The stress caused by the recent virus outbreak can be overwhelming, trying to plan a day (or even weeks) with children at home may also add to that stress. The good news is you’re not alone, and negative feelings during this time are typical responses. It’s important that we take time to bond as a family to reduce stress and increase the amount of support each member feels during these tough times. Having a list of activities will empower you to try something new that doesn’t involve screens.
While screen time doesn’t always encourage family bonding, we can take care of ourselves by not feeling guilty over screen time during the quarantine – lean into whatever feels best for your family. One way to help balance the screen habit is to set aside family time without screens at least once a week. If you’re quarantined, try pushing for once a day!
We’ve put together this list of 50 family activities that don’t involve screens to get you inspired!
- Make decorations, create a playlist, and throw a family dance party
- Make a piñata and fill it with candy and prizes
- Take a family bike ride (or rollerblade, scooters, skateboards, etc)
- Enjoy play time with your pet(s)
- Plan a family garden
- Have a family “dress-up” dinner party
- Board game night
- Craft & DIY night
- Make (and fly) a kiteon a windy day
- Pack a picnic to take to the park
- Evening drive to watch a sunset
- Cooking class in the kitchen! Teach kids how to make their favorite dish
- Make a bunch of friendship braceletsfor gifts
- Plan a dream vacation, even if you don’t think you could afford it
- Make a family budget for the dream vacation
- Make different kinds of Slime!
- Listen to an audiobook together as part of bedtime
- Make Christmas gifts or cards—can never be too prepared!
- Create your Family Tree or a family photo album
- Bake cookies or a fancy cake
- Play a card game ormake your own Memory game
- Make sidewalk chalk portraits of the family
- Budget class! Teach kids how to grocery shop on a budget
- Make your own personal pizza night
- Make your own fidget spinnersout of paper
- Clean out your closets and donate clothes/toys
- Use smartphones to do a silly family photo shoot
- Make a fancy breakfast one morning
- Make rock candyand package them as gifts for friends
- Create a nature scavenger huntin your backyard
- Get your favorite book/magazine to read together in the same room
- Cook ahead for the week! Everyone gets a job and meals are ready for the week
- Have a family meeting: update family rules, chores, allowance, and responsibilities
- Play 20 questions or one of these silly group games
- Redecorate or rearrange a room in the house
- Music night: play instruments, write songs, use noisemakers, play your favorite songs
- Organize a family game to play in your backyard
- Spring clean & simplify your house together (Marie Kondo style)
- In home burst workoutsfor parents & kids
- Do a puzzle together
- Write a play and act it out together, record it for memory’s sake
- Used to play an instrument? Pull it out and re-teach yourself with the family as a supportive audience!
- Write letters to friends and family
- Try a guided meditationtogether
- Work in your back yard together and pull weeds as a stress reliever
- Play hide & seek (indoors or outdoors)
- Make a mancala counting game with an egg carton
- Go camping in the living room (ghost storiesare a bonus)
- Makeice creamin a bag
- Make a time capsule! One day your kids can use it to tell their kids about living through a pandemic.
We hope these ideas inspire you to enjoy the moments you have with your family! Making new, healthy habits can be difficult as a parent. If you feel like you could use extra support, let us know! We have parenting education classes to help.