10 Ways to Keep Kids Busy at Home

1. An obstacle course is a versatile and potentially cheap way to keep kids of all ages occupied.  It can be modified for different skill levels, promotes gross motor skills, and can be indoors and outdoors.

2. Bubbles delight kids of all ages.  Even an infant, can practice tracking as he follows them with his eyes.  Trying to catch bubbles promotes hand-eye coordination and exercise of the pincer grasp.  Bubbles can be created with everyday items in a multitude of ways and are a great avenue for experimentation.  For instance, bubbles can not only be be tiny or gigantic, but even scented!

3. Making puppets encourages creativity and builds fine motor skills.  Kids can then use the puppets for storytelling, which boosts language and can be a way to facilitate social skills learning.

 


4. Make a blanket fort.  Yes, this is what you used to do as a kid, and yes, it is still fun!  Forts are adventurous and provide a quiet space for reading, playing, and resting.  The best part - you already have everything you need right at home!

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5. Keeping the balloon (or balloons!) in the air is just plain fun!  It also encourages hand-eye coordination and can be a super team-building activity.  As simple as blowing up one balloon or as complex as creating "racquets" or using a sheet or parachute, balloons are enticing to toddlers and reluctant teens alike.  (Make sure any broken pieces are thrown away!)

6. "Free art" is simply setting out art supplies and letting kids make whatever they want.  Many kids don't like preplanned crafts, and even those who do appreciate time to invent and draw.  This is a great activity to do with your kids and works best when you resist the urge to "help" - unless a meltdown is imminent, of course!  

 

 

7.  Hide-and-Seek is a classic, sure to bring out the giggles in its participants.  Played individually or in pairs, it offers a good opportunity to practice helping, problem-solving, and self-control.  

8.  Playing “store” or “restaurant” might require some imagination, but it is a well-loved pastime that is adaptable to different skill levels and attention spans.  From cooking and a specially designed menu to following the random instructions of a 2 year old, creativity is the goal at play. 

           

9. Freeze dance uses the power of music and movement to foster expression, confidence, and good listening skills.  It can even be done in the car to distract kids from the inevitable bickering!

                                                             

10. Follow the leader can be done anywhere, anytime, and allows for confidence building and leadership development, creativity, and practice taking turns.  It is a great distraction method to help kids refocus.

                                             

Reset

"I never have any time...."

"I really could use a vacation..."

"I think we're doing too much...."

"I don't know how to say no....."

"There's never enough hours in a day....."

STOP. Pause. Rest. Reset.

"Restart the computer....."

"You'll have to wipe your phone....."

"It stopped us in our tracks and forced us to slow down."

"I wasn't expecting this....."

"Take 2..."

"Return to factory default....."

RESET

I've can't believe that I haven't published a post since May 2.  It's been hard, though, to speak in a world that is so united and divided all at the same time.  In reality, most people have the same goals and desires.  They have the same fears and frustrations.  They are affected more or less personally and responding in kind.  But, instead of listening to the "other side", there seems to be a mentality that it's "all or nothing" with certain subjects.  And that's not okay.  

Everyone has differences.  It's what makes the world work.  I have had experiences and am in situations that you are not (and vice-versa).  What works for me or is within my current scope of understanding may or may not be like anything you have ever seen.  Can we share information with each other?  Sure, but we must also listen to each other.  It gives us a broader perspective to apply to all future encounters.  And if we can't - REST, stay silent, step away, and only then - RESET.

I'm terribly frustrated with the uncertainty of the near future.  It's truly driving me crazy.  I can't stand the inconsistency and the pettyness.  It's not an easy time - for ANYONE.  So, if you get frustrated or just plain "lose it", you're not alone.  Me, too.  

Everyone Has A Different Story.....Coping With The Coronavirus Pandemic

WE ARE NOT IN THE SAME BOAT ...

I heard that we are all in the same boat, but it's not like that. We are in the same storm, but not in the same boat. Your ship could be shipwrecked and mine might not be. Or vice versa.

For some, quarantine is optimal. A moment of reflection, of re-connection, easy in flip flops, with a cocktail or coffee. For others, this is a desperate financial & family crisis.

For some that live alone they're facing endless loneliness. While for others it is peace, rest & time with their mother, father, sons & daughters.

With the $600 weekly increase in unemployment some are bringing in more money to their households than they were working. Others are working more hours for less money due to pay cuts or loss in sales.

Some families of 4 just received $3400 from the stimulus while other families of 4 saw $0.

Some were concerned about getting a certain candy for Easter while others were concerned if there would be enough bread, milk and eggs for the weekend.

Some want to go back to work because they don't qualify for unemployment and are running out of money. Others want to kill those who break the quarantine.

Some are home spending 2-3 hours/day helping their child with online schooling while others are spending 2-3 hours/day to educate their children on top of a 10-12 hour workday.

Some have experienced the near death of the virus, some have already lost someone from it and some are not sure if their loved ones are going to make it. Others don't believe this is a big deal.

Some have faith in God and expect miracles during this 2020. Others say the worst is yet to come.

So, friends, we are not in the same boat. We are going through a time when our perceptions and needs are completely different.

Each of us will emerge, in our own way, from this storm. It is very important to see beyond what is seen at first glance. Not just looking, actually seeing.

We are all on different ships during this storm experiencing a very different journey.

Unknown author

There is a poem circulating on social media explaining that "we're all in the same storm, but we're not all in the same boat".  That's a pretty good metaphor for all of life really.  In my house, we are lucky to have health, no missing of monumental milestones (like graduation), and a job where we already had Dad at home all the time.  So, yes, we are grateful for that and recognize our blessings.  But, we have had disappointments and life interruptions - an indoor percussion season that got suddenly cut short for my oldest two, resulting in the loss of time with friends, competition, and two road trips;  friends being kept inside instead of hanging out with my youngest;  a school day that is entirely online instead of cooking in Culinary, teaching lessons in a real life preschool, learning new percussion techniques, performing concerts, auditioning for the fall marching season, and giving performances in theater and Junior Thespians; the first summer performing and traveling with friends that share and understand your passion for music and spur you on to greater things - all ripped away.

Your story is different, but you too have things that are unexpected blessings and things that you've lost.  It's a surreal time that feels like a sweet dream or nightmare at any given moment.  It's made harder, because it has become increasingly polarized, yet is still confusing and unknown.  We all have lots of theories, but really, we just have a lot of questions.  That uncertainty is frustrating.

So, we take it day by day, and hope for the best.  But, I get anxious as talk of change takes place with no definitive plan or timeline.  I wish for my children to have normalcy, because this next school year will only come once for them.  Rachel will only have one junior year of high school;  Hannah will only be in 7th grade once.  Plans for marching season start before this school year even ends.  Will band camp happen?  Will there be anything to do over the summer?  Time will soon tell, but I've got to tell you, I'm tired of the uncertainty.  I love having my kids home all the time, but I hate that they are being robbed of things that are important to them.  I miss having other kids over and seeing my kids perform.  The lack of "schedule stress" is great, but it comes at a price.  That's part of my story.

What is your story?  My friend coined the term, "Covid-Joy", and shares her covid-joys with us on Facebook and Instagram.  That friend is one of the most positive people I know, and her choice to share her joy is a ministry that blesses thousands. 

So, what is your covid-joy?  One of mine was having my son really tune in to me when I was having an especially tough weekend, frustrated with the constant negativity of news.  He sent me John Krasinski's "Some Good News" broadcast, and it made my day.  John decided to continue his broadcast and even has thrown a virtual prom.  You can check out his YouTube channel here:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOe_y6KKvS3PdIfb9q9pGug

And, it's okay to be frustrated, angry even.  It doesn't mean that you don't care about people or all the families that have lost loved ones.  I think it almost means the opposite, that we were made for relationships.

Happy Easter!

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, MaryMagdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?"

They found the stone rolled away from the tomb,




but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.

His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.

The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

He asked her, "Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."

Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means "Teacher").

Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-9

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