At the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, health officials established that staying home was an excellent way to ensure social distancing and reduce infections. While this is excellent for both parents and kids, it's also frustrating. Spending all your days in the same environment, especially without engaging activities, is stressful. For these reasons, finding exciting activities for the entire family can help you cope with the pandemic and bond.
Healthy Activities You Can Do with the Family
1. Prepare Healthy Meals Together
Gather the family together and prepare a meal plan that includes experimenting with new recipes. It's an excellent opportunity, even for you to learn how to cook fresh, enjoyable meals. First, establish how many experiments you can conduct per week and how the kids can chip in. They can peel the potatoes, clean the vegetables and slice them. You can also teach them how to identify kitchen ingredients and prepare mixes. YouTube offers a broad selection of cooking channels you can learn from.
2. Invest in Crafts
It may be tempting to spend time with the family by watching TV. However, too much screen time is unhealthy. Convert the majority of the movie nights into craft time and watch the time fly. There are multiple crafts you can try together, including drawing, painting, sculpting, decorating, and sewing – order in some paint, pencils, drawing books, modeling clay, and other art supplies. Ensure you participate in the crafts when you're not working to encourage the kids. Take up some crochet and knitting and create sweaters and house slippers for the family.
3. Landscaping
Revamping your landscape is a long project that allows every family member to pitch in. The kids can suggest ideas for a new backyard, for instance, adding a trampoline. Do some research online for ideas for a flower garden and distribute the kids' watering and weeding roles. Also, google herbs and vegetables you can plant in a kitchen garden or planters near your kitchen.
4. Board Games
After an early dinner, gather the kids around the table for some competitive fun. Learn how to play chess and enjoy the thrills of saying "checkmate." Get a game of scrabble and improve your vocabulary. On some nights, order in and enjoy some monopoly.
5. Go Outside
Going outside, smelling the fresh air and enjoying the sunshine is a healthy habit you should encourage. You can go out for a walk, jog or hike during the weekend. Maintain at least 6 feet of distance from other people, keep your masks on and carry your sanitizer. Jogging, hiking and bike rides are great for physical exercise. If you have a pool, make sure it's always clean and enjoy some laps and, later on, a little barbecue.
Join the Y for Fun
The key to bonding during the COVID-19 pandemic is to find fun family activities. These activities stimulate all family members mentally and provide a chance to talk and come together. At the Y, you and the family can find healthy activities for the entire family. Join the YMCA of Southern Nevada today!