Homebound Activities
Games
Go through your game closet!
Monopoly (takes a long time) and we have time!
Yahtzee (excellent for multiplication table review)
Trouble ( fine motor and counting skills for younger children)
Clue (great for older teens)
Charades
Jacks! We used to play Jack’s for hours in the summer months!
All card games!!! Learn some new games. Cards can also be used to practice math facts while your kids are home.
For example: Using the game of War, each player flips 2 cards instead of one. Depending on the skill your child is at have them add, subtract or multiple the cards. The game continues as a regular War game.
https://bicyclecards.com/rules/
https://playingcarddecks.com/blogs/all-in/40-great-card-games-for-all-occasions
Puzzles
Our family always enjoys large puzzles on vacation. It is usually the only time we get to do them. Find an empty table where the puzzle can be out for family member to work on it.
Start an Indoor Garden
This is the perfect time to start an indoor garden. This will be a daily activity of watering the seeds and watching them grow. It is beneficial for children and adults by providing structure and accomplishment. It is also just really nice to watch things grow.
https://www.almanac.com/gardening/planting-calendar
https://www.planetnatural.com/growing-indoors/
Helping at Home
Cooking
I love to make vegetable soup with my kids. It is a way to clean out
our refrigerator. Soups also freeze well.
Setting The Table
https://www.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/entertaining/how-to-set-a-table
Spring Closet Cleaning! Perfect time for your children to go through their closets!
Plan a formal dinner. Kids can even get dressed up for the occasion.
Basic Chores. You now have time to teach and structure a basic chore chart. Children want to feel needed and helpful.
Letter Writing, Gratitude & Wellness
Given the current situation many of our elderly population is cut off from family and friends. Have your children make homemade cards and send them out to relatives and friends.
Support local restaurants with take -out. Each family member can pick their favorite.
Start an online meditation program. For kids Headspace is very friendly and I have used it myself. There are many different programs, chose the right one for you! Many are offering free subscriptions now.
Activity Jar: This is great for younger children. Find and old jar in the house and decorate. Write down all the activities, projects and games on paper. Fold them up tight and put them in the jar. When boredom arrives have them choose an activity from their jar.
Exercise
Our dog has been really happy this past week with extra walks! Keep exercising and getting fresh air. We have also been seeing other people walking which helps with the feelings of isolation in the home.
Set up a daily chart for exercise and monitor progress! See results and stay strong
Stoopball/ Curb ball (this can be player alone)
Jumping Rope
A, MY NAME IS ALICE! Oldie but goodie
The basic idea is to start with the letter A and go all the way through the alphabet. For each letter you will need to think quickly and give a girl’s name, boy’s name, city/state/country, etc, and an object that begins with the next letter of the alphabet.
A my name is Alice and my partner/husband/wife is Al, we come from Alabama and we sell apples.
Starting with all (A)s, you plug the (A) words into this chant while bouncing the ball rythmatically. If you hesitate or lose control of the ball, you start over.
There are plenty of online exercise videos.
Movies
Pick Movies which may correlate to your child’s history curriculum
Watch a series that you never had time to complete (Star Wars, Marvel, Harry Potter) Spread it out over the next couple of weeks
Watch an old classic movie with your kids from your childhood