Whether your state has ordered a mandatory "safer at home" order or you’re just responsibly social distancing, long-term life indoors with kids can mess with a person's head. Where I live, in Los Angeles, we are on day 15 of a mandatory quarantine. In all honesty, day 15 feels like month 15. We’ve gone through a range of emotions from gratitude for our health and home, to being completely over one another. And while we are grateful for many things, cabin fever has officially set in.
While I try to lead the charge on keeping our spirits up, I’ve realized the best way to do that is to distract my kids from solely thinking about the doom and gloom of what's going on right now. Here’s what we’re doing to keep the walls from creeping in.
Play 'Just Dance'
Is it a video game or a workout? You decide. Either way, it's fun for any age. It gets everybody moving while keeping their minds on choosing between a Billie Eilish slow jam and Lady Gaga’s coolest dance moves, and off wondering when school will start again and if summer will be cancelled too.
Bake to your heart's content
If your local supermarket is running low on ingredients like flour and sugar, you may have to get creative with what you make, but a baking project comes with a (hopefully) delicious reward at the end. So, take the time to try that blondie recipe you’ve been dying to try or let the kids each pick a recipe and make them head chef for that baking session. Anything to pass the time, right?
Slime school
My daughter is deep into slime. All glue not needed for school projects has been allocated to keeping her occupied coming up with the latest concoctions. If you don’t have a slime recipe book on hand, search online for cool recipes using food coloring, metallic foil, and other things lying around your house. We’ve also scheduled "Slime School" Zooms with friends across the country so the kids can all make slime together.
Zoom chats
Speaking of Zoom chats, keeping kids in touch with their friends through Zoom or FaceTime calls is a great way to give you a break from being your kid’s sole source of entertainment and distraction. That’s a win for all.
Family dance party
It’s hard to find ways to get everybody moving their bodies when you’re stuck at home and indoors. Sometimes all you need is some cranked up good tunes for a scheduled family dance party. Let the kids make playlists, play Freeze Dance for fun, and don’t judge anyone’s moves — some us aren’t exactly as agile as we used to be.
Movie night
There are a lot of screens happening in my house these days, but an organized family movie night feels different. It’s not about passing the time, it’s about doing something together. So, dive into age-appropriate movies. See if the kids like the classics from your childhood (Shaggy D.A. was a big hit in our house) and let the kids make a list of movies they want to watch with the family.
Spruce the house party
Yes, this is an adorabe way of saying, “Kids, we’re all going to clean the house, not just mom.” But that house won’t clean itself and everyone needs something to do. Make it fun by turning on music, giving everyone a job, complete with job completion rewards like a special treat or activity (that you can do indoors, of course).
Book club
If your kids are old enough, they can start a virtual book club with friends. They can “meet” weekly on FaceTime or Zoom and each week a different person can lead the group discussion. Or, keep it simple by sitting down with your kids with your own book.
Game night
Exploding Kittens, Monopoly, Spot It — the list is endless. The game world is your oyster. Pick age-appropriate games and enjoy the simple, clean, distracting fun that games provide.
Costume party
If you’re like me, you’re getting tired of wearing sweats and getting tired of seeing your kids in theirs. Just because you can’t leave the house, it doesn’t mean you can’t give into your closets and have a theme night. Do an outfit swap with someone in the family, wear a team jersey, or dress as your favorite pop star using things you have at home. Bonus, those Insta pics you’ll post from your costume party will help your friends stay distracted, too.
Everybody’s favorite
Let the kids have some say in what happens in the house since they just lost the one thing that really matters to them: social connection. Have each person in the family pick their favorite dinner for a day and have them help make it. Make a favorites activity Bingo card and each day, a different family member gets to pick what happens. Plan favorites meals, make favorites playlists, and make a list of favorites projects that rotate each day.
Video games
While video games are the bane of most parents’ existence, being stuck at home requires parents to loosen their screen time rules for sanity, time passing, and distraction. Multiplayer video games provide social interaction for kids. And, if you dare get outgamed by your kid, play along with them. It’ll give them a change to teach you something they know and you probably don’t, and it’ll be a chance to hang out together doing something they love.
Exercise
If you have at-home equipment at home like a Peleton, Rebounder, or Precor, and your kids are old enough, they can do a short program to get their bodies moving. Parents can also download fitness apps or turn on Fitness Blender on TV. Do a class with your kids. You’ll all get a workout and it’ll take your mind off of not being able to leave the house.
