How to Keep Your Children Occupied and Entertained Through a Pandemic

Being stuck at home, once sounded like an easy task, but as the days pass by it can prove more and more challenging. Our kids need stimulation that stems beyond staring at screens all day, but as parents, finding activities to allow our kids to actively participate, can prove to be a difficult and daunting undertaking. This can be exacerbated by the circumstances around the pandemic. While it may seem difficult, don’t feel like you are alone in this. Consider these tips and tricks to keep your kids busy which will help you and your family stay sane and satisfied.

Engaging Entertainment

Games may not be the activity that you were thinking of, but many games can get your little one’s mind moving. Consider educational games like Sudoku, Snake, or escape rooms. These activities, while fun and entertaining, can also provide the additional benefit of getting your kid’s brain moving.

Yoga

While many adults have viewed yoga as an activity only for adults, it can be a great outlet for our kids. Teaching kids how to participate in a yoga practice into their life can yield incredible benefits. Not only is yoga a great physical practice, but it can also help children calm their minds and deal with some of the stressors that they may be experiencing. Even better, it gets the entire family and gets everyone exercising.

Books

It may seem like an obvious choice, but books can be a wonderful outlet for children. Through the art of storytelling, your child can be transported to another world. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to have them escape to different worlds, learn about other perspectives and dive deep into a narrative through a book. Get your kids to put down the screens and engage in a good book, and they’ll be grateful for the wonderful outcomes that it leads to.

Gardening

During normal times, our lives have a tendency to get ahead of us and when we get busy, we avoid time-consuming tasks; however, being stuck at home has presented us with a variety of different activities and a lot of time to do them. This time at home can leave you and your children with the perfect time to start a family garden. Take this time to teach your children about life, growth and caring for something and you will have a variety of valuable life lessons that you can pass along to them.

Pen Pals

Many kids these days grow up in a digital world where paper products are a thing of the past. This presents you with a great time to teach them the art of writing and the wonders of the mail. Contact a few fellow parents and set up a pen pal system so that your kids have another unique and exciting way to stay in touch with one another. Encourage them to get creative, by having them send pieces of artwork, surprises and other items through the mail for one another. Next thing you know, your child will be anxiously waiting by the window for the mail person to stop by before you know it.

Conversations with Your Kiddos

It can be tempting to only highlight the fun and positive parts of quarantining with your kids; however, kids are incredibly perceptive. Your child has likely picked up on the increased anxiety, change in routine or strange circumstances that they are living in, so avoiding the topic will have little benefit and possibly even cause them harm. Instead, consider how you can talk to them about what’s going on. You can be realistic and honest with your kids in an age-appropriate way. Even better, this opens up a chance for them to ask you questions and reopen this conversation when they are feeling scared or worried.

A pandemic is certainly not what any of us were hoping for this year; however, we can do our best to make the most of a challenging situation. Consider these creative and engaging ways to keep your kiddos occupied so that you and they can all enjoy this time together and make the most of a challenging period.