6 Activities for Your Children: When You’re Out of Ideas (Due to COVID-19)

What are we doing next, mommy?

Due to COVID-19, we know you have a lot on your mind. There are so many things to worry about during these difficult times, and to top it all off, you now have your kids home with you. All day. Every day. You want to keep them busy and entertained, but you’ve exhausted all your ideas.

Never fear. We’re here to help! Check out the list below for six fun activities you can do with your children.

1. Take a virtual fieldtrip.

Okay, so due to social distancing, you can’t take your kid to an actual museum or park, but you still want your child to soak up some culture. What should you do? The answer is to take a virtual tour. In the wake of Covid-19, many museums, parks, and zoos are allowing virtual tours of their sights. As long as you have the internet, you can visit the Georgia Aquarium, Yellowstone National Park, or even the Louvre, just to name a few. These tours provide a great opportunity to see some of the amazing things the world has to offer, and all from the comfort of your home.

2. Cook together.

Now is a great time to teach your child to cook and/or bake. Check out the internet for easy, tasty recipes that you two can take on together. Your child will appreciate their delicious snacks even more when they’ve helped make them! If your child is already on the Internet, ask them to find a recipe/dish preparation YouTube video to choose.  Make a game out of sourcing your ingredients.  Maybe see if you can have missing ingredients delivered by Kroger.

3. Have a scavenger hunt.

Hold a scavenger hunt in your home. Give children a list of items to find. You can name specific items or give them clues to what they’re looking for. If you’re feeling creative, you can even write riddles or draw a treasure map. The sky’s the limit with this one, and it should keep your little ones occupied and entertained for hours. Again, YouTube has plenty of videos to help with ideas.  Thank you to my niece, Beth in California, for this idea she uses with her daughter.

4. Watch “Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems.”

Mo Willems is a famous children’s author. During his “Lunch Doodles” show, he invites children into his studio where he draws for them, talks to them, and shows them how to make gifts for friends. There are at least 14 episodes so far. Watch them here.

5. Instead of a book report, write a letter to an author.

Order on Amazon three books from three different authors recommended and appropriate for your child. See if you and your child can find a favorite author, then explore other books by that author. Finally, see if you can find your child’s favorite author’s address on the Internet and have your child write the author a “fan letter” and if you are comfortable with it, include a photo of your child.  If you can’t find the address, just send the fan letter to the author care of the publisher. You may even get a response!

6. Write a letter to the President.

Have your child write our President a letter to tell him about a doctor, nurse, police officer, etc., who is a friend or family member you appreciate. Don’t ask for anything in the letter, just explain what you’re grateful for during these difficult times. Don’t tell your child you hope there may be a response, but just suggest this should be an exercise in gratitude.  If there is a response, even better!

Make every day an adventure.  We hope this helps.  Our kids are grown, each in different cities, and we miss them desperately.  We are proud of them all, especially our son in Spain on deployment with the U.S. Marines.  Semper Fi.

Thank you to Kathryn Owen for writing this.