I hardly need to preface this post. We all know the world is bobbing through unchartered waters, straining to see land ahead. We all feel the effects of life turned topsy-turvy, and yes, there is plenty to worry about.
BUT these unprecedented times also have something to offer us: unprecedented opportunities to hunker down and spend some good, old fashioned quality time with our families!
So, in the spirit of making the most of these strange times and reclaiming them for Memory Making, here are some of my very most favourite ideas for things to do while holing up at home:
1. Start a Family Read-Aloud Tradition
If you don’t already read aloud at home, there has never been a better time to start! And it’s the easiest time investment to make for the biggest return of treasured memories. All you need to do is agree on a book, pick a time, then gather around in a cosy spot with lots of blankets and maybe even cups of coco and… Read. Aloud. You can get as creative with your interpretation as you like, but the key is enjoying a book together.
Looking for tips on starting a Read-Aloud tradition? Check out the wonderful Sarah Mackenzie at ReadAloudRevival.com. She’s got all the tips, booklists and creative ideas to get you going!
Also, starting this week, Andrew Peterson, author of the epic Wingfeather Saga is doing a Facebook Live read along of his most recent novel.
And don’t forget that you can download Katie Watson and the Painter’s Plot on Audio for FREE & take the family on a time-travel adventure using this secret link. You might also enjoy the Katie Watson Workbook (also free for the time being) for a range of story-related activities.
2. Family Doodle Party
The very funny author & illustrator, Mo Willems, is hosting special free online “Lunch Doodles” for kids at home. These are a glorious way for your creative kids (or kids at heart) to pass an hour in happy doodle-land.
But I also got the idea of a family “After Dinner Doodle Party” from Mo. He shared that his family covers the dinner table in craft paper. After dinner, the plates are cleared, the colored pencils come out, and the family spends the evening doodling, sharing their doodles and laughing together. What’s not to love?!
3. ‘Camp Out’ at Home
This is another easy win for the whole family, and an experience you & your kids will remember forever. If the weather is nice, pitch tent in the garden, have dinner outside, maybe even burn a little bonfire to tell stories and roast marshmallows around, then bunk down for a Spring sleep al-fresco. Don’t forget to stargaze if the skies are clear – you can use an app like StarView Light to spot constellations!
Spring showers making an outdoor excursion a bit too soggy? No fear! Just move the camp out indoors. Pile sleeping bags into your living room, use camping lanterns to set the mood, spend the evening playing board games or telling spooky stories, then “camp” on the floor!
My friends set up hammocks in their back garden for the kids to spend the day “camping” like jungle kids with a stack of books. The kids (and parents) were in heaven!
4. Virtual Field Trips
Virtual Field Trips are another great go-to for rainy days. We Are Teachers have put together an amazing list of field trip destinations that you can reach from your dining room table, from zoos to museums to volcanoes… the list goes on! My sister has been streaming a fish tank from the Atlanta Aquarium and says it’s amazing what a soothing effect the live stream has had on her otherwise stir crazy household!
5. Movie Night
You’ll notice for the most part I’ve steered away from digital activities. That’s because I really feel strongly that this time of holing up together is a chance to break our usual cycles of screen-dependence & make real & lasting connections with our family.
That said, on those long, rainy days when everyone is cooped up & driving each other crazy, there’s’ nothing like cozying up for an at-home “trip” to the cinema to bring everybody together. And Movie Night will be all the more special if your kids haven’t been screen binging all week long!
Add some flair to the occasion by popping popcorn and handing out mini chocolate bars. You could even “got to the movies” in your pajamas… or have everyone dress up fancy if that’s more your family’s style.
So there you have it!
There are SO many ideas floating around out there on how to pass the unprecedented number of hours of home… almost an overwhelming wealth of options! Don’t get bogged down searching the web. Just pick one or two ways that will bring your family closer together for some good, down-home fun, announce the event ahead of time so everyone is looking forward to it, and go make some memories!
There’s enough to worry about out there. Come what may, let’s choose to make this a time we’ll look back on with fondness, that our kids will remember with a smile on their faces. Let’s redeem these hours of holing up at home while they last!
