I know some of you grandmas are doing what you do best and that is taking care of your grandkids while moms and dads go to work during this trying time in our country. I also know you probably have all kinds of great things to do with them while their home from school, but we thought we would offer a few more choices. Many I thought of a few you haven’t thought of in a while. 

1. Gather up the kids and go for a walk, but not just any walk. Go on a scavenger hunt. Make up a list of things to look for while you’re out. Everyone will benefit from the fresh air and sunshine, you’ll burn up calories while the kids burn up energy and they get to use their brains while looking for the objects. If it’s raining, but not lighting, go walking in the rain. The kids will love it. Here’s a short list of things you could look for: a leaf, a flower, a three-leaf clover, a rock, three blades of grass, a stick, etc. Give each child a sack and let the fun begin. 

2. FaceTime Play Dates. Our kids will naturally miss their friends from school, so schedule a friend facetime date. You can up the fun by making a date to play a game, like charades with the friend. Text them first and tell them the rules of the game and what time you are going to call. Tell them to come up with three movies (or animals or songs or books) they want to act out and your side will do the same. Each person could have one minute to get their friend to say the word, movie or book they are acting out. This keeps the kids occupied for a while and lets them work on some thinking skills. 

3. Pretend a room in your house is the library. Tell the kids you are going to the library today and, in the library, you have to whisper because other people are there reading quietly. This is a great activity to teach kids how to be quiet and attentive. Tell them they can check out any book they want to, then act like you are a librarian and have them come to you to check their book out. They will love the make believe. Libraries always have story hour, so do that too, pick a good book and read it. This is a great way to have some quiet time and who won’t need that at some point in the day!

4. Involve the kids in chores they don’t normally do. This is a great way to teach kids that everyone has to do their part to keep the house clean and spring is a good time for cleaning after the winter months. Have the kids help you tackle the cleaning out the garage or washing the car or sweeping the back porch or organizing a messy drawer or pulling weeds or hosing off anything. Anything involving a hose is nothing but fun. Remember your kiddos may not be thrilled to help, but being thrilled to help should never be a reason not to help. It’s all about teaching and training. 

5. Give yourself a time out. This, of course, depends on the age of your kids. You can’t leave a one year old by themselves, but if your kids are old enough, it’s okay to say, “I’m having some mom (dad, grandma) time” or “reading time” or “devo time” or whatever you want to call it. It’s okay for kids to know we need our quiet moments too.  Everyone needs a break in their day and it’s good to teach kids to entertain themselves during part of each day. This is a great time for coloring sheets or other worksheets that can be printed off your computer. Of course, limited screen time is always good, so look for activities they can do with the hands and heads. 

6. If you function best as an organized person, then organize. Staying in with kids doesn’t have to be a disorganized jumble of unstructured activities. Everyone benefits from organization, even those who fight against it. Certainly, the day can be more relaxed, but a schedule gives everyone a sense of well-being. Kids actually love schedules even if they complain or whine a little about them. Plot out a series of routines that you can happily cope with. If you have access to poster paper, make a big schedule to post where everyone can see it. The kids will think it’s fun to see a large poster with the day mapped out. Don’t forget rest time.  Even if your kids are older, it’s nice to have an hour where everyone reads or plays quietly. Built it in and they will do it. 

7. Volunteer somehow. With a little extra time on our hands (since ballgames, etc. are cancelled) it’s a good time to find a way to get your kids involved in helping out or encouraging others. Maybe making cookies will brighten a neighbor’s day or, if you can get out, buy a bag of those “smarties” candies. Tape them to a piece of paper that has this printed on written on it, “We’re so smart to have you as a neighbor!” then put one in each mailbox as you do your afternoon walk. Be creative! This will combine craft time with doing a good deal for others. Win, win! I’m sure after a brainstorming session, your kids will come up with some great ideas. 

8. One of my favorite activities is a family talent show. Give the kids thirty minutes or so to come up with their talent and let the fun begin. If you do something entertaining, it’s even more fun. Remember to stress this isn’t about the best, it’s about bringing joy and fun to others. Get the camera ready and enjoy the show. 

9. Another favorite in our house or car was the story-telling game. We did this traveling, but it’s great at home too. Each person says a sentence until the story is written. If you have a few really young ones, it’s just funnier, so let them play to. You can start the story with something like, “The little boy ran out of the house because he saw a turtle in the yard.” Then, the next child adds a line. Then the next. If you want to, type it on the computer and print the stories out. The kids could work on illustrating the pages for another activity.

10. Remember that feeling stressed with little people is normal. Don’t get down on yourself for feeling like you’re ten minutes away from going crazy. We have all done that!  Maybe it’s time for a time out, but you can make that fun too. Announce to your kids that you are going to instate what is called corner time. Corner time means when you say the words “corner time”, everyone has to run to a corner in the house. You can do this all during the day just for fun or to reset a moment when they are fussing or crying or fighting. Tell them the way out of a corner is by doing what you tell them to do. You can verbally tell them what to do or pre-make a jar full of activities they can do to get out of the corner. Again, this is a great way to teach listening and obeying skills. Here’s a list of some things you can put in your get-out-of-the corner-jar:

• count to 20 backwards 
• hop on one leg five times  
• tap your nose and pat your stomach at the same time
• sing a Christmas song 
• act like you’re a fish
• five jumping jacks

To make this day-long game more fun, tell them they can’t so back to any corner they have used before. (Shhhhh…if you’re needing a break, let them sit in the corner for a few minutes and enjoy the moment.)

Sending love your way and prayers for safety.