10 Ways to Survive Lock Down and Have Fun!

Right now, we find ourselves facing a lock down of some sort or another because of a new virus. This has a lot of people scared, frustrated, anxious, and a million other emotions. Many are dealing with loss of work because of businesses shutting down temporarily or from the schools being closed and their kids home.

There are some things that you can do that can help you make the best of time together at home. Here are a few of those things:

1. Pull out your favorite board games. This is a great way to spend quality time with your kids. This can help your kids understand challenge, decision making, and help create a fun bond between you.
2. Do workouts together. Many kids that are involved in sports are now going to experience a lull in their normal activity. This can cause muscle weakness and can also cause depression especially if it is something they really enjoy. My kids love to get up on my treadmill so we will do that during a movie and all take turns. Even the little ones, just keep it slow! Family exercise is a great way to stay fit together and maybe even get a laugh or two in.
3. Watch educational videos on some of your favorite things. It is always fun and exciting to learn about the making or how to of something you enjoy. This is also a great way to ask your kids what their interests are and could spark some great conversations.
4. Family story time is always a fun thing. I like to pull out chapter books I enjoyed as a kid and read them aloud as a family. This is a great way to create imagination and discussion together.
5. Plan an outdoor activity in your backyard. Maybe a game of tag, hide and seek, scavenger hunt or even pull out those Easter eggs a bit early and have a hunt. You could hide quarters or little trinkets in the eggs for the kids to find.
6. Start a garden. This is the perfect time of year to start seeds in your house for a garden. If you have a small outdoor greenhouse, you could use that as well. You can use any cups, egg cartons, pots that you have laying around and a shovel. Dig up some dirt from your yard or add bagged soil if you happen to have some and any seeds you may have. If you don’t have any, pick some up at the grocery store when you go for groceries or order them online and have them mailed to you. Have your kids make a chart. Number the pots that you used and the number correlates to a specific type of seed. Have them make a note of any growth they see on the chart from day to day. It is fun for them to see and learn about varying germination times for specific plants!
7. Write some snail mail. Some kids have no idea how to write a letter or send anything through the mail. This would be a great time to teach them. Pick a friend or family member that you could be a pen pal with and start sending letters. Kids love to get mail with their names on it so this would be a fun adventure for them.
8. Work on a family project. This could be anything. You could take spare pieces of wood and make a bird house. You could learn how to sew, crochet or knit. My 9 year old loves to learn this sort of thing. It could be painting or making loom pot holders. The sky is the limit with crafts and it would get their creative side working.
9. Sing karaoke. Did you know there are free karaoke channels on smart TVs? You can jump on one and stand in your living room and belt out some fun songs. What a way to have fun and laugh a little!
10. Skype or Facetime your friends. This is great for all ages. My two year old gets a kick out of calling her grandparents. My older kids like to chat with their friends while playing video games. Sometimes, moms and dads, we need a break from the kids so we kick them into the backyard and video call a friend to have some adult interaction. Nothing wrong with that!

What are some things you can think of do to at home to have a little fun and break the bad thoughts? Comment, I want to hear them!