Month: March 2020

Let’s be honest we are all trying to fill the days with activities to keep our kids busy.

My last post contained activities to use with electronics, you can read it here https://paradisetravelbychristine.com/virtual-family-fun/

Today, let’s put those electronics away and have some good old fashion family fun.

After schoolwork, chores and reading are done or if you need to break up your school day there are tons of ways to entertain your kids.

Here is a list of some of the activities we are doing lately:

• Play a board game
• Put a puzzle together
• Take a family walk
• Play in the yard
• Looks through old photos
• Sing some songs
• Chalk artwork outside
• Write a letter to a friend or family member out of state
• Artwork-paint, color, sculpt with clay or playdough
• Build a fort
• Learn a new song to play on an instrument you have at home
• Have an indoor picnic or if the weather is nice an outdoor picnic
• Play hide and seek
• Dress up and have a family tea party-we did this with lemonade
• Play the alphabet game
• Teach your dog a new trick
• Play spa and have manicures/pedicures
• Bake cookies
• Play restaurant, have your kids help prepare dinner, set the table and make a menu. Then they can serve you and play waiter/waitress
• Have a dance party

I also try to have daily quiet time, where the kids are off electronics and in their own rooms playing, reading, whatever. I think they need a break from their siblings and I need some quiet of my own, from them, to get actual work done. I did this a lot when my kids stopped napping, it’s usually after lunch and by that time, mama needs a break!!

These are just a few ideas to entertain your kids without electronics. I like to look on my Facebook feed to get ideas from my friends or browse Pinterest.

You can follow my page here .

Please don’t feel like you need to be the Pinterest perfect mother, this time in our lives and the situation we are all living in, just do your best.

If your kids are loved, well-fed, a roof over their heads then they are good and so are you. Take it one day at a time mamas, you are doing great.

Share some activities you are doing with your kids, I’d love to get some new ideas.

Image if this quarantine had happened when we were kids? What would distance learning look like? Would we have to rely on a telephone chain to communicate?

How lucky are we that this happened in 2020? Social distancing is the buzz word of the moment, but in reality, we are not socially distant are we?

Facebook, Instagram, Google Hangouts, Facetime, Zoom calls, the possibilities for a social connection are everywhere. The possibilities to connect are endless.

Some great ideas to do with your kiddos during their electronic time:

• Have a virtual playdate with a friend
• Have grandparent read a book to your child on Facetime
• Facetime in a family member during a meal
• E -visit museums
• Virtually ride attractions at Disney World
• Fun Tic Toc videos
• Have the kiddos make an I-movie trailer (Thanks Apple Camp!!)
• Virtual Fieldtrips of National Parks
• An online step by step canvas artwork
• Take a fitness class on YouTube

Of course, we are limiting screentime until after all homework, chores, and reading are done but they are allowed more than usual right now.

Next time, I’ll post our non-electronic playtime ideas.

Let me hear what you are doing with your family in the comments below-sharing is caring.

Hello friends!! Week two of quarantine has begun as well as our distance learning programs.

I have a 6th grader, a 3rd grader, and a preschooler. The girls have been doing really well, the teacher’s plans, instructions, and guidance has been wonderful. Emails have been returned quickly when we have questions.

I must admit I enjoy working with my preschooler, it’s fun to see what he’s learning and guide him along the way. He just started reading books and it’s amazing to see how quickly he’ll be a full-on reader.

We’ve been sticking to a school schedule, getting outside time. It’s been 60 degrees here so that is helpful. All that snow has melted away.

The kids have been getting their PE time via Youtube with Joe Wick’s daily PE classes, super fun, and the kids love it. He’s a PE teacher and will post a new workout each weekday.

Hang in there Mamas, you are doing great and remember to take it one day at a time.