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How to Keep Your Kids Growing and Learning at Home

 

COVID-19 restrictions have eased, and many schools, parks, and activities all across the country are reopening. But if you’re still apprehensive about leaving home with your family, you may be having difficulties finding new activities to keep your kids active and engaged at home. To help beat cabin fever, WhimsyRoo lists a few ideas for families.

 

Take a Tour — Virtually!

 

In response to COVID-19, many places have created virtual tours that you can take from the comfort of your home.

 

• Trek to the Grand Canyon, where you can take a virtual raft trip down the Colorado River or hike to Phantom Ranch.
• Walk through the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Musée d’Orsay, or other world-class museums virtually.
• Younger kids might enjoy touring Glazer Children’s Museum, the Pretend City Children’s Museum, and other fun places just for kids.
• In addition to museums, you can also virtually tour new schools, academies, or summer programs your children might want to attend in the future.
• If you have any kids graduating soon, keep in mind that many college campuses have started offering virtual tours as well!

 

Time for Family Bonding

 

When you’re spending more time together inside, it provides so many great opportunities for bonding and growing closer. Here are just a few ways to spend quality time together.

 

• Trying out a new board game together is a great way to get away from screens. Board games aren’t just competitive! There are countless strategy games and cooperative games that challenge your mind while encouraging you to work together.
• Get crafty together with your preschooler and plan doing all sorts of multi-person crafts. WhimsyRoo notes that one idea is creating a “walking rainbow” that teaches kids about colors and absorption; all you need is food coloring, paper towels, and cups of water.
• There are many free at-home workout videos you can do with the whole family! Even without a video, you can be creative by doing simple 10-minute workouts around the house, like seeing who can do a “wall sit” against a wall the longest or competing in the number of push-ups you can do.
• Whether you work out together or try out some new backyard activities, you’re bound to work up an appetite. Cooking together is one of the best ways to bond. Not only that, preparing a meal from scratch is a great educational opportunity for your kids!

 

Solo Activities for Kids

 

Family time is great, but when you spend most of your time together at home, it’s okay to want some alone time as well! Here are some ideas for keeping everyone content.

 

• Little kids might enjoy trying projects such as making string art, folding origami animals, or trying these other fun activities.
• Older kids can find inspiration in trying out new activities, such as hand lettering, painting, or crocheting. There are countless videos for learning these skills online!
• Consider allowing your child to play games with their friends online. Many games, like Minecraft and Fortnite, help inspire creativity while providing a way for kids to connect with others.
• Just remember that you may need to upgrade to a tablet that can keep up with the speeds these titles often require. If you’re investing in a new tablet, make sure it’s shielded with a protective case.

 

No matter what activities you do, it’s important not to let yourselves get stuck in a rut during the quarantine. By always looking for new things to do, you can keep boredom at bay while expanding your minds and even growing closer as a family during the lockdown.