MY KIDS ARE DRIVING ME CRAZY AT HOME!!!

With the coronavirus frenzy, many outside-the-home events will not be taking place and we as Americans are forced to do normal things like having picnics in the backyard or sitting outside on the front porch. Now, married couples will have opportunities to relax and get to know each other deeper. We might even see a baby boom by December 2020! Home improvements around the house can be finalized. Board games replace nationally televised basketball games and going to see a movie turns into a family movie night at home.

Here's a list of things you can do to help "spring forward" with your younger family members as well as the older ones:

Have each kid pick a topic they'd like to learn about and spend 30 mins each day on that topic

Spend one day reading every single picture book you have in the house

Go through all the old mail laying around (ok, that one's not for kids although they do enjoy helping tear stuff up)

Bake something new

Have each kid write a letter and/or emails to a different friend or family member each day

Wash your hands!

Races of various kinds in the backyard (hopping on one foot, crabwalk, walking backwards, etc.)

Try stop-motion animation with PlayDough

Facetime grandparents

Watch everything on Disney+

Have the kids help with yardwork in between playing games outside — get the garden ready

Board games, card games

Legos

Lots of reading, playing with the dog

Learning to sew using stuff you have on hand

Card-making/scrapbooking projects

Make tents and reading caves — flashlights, tidy snacks, books, and pillows

Have a shadow show in the reading tent (use blankets over chairs or a table)

Get binoculars and learn about the birds near your house, look them up on Google and search for their bird calls on YouTube

Many educational websites are waving fees if your student's school is closed

Watch all the hand-washing videos & vote on your favorite. Discuss why each is good, helpful, funny. The Holderness Family parory on YouTube is hilarious!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiAOS92bjeQ&feature=youtu.be

Take this time to realize that a lot of the bigger things in life have been given a small place in our homes. Although I caution about the hysteria around the coronavirus, I do think we need to take a break and take care of family first.