10 Family Fun Activities for a Coronavirus Quarantine
According to the talking heads on the news right now, it appears that the Coronavirus is not to be messed with. In an attempt to manage what is now a global pandemic, travel has ben restricted, public events are cancelled, and schools/workplaces have moved online.
While plenty of experts will give guidance on what you can do to limit the spread of the disease, imperfect & normal families like ours are looking for more practical help. Specifically, we need guidance on what to do when our families are stuck at home for a few months.
Since we are sequestered (trapped) with our kids for a prolonged period of time, how can our families not just survive, but thrive? Here are ten ideas that, in addition to being fun, might save your life. (You’re welcome.)
1. Make Craft Projects.
Create your own toilet paper from the notebook paper your kids aren’t using since their school is closed. (Because, let’s face it…. who is going to do a bunch of homework during a global crisis?)
2. Play Board Games.
Just be sure to sit on opposite sides of the room and use golf clubs or broomsticks to move your pieces so you can maintain at least 6 feet of space between family members.
3. Make The News Fun Again.
As you watch CNN or FOX, create BINGO cards for everyone with key words in the spaces like CDC, WHO, global, president, outbreak, mask, pandemic, cancelled, etc. Award an N95 face mask to the winner.
4. Wash Your Hands.
Help your little ones figure out how many verses of “Baby Shark” they can get through in 20 seconds of washing. (Hint: it’s about 2 and a half.)
5. Play Dress Up.
Instead of their typical princess costumes, see who can come up with the most elaborate HAZMAT suit using everyday items from around the house.
6. Spend More Time on Facebook.
Fill your heart with joy and build up your emotional well-being by connecting with friends and family in an online environment guaranteed to be free of partisan political debates and conflicts about the impact of the Coronavirus.
7. Learn Something.
Start pursuing that online doctorate in Microbiology/Global Disease Control that you have always dreamed about.
8. Watch Classic Sporting Events on YouTube.
Pretend that you are actually there by wearing team colors, yelling at the refs, and throwing away $8 for every cup of soda you drink.
9. Practice Real-Life Math.
Teach your kids all about exponential growth and what it means to “flatten the curve” of a viral outbreak. It’s fun for the whole family!
10. Self-Quarantine.
When you grow weary of each other (and you will), demand that family members isolate themselves in their bedrooms indefinitely. After all, you can remind your kids, it’s for the good of all humanity. And mom.
On a more serious note, we can all be praying that our planet is able to get this horrible thing under control. Pray for our world leaders as they make decisions. Pray for health care workers who are under incredible pressure and for those who are terribly sick right now. Pray for the elderly, who are particularly vulnerable to Coronavirus.
Pray that God uses this time of rest and reset to remind us that we are not in control. Pray that we can make the most of our “down time” to connect in meaningful ways with those who are closest to us.
And if you’re seriously looking for something to do, NOW would be a great time to download our new INFO for Families app. You’ll find all sorts of content to enjoy during those slow boring days stuck in isolation. We personally recommend the “Family Devotions” you’ll find. You are just moments away from having a meaningful conversation with your kids about some important truths from Scripture. Enjoy!
