15 Summer Activities for Quarantined Families
By Jordan Morgan
@jordanmorganwriter
www.jordanmorgan.com
Now more than ever we are all searching for ways to entertain our kids, and ourselves. It’s difficult not to lose your patience while we are all wearing the many hats of mom, wife, teacher, caregiver, worker, sister, aunt, daughter, chef, cleaning lady, and so many more. We are in desperate times – days that will go down in history forever. I’m grateful for the time we all have together and for the guidance we have from our Church, but I can say I never thought family quarantine would wear me down so fast. If you are looking for some family-centered ideas to get you through these long days, then here’s a list for you!
Movie Night
Make it something different and new! Snuggle up on the couch or in a comfy bed, grab some snacks, and snuggle those kiddos. Introduce them to your favorite Disney classics or childhood 90s memories.
Get outside!
Take a walk around the neighborhood, play in the yard, ride bikes, decorate your concrete with chalk, play hopscotch or basketball, try freeze tag, or bring out the sprinkler and water guns. Do something out of the ordinary!
Virtual Exercise
The videos online are endless. A personal favorite in our house is Cosmic Kids Yoga. Maybe even find a dance routine to learn!
Art
Pinterest is a bottomless pit of tutorials on how to use art to entertain kids of all ages. A popular thing right now is recreating historical self portraits using objects around your house. You could try salt art or maybe even make a birdfeeder with all those toilet paper rolls you have now!
Scavenger Hunt
This one might take a bit of planning, but create a list of things for the kids to find around the house and in the yard. Make them easy or make them hard – it just depends on how long you want this to take!
Game Night
Bring out your favorite board game that everyone can play. Show the kids how to play a game with cards or find a puzzle that you can work on together.
Journal
Our kids don’t realize it now, but this pandemic quarantine will go down in history. Jot down how you’re feeling, things your grateful for, and things that make you want to pull your hair out. Write about what you miss and what you’re looking forward to. One day down the road these writings will be a family history gem!
Snail Mail
Write a quick note or send a postcard to all the people you miss! I bet they even write a letter in return and who doesn’t love to get something in the mail (that isn’t a bill!).
Video Chat
Now more than ever is the time to be grateful for technology. Without it we wouldn’t have gotten to experience the historical General Conference in April. Pull out those cell phones and computers and call up the grandparents we all miss so much. How crazy is it that Facetime, Skype, and Zoom are becoming integral parts of our lives?
Online Learning
With everything being closed, almost every museum, zoo, and national park are taking their tours online! Watch your favorite zoo animals, take a tour overseas, or virtually explore Yellowstone. You can learn something new with every click.
Sensory Bins
These are a favorite in our home. Take a bin and toss anything in it to entertain your young kids. The noisy and messier the better! We love to wash all of our water-friendly toys in a bubble bath bin – two birds one stone!
Family Story Time
Now’s the time to dust off your favorite book series for a daily chapter read! How fun would it be to see your children’s imaginations light up as they discover the magical world of words, and maybe a little bit of magic as well. (Ahem. Yes, that means break out the Harry Potter).
Camp
You can build a fort in the living room and make s’mores in the microwave or pop the tent up in the backyard and make a campfire. Either way, it’s something new and adventurous. Maybe talk about the pioneers as they traveled west and how they camped for real for months and even years!
Learn A New Language
Pull out those old Spanish workbooks, turn on the Rosetta Stone, call up a family member with expertise, or download Duolingo and bring the fascination of a new language into your home.
Quiet Time
My personal favorite! Take a nap, read a book, open your scriptures, play the quiet game, meditate, or send those kids outside so you can have a few minutes of silence. Everyone can use this time to clear their heads and listen to the whisperings of the Spirit.
Whether you are toiling out activities every day or not, remember this:
“Children will not remember you for the material things you provided, but for the feeling that you cherished them.”
—Richard L. Evans