This is an unprecedented time. The phrase “40 days and 40 nights” has taken on more meaning. I used to think this was a long time, but due to this current COVID-19 pandemic, we’ll be lucky if we aren’t stuck inside for far longer than 40 days and 40 nights. For a few weeks now, our world has been slowed down and has largely been placed on hold. Our kids have no school, no recess, no organized sports, no outings with friends or family, and no routine way to get their wiggles out. Some kids may not have a yard to play in or many siblings to play with. It’s tough. (We adults are going stir crazy too.)
The temptation may be to sit those young ones in front of a television or other electronic device as a means of entertaining or babysitting them for the next few weeks—or months—until the coronavirus dangers have eased and social distancing is no longer recommended or required. A life without any activity is terrible (at least to me).
We should see this time as a unique opportunity. What are some ways to help you and your children have fun, unique, and active experiences during this strange and troubling time? Here is a list of 40 ideas you might want to consider as you try to enjoy what looks to be a societal pause (and family investment) of much more than 40 days and 40 nights (please add your own ideas in the comments):
1. Sled down your stairs. My first suggestion asks us to go big or go home… or to go big while at home. Maybe we can’t hit the slopes with our kids, but your kids can sled down the stairs in our house. You don’t need to use an actual sled (nor should you use skis). Have them try a piece of cardboard, a small mattress, a blanket, or a raw rear end. If you join, your kids will think you are cooler than Superman.
2. Play flashlight tag. Kids love flashlights. When the sun goes down, or if bringing down the blinds can darken the house, get the flashlights out and tag each other with light in the darkness, and bring some light to this dark time.
3. Have a pillow fight. We always talk about pillow fights, but have you actually ever had one? This is a great way to get your kids’ wiggles out right before going to sleep (or a great way to get them riled up so they can’t sleep).
4. Have a Nerf gun war. If your kids are more generally male, they’ll love this. My three-year-old girl enjoys this too and nearly shot my head off when I wasn’t paying attention.
5. Play laser tag. The danger of getting hit in the eye is lower than with Nerf guns. If you have laser guns, get them out. Or maybe buy some!
6. Play hide-and-seek. One game where being smaller has its advantages. Don’t find your kids too quickly. And you must slowly and loudly announce your investigation of each possible hiding place. “Is he in the hamper?!” “Is he under the bed?!” “Is he hiding in the dryer?!” “Is he hiding under this coloring book?!”
7. Play limbo! Limbo is another game where being smaller has its advantages. Make sure you have some awesome music and dance moves spicing up the event.
8. Play Sardines. This version of hide-and-seek (a kind of reverse hide-and-seek) is great for kids who are scared to hide alone or don’t know how to hide. In Sardines, one person hides, and as each person finds the hiding “sardine,” that person packs into the hiding spot with the hiding sardine. A bunch of packed sardines in a can, I suppose.
9. Play chase or tag with the dog. The dog needs some exercise too, so give her a chase. You can also train the dog to seek you out. Make the dog wait while all the kids hide (training the dog to sit until hearing a “come here!” helps). Then unleash the dog! Dogs can smell you out but sometimes can’t see you when you are standing in the wide open. It’s hilarious. Treats for the dog are helpful.
10. Play Duck, Duck, Goose. If you only have a small room or two, you can at least sit on the floor and run in circles.
11. Lift weights. Build those muscles! One of the cutest things I have seen over the past week is my three-year-old trying to lift a 3 pound weight over her head. It was also disastrous because she dropped it on my nine-year-old’s head. (You can use canned food as weights too.)
12. Have a food fight. Desperate times call for desperate measures. If you need a real change of pace, hold a food fight. You can have a modified fight using Cool Whip (or shaving cream), popcorn, or something like Cheetos. Or you can go all out and end your nightly dinner with an experience your kids will never forget—a flinging of mashed potatoes, spaghetti, or whatever else you’ve cooked up, along with a very memorable cleaning session. Be sure to take lots of pictures and videos.
13. Build a fort out of furniture. Your furniture may be valuable, but turn it all upside down. The memories of building a fortress with your kids and resisting a siege by trolls or the evil Empire forces will be worth the damage.
14. Build a real fort. If you are unlucky enough (or blessed enough) to not have regular work right now, take the time to build that treehouse you have never built—or a nice playhouse. Your kids will love it. Let them swing those hammers.
15. Walk around the block. If you are allowed and if it is safe, get to know the neighborhood. Maybe make a snipe hunt out of it.
16. Go on a real hike. Again, if you are allowed and if it is safe, hit up some local hikes—or take a drive to a remote and less-known and less-traveled trail.
17. Play hopscotch. You can create a hopscotch board with removable tape somewhere indoors, or you can use sidewalk chalk to create one on the front driveway.
18. Create a mural. Speaking of sidewalk chalk, draw a giant mural on your front driveway. This is also a great way to say hello to the world. Write messages to friends who may pass by or, in connection with a walk around the block, draw messages on neighbor’s driveways or porches.
19. Play charades. For little guys, give them animals to act out. If your kids are older, try more advanced things or ideas to act out.
20. Run up and down the stairs. My nine-year-old, for some reason, loves running up and down the stairs in the morning for exercise. To each his own. Maybe use this as a reward. Once your kid does his daily exercise of 40 laps up and down the stairs, give him a cookie.
21. Play Simon Says. Oh yes, the classic game of Simon Says. Bring that one back from your youth.
22. Play Red Light Green Light. You only need a hallway to play Red Light Green Light. This game is also a great way to utilize the backyard.
23. Have a dance party! “Alexa, play crazy dance music!” Let the young kids’ raw dance moves shine. Maybe even make it a dance contest.
24. Use your basketball hoop. Sadly, 90% of Americans only use the basketball hoop in the front yard once a year or less. (I totally made that statistic up out of thin air.) Now is the time to increase the use. Play HORSE, lightning, and one-on-one. Dunk over your kids so that they understand your dominance.
25. Play indoor basketball. If you don’t have an outdoor basketball standard, play on the toy one inside, or buy one that you can attach to a door. Perhaps consider buying a DoubleShot or a Pop-A-Shot. These types of basketball hoops kept me active for hours as a kid, even when I couldn’t go outside.
26. Play indoor soccer or “footy.” If you don’t have a backyard or park to use, you can create a goal out of a door, chair, or a pair of shoes, and you can use a small ball, a balloon, or even a crumpled paper to play a light version of soccer, sometimes called “footy.”
27. Scooters! The front driveway may be a little small for bikes, but scooters may work quite well. If you have an unfinished basement, you have an awesome racecourse.
28. Do yard work or gardening. We all need to get out into the sun, and the need is especially greater now. If you have a yard and you can pull it off, get your kids to help you weed, prune the bushes, or plant your garden.
29. Plant a tree. On that note, plant a tree! I’ve heard it said that the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is today.
30. Play on the trampoline. There are tons of games to play on your trampoline outside. If a tramp outside isn’t an option, try a smaller indoor trampoline. I hear the Bellicon brand is great for adults and will certainly work for kids.
31. Play pass. You can do it in the yard with a soccer ball or football, and if you have enough space indoors, your hallways or living room.
32. Do yoga with your kids (or Pilates). Kids need at least moderate physical activity each day, and this may be a potential route, especially if your kids like calm music and bending their bodies into fun positions. For a more intense workout, try Pilates.
33. Enroll in a virtual fitness class. Apparently, there are a few online exercise classes that are geared toward children. Try them out. Turn your screen time into exercise time.
34. Play Dance Dance Revolution. Similar to the prior idea, if you must be in front of a television screen, you might as well make it a fun, sweaty experience with your kids. Play Dance Dance Revolution or another similar active game on your entertainment system.
35. Have a scavenger hunt. I would recommend inspiring your kids to put this together. Help them take responsibility for some activities. They’ll be incredibly proud of the search they orchestrated.
36. Play musical chairs. If you haven’t played musical chairs for a while, now is your opportunity. Let your kids pick the music, even if it is entirely annoying music. The more annoying the music, the better your reflexes might be when the music stops.
37. Run laps around the house. Maybe this can be a punishment (or consequence) for misbehavior. “Did you just hit your sister? Give me 20 laps!”
38. Play drill sergeant. This will take some enthusiasm and imagination. In addition to the previous idea (running laps around the house), you can order your kids to perform various exercises. “Give me 10 jumping jacks!” “5 laps around the house!” “10 barrel rolls on the tramp!” “25 jumping jacks.” Maybe it will be more exciting if you play some rock music.
39. Play darts. There are toy darts and sharp darts. Darts for all ages. Be ready to make some holes or dents in the wall.
40. Make a beanbag toss. Perhaps the best part of the activity is building the setup. Sew bags filled with beans (or you can use white rice) and construct a target out of a large piece of cardboard (or if you have the materials and tools, build it out of wood).
As we implement these and other ideas, let’s be careful not to make quarantine time too much fun because once this quarantine time ends, we want to be excited to get back into the great outdoors and activities of our normal life. I’m joking of course, but in all seriousness, we should see this quarantine time as an opportunity to build some awesome family memories and traditions. We will probably never again have this type of time with our families.
Leave a comment and let us know which of these ideas you have enjoyed, which variations to these activities might be helpful, what other activities are awesome, and what challenges you have faced in getting your kids to be active during this quarantine time (along with solutions you have found).