(Newswire.net — April 14, 2020) — Has life turned into a montage of all the boring bits of Big Brother?
Days can seem very long indeed right now. The kids are missing their friends, they can’t go to school, and they can’t play outside. Even worse, you can’t even get out in the car to break up the monotony.
So, we’ve gathered a few activity ideas to help you get through these hard times. After all, while there’s nothing that you can do about the lockdown, you might as well use the time as an opportunity to bond with your family.
Try to explore some fun activities together and enjoy this time as best you can.
Science Experiments
Tornado in a Bottle is a cool and simple experiment you can do at home that creates a cyclone in a bottle.
All you need is:
- Empty glass bottle with lid
- Water
- Glitter (4 tablespoons)
- Funnel
Use the funnel to pour the glitter into the bottle. Next, fill the bottle three-quarters full with water. Now replace the lid making sure it’s on tight. Turn the bottle upside down and shake vigorously in a circular motion then stop. Place the bottle upside on the counter and watch the glitter spin round due to centripetal force.
Just because school is out right now, doesn’t mean the fun or learning needs to stop.
Gardening
If you don’t have a garden, you can still get your kids to grow things and learn the fundamentals of botany.
Indoor gardening kits are great way to get your kids occupied.
Mini greenhouse experiments are fun for kids of all ages. By the time they go back to school, they’ll know all about plant cells and capillary action. Some kits allow you to construct an automatic watering system.
Keep those immune systems strong with plenty of vitamin D from the sun as you get some fresh air without leaving home.
Arts and Crafts
Imagination is your only limitation here.
To make magical fairy jars that glow in the dark you will need:
- Jars with lids
- Fluorescent paints
- Paintbrushes
- Paper
- PVA glue
- Glow sticks
- Glitter
First, activate the glow sticks by breaking and shaking them. Next, snip off the ends of the glow sticks and empty the contents into the jar. Be careful here as there are tiny pieces of glass in there that you broke.
After adding the glow stick contents, add your glitter then shake it up. Once you’ve coated the inside, switch off the light and enjoy your fairy glow jar.
Games
Minecraft is a huge hit with kids. This is a computer game where you use virtual building blocks to build imaginative virtual worlds. Your kids can create anything they like from swimming pools and rollercoasters to palaces and skyscrapers. The possibilities are endless.
Kids can also use Minecraft to communicate with their friends and to share their own virtual creations with each other.
If you want some family fun time, why not get everyone involved with Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
This is a superb competitive quiz game suitable for just about anyone. Based on the popular TV quiz show, everyone knows the format: answer 15 questions correctly for a cool million. The game has a fun competitive atmosphere so it not only gets the memory working but also gets you interacting as a family.
For something more light-hearted still, everyone loves a game of Twister. Test your balance and flexibility with this fun physical game. Lay a large sheet with colored spots on the floor. Spin the dial and place the body part on the corresponding color.
You’ll have hours of fun with this game as your limbs twist and entwine. The winner is the last man standing. Or sitting!
Operation is classic game that tests patience and manual dexterity and gets everyone giggling. Let the kids play doctor and perform emergency operations on the patient. Rigged to a buzzer, any wrong move causes the patient to emit a startling buzz. The person who successfully removes each body part without getting buzzed wins.
Card Games
Little ones tend to lose interest quickly, so quick card games can brighten up a dull moment.
Uno can be played by all ages and encourages a competitively charged atmosphere. If you hold a tournament, you’ll keep the game going for even longer.
Books and E-books
Get your kids reading their favorite books during lockdown. Bestselling children’s books are available as a Kindle download or can be ordered online.
Get popular titles like The Bad Seed by Jory John which won Amazon’s Book of The Month. A charming and amusing story with some interesting lessons about manners and behavior.
Harry Potter by JK Rowling is still trending strongly. The magical tales of the young wizard continue to capture imaginations around the world. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is the best selling children’s book on Amazon.
Coloring In Books
There’s little more relaxing than coloring in. Explore Hogwarts Castle with the Harry Potter Coloring Book. This book is printed with gold on super-high quality paper. A perfect book for Potter-heads.
Baking
Now is a great time to get your kids into the kitchen. Cooking is a crucial life skill so start them young.
Easy Peasy Pizzas
These are as easy as promised by the name.
Mix 500g bread flour, 1 teaspoon yeast, 1 teaspoon olive oil, and a pinch of salt in a bowl using a handheld mixer.
When the mixture looks like dough, cover the bowl with a tea towel and leave in a warm space.
Make a sauce by mixing fried onion and tinned tomatoes and simmering them. Cut the dough into four and roll out into pizza bases.
Add the sauce and cover with cheese and any toppings you fancy. Place in an oven heated to 350F for 20 minutes and then serve.
Final Thoughts
These are just a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing.
Try to take full advantage of the extra time you have with your kids right now. Even if things are feeling tough, focus on the positives and enjoy the company of your precious children even if you can’t get out and about.