Our days right now are pretty emotional, whether you’ve been displaced from work, you’re having to homeschool your kids, or maybe you’re still working and your weekends are left feeling pretty empty. Whatever your particular situation is, it’s important to remember that while we all have the ability to see in this darkness, it’s up to us to find the light.
Having a young child at home during this time makes it even more important to weather the storm correctly. I read something about a week or so ago, and it really hit me harder than anything else I’ve read since this whole pandemic started. The words were describing a glimpse into the future, one in which our children were having a discussion with their college professors. Think about what you would want your kids to say about this time when asked about this historical time in their lives. Do you want them to think about how bored they were and how awful it was that they couldn’t go to school or extracurricular activities? I sure don’t so that’s why my motto of the day as become “What can I do today to make this the best time of Kaylie’s life instead of the worst time of her life?”
Every morning, when I wake up to another day of social distancing and being told to “stay home”, I challenge myself to be the best Mom I can be by providing my child with my love and attention. You see, it doesn’t have to be anything elaborate, it just needs to be you spending time with them and making them laugh and smile throughout the day. Your actions now will become the “best time of my life” memories for your kiddos. I challenge you to not waste such a wonderful opportunity, but to instead find that light in the darkness!
Here is a list of some fun things you can do with your kids during this time:
1. Create Videos: It’s amazing how fast everyone has jumped on the TikTok train since this all started! Go download the app, search for your favorite song, and have a dance party with your kiddos. You don’t have to share it with the world, but your kiddos will see a side of you they may have never seen before, and you will be creating videos that they can share with their family one day.
2. Host a Family Bake Off: You may struggle finding meat, toilet paper, and bread in the stores, but one aisle is definitely still stocked well…the baking aisle. Every family member come up with a recipe (don’t forget to check out good ole Pinterest) and then whip up a batch of that yummy goodness. One family member can serve as the host and decide who wins!
3. Make Game Night a Ritual after Dinner: I’m sure, for many, dinner is most likely happening more often at home and at your dining room/kitchen table. Why not just make it a point to have one family member in charge of clearing the table and setting up that night’s game of choice, while the other family members work on the rest of dinner clean up. One of our absolute favorites to play is “Ticket to Ride”. (Insider Tip: I just learned there is an app version that you can purchase, as I’ve heard the board game version is out of stock in some places.)
4. Plan an Indoor/Outdoor Scavenger Hunt: There are so many great versions of these on the internet, so find one that works for you and your family. Find a basket or bag, grab your list and a pen, and go to town collecting the items on the list. If you want to step it up a notch and your kiddo has a portable electronic device, make it a photo scavenger hunt, where they have to take a picture with themselves and the object together.
5. Visit your Favorite Places Virtually: One of the best things about the growth of electronic devices in our everyday world, is that we have access to videos of almost every place in the world. If you and your family have a favorite spot to visit (like Walt Disney World, a beach destination, a National Park, etc.), then Google it and I bet you’ll find some virtual experiences. My daughter and I went to WDW not too long after this whole thing started. We wore our Mickey attire (including our ears), created makeshift ride seats and rode them virtually, and even had a Mickey bar as our snack.
This is just a small list of so many amazing experiences you can create with your kiddos. Remember, it’s not what it is, it’s the fact that it’s happening, because family time is the most important time!
Hi there! This blog post could not be written any better!
Looking at this article reminds me of my previous roommate!
He always kept talking about this. I most certainly will forward this
information to him. Fairly certain he will have a very good read.
Many thanks for sharing!