Skywalker. The Incredibles, Trolls, Toy Story, Lord of the Rings, and Men in Black are just a few movie series ideas to get you started. Looking for something more educational for the little ones? Check out Netflix for The Magic School Bus, Storybots, Word Party, and If I Were an Animal. There is no shortage of great content on these streaming services.
9. Subscription Boxes. This one comes with a small price tag but there are some incredible subscription boxes for the kids available. One of my favorites comes from KiwiCo.Com, which offers fun, easy to follow, interactive STEM projects for kids of all ages from ages 0-104. Raddish Kids is a monthly subscription box for young chefs that includes everything they need to cook, bake, and create. Bitsbox offers monthly kits for kids who are interested in computers and coding. Most of these websites offer kits a-la-carte as well, if monthly subscriptions aren’t your thing.
10. Start a Youtube Channel. Kids YouTube channels are all the rage these days. Seems like every kid I know either wants a channel or has a channel. I recently created one for my kids. I do not have any editing skills or hope to make any money off of it. For little kids who don’t quite know better yet, you can set the settings to private or friends only to keep them from the general public. It’s a fun way to document this unprecedented time through their own eyes. Share it with the grandparents and family who can’t be close right now and use it as a virtual scrapbook to look back on when this is all over.
Most of all, hang in there! These are trying times and as parents, most of us are just winging it. You can only do the best that you can! So show yourself some grace, try to unwind, and enjoy these moments with your family. When life picks back up and we go back to our busy lives, we will miss this. Enjoy the moments and have some fun! Stay safe, stay healthy, and shop local whenever you can. We are in this together.
Krystle J Bailey is a mom of two, a published author, poet, and freelance writer. Born and raised in South Jersey, she currently resides in Mayslanding. Contact Krystle at
Krystlejbailey@gmail.com.
