Adults and kids alike look forward to the end of their day when they can go home, spend time with their family, enjoy food, and pursue their hobbies. But what if you are forced to stay in your home 24 hours a day? For the first few days that could be fun, but after that, some people may start to go stir crazy! Here are a few things that will break up the monotony and make your time more productive.
1. Exercise!
Exercise will help you and your child relieve stress, create happy feelings, get your brain moving, and reduce anxiety. Even if you are confined to a small indoor space, you can do all of these exercises:
- Jumping jacks
- Windmills
- Arm circles
- Running in place
- Head, shoulders, knees, and toes
Try exercising in 15-minute intervals 3 times a day. If you are able to, you can create an “indoor track” throughout your home for your child to run in the morning and in the evening.
2. Reimagine Your Child’s Bedroom
Together with your child, reimagine his or her space. Move furniture around, change the flow of the room. Create original artwork and hang it on the walls and door. If you have a can of colored paint, make large stencils and have your child paint his or her name on the wall. Have your child be a full participant in refreshing his or her space and give your child agency to make decisions about the environment that is being created.
3. Clean Out the Toy Box, Video Games, and Books
Out with the old, in with the new! Your children will be surprised when they start going through their things. They will find toys they forgot they had, games they thought were lost, and books they wanted to finish reading. Have your children take this opportunity to re-engage with things they used to love and encourage them to create a donate pile so the items can be reused by another child.
4. Creativity Feels Good!
Challenge your child to create unique pieces of art using recyclable items. Put large pieces of paper or an old sheet on the walls and allow them to paint a mural. Have your children decorate old t-shirts or jeans and make custom clothing that they will be excited to wear.
5. Cook, Bake, and Create in the Kitchen!
Everyone loves to eat delicious things, and children are particularly impressed when they realize that they can make foods they like to eat! Have your children brainstorm foods they want to make and then let them have at it! Keep it to simple snacks at first, and as the days go on, progress to meals. Once children discover this type of creativity, they will be hooked!
Lisa Vitarisi Mathews is Evan-Moor’s executive editor. She has over 20 years’ experience in PreK–8 education, and has worked closely with teachers across the United States through Evan-Moor product training and workshops.