Newsletter

It might be the buzz word of 2020, but “social distancing” not only stops the spread of viruses but gives us the space, time, and calm to get better faster. We are offering you our top picks on how to keep your child entertained when you’re stuck at home.

Fun For Parents, Babies and Toddlers
Having fun with your little one takes on a completely different shape when your child is 6 months – 4 years old, and finding things to do together that are actually fun for you can be a bit more challenging. These suggestions, however, are pretty tried and true.

1. Messy Play – Remember the days when you were told not to play with your food? Well, toss those right in the bin. Many resources are touting the benefits of letting your little ones get messy with food. So, how does this become fun for you? Make it artistic!

Lay down some plastic, grab some yogurt and food coloring, and set to work creating colors that you can put into separate containers. Strip your tot down to their diaper or undies, plop them in front of your edible finger paints, and let them go to town! The works of art you two create might not be lasting, but that’s what your camera is for!

2. Photo Shoot – If we’re being really honest with ourselves, there are few things we parents love more than taking pictures of our kids. Given some time stuck at home, why not make it an event? Dress your little one up like your favorite movie character, give them all sorts of fun, safe props to play with, and see what they do. You can create different backdrops, like an underwater scene surrounded by all their stuffed, aquatic animals. Let your imagination run wild!

Fun For Parents and Young Kids
When kids enter kindergarten, fun takes on a whole other shape, and continues to evolve drastically over the next five years. In addition, children’s interests tend to vary more widely during this time, but these are some suggestions we feel bridge the spectrum.

1. LEGO Sets – Who doesn’t love LEGOS? Aside from the great bonding opportunity building together creates, LEGOS promote creativity, mathematic, spacial and engineering skills, while having fun. How much better can it get?

2. Make a Movie! – Have a smartphone or tablet? Well then, you have a movie camera! Come up with a short story and let your child’s imagination take the lead as you gather your figurines, props, and set dressing. Let your child move the figurines around and do the voices, or you can go the stop-animation route, where you shoot some dialogue, cut, move the figurine, and then shoot again. There are also tons of great apps out there to help you and your child make an awesome little flick.

Fun For Parents and Older Children
Your 10 – 15 year old is pretty darn good at entertaining themselves but if you two are stuck at home together, why not make the most of it?

1. Watch Old Movies – And by old, we mean the movies you grew up on. The classics of the 70s, 80s, and 90s. The original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Back the Future, Adventures in Babysitting, and Mrs. Doubtfire, just to name a few. Watching these old movies again is not only medicine for your soul, but provides a great sharing opportunity for you to tell your quickly-maturing kid about your early days, what the movie meant to you, who you watched it with, etc.. Sharing what we are passionate about is a great way to reconnect with our busy older children, so while they’re stuck at home, take advantage!

2. Create a Scavenger Hunt – Create a prize, perhaps a box of treasures, a hand-made gift if your child is crafty, or just some cash if you’ve got some lying around. Create a series of clues, hidden around the house, to find it. Give another family member the first clue, and watch them try and decipher the riddles you created together! Making scavenger hunts is an incredibly creative, strategic endeavor, from coming up with the theme, to decorating each clue, finding great hiding spots and more. Here are some tips to make yours come to life.

Staying home and missing out can be tough for both you and your little one, but using the time as an opportunity to create lasting memories can be priceless. So take care and have fun.