I’m grateful. Not that businesses are shutting down, causing financial hardship and definitely not because people are worried, and gravely at risk. All of that has caused me the same heartache and concern that I’m sure you have experienced. The reason I’m grateful is that times like these make you evaluate what is truly important. So many of us complain constantly about our busyness and overbooked schedules. The virus and social distancing have forced us to stop, stay home, and spend time with our families. It’s a blessing. What are you going to do with this time? How are you going to love your family?
When our children are adults, what will they remember about this time? Will they remember how worried their parents were? Will they remember us glued to our TV’s and phones? Or is it possible they will not remember the Coronavirus at all? It’s possible that our kids simply will recall the amazing memories they made with you because you were forced to stay home. Some may even look back on this time as the greatest of their childhood, but that is up to us. I’m grateful for this time of social distancing. It is a focused time with my family and I intend to make the most of it in these 5 ways.
1. Playing Together
Earlier this week, we sent out a list of great ways to spend time indoors. This list from All Pro Dad has great ideas, too. It really doesn’t matter what you do, as long as you are playing with your kids. Have a game night or a video game tournament. Get in sleeping bags and slide down the stairs (carefully). Play laser tag in the dark. If you don’t have laser tag sets, they are reasonably priced at Target and Walmart. You can get them while picking up toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Can you get some for me while you’re there?
2. Creating Together
Reality TV competition shows are great at inspiring kids to try new things. My kids are loving the show Blown Away. I’m not ready to try glass blowing quite yet and social distancing will become much more difficult if we burn the house down. But there are plenty of kid-friendly options. LEGO Masters is another great show my family watches. It inspired my kids to create a LEGO masterpiece together. Not into LEGOs? Get a large roll of paper or tape a bunch of sheets of paper together and draw a huge picture. Watch a cooking show then look up new recipes and make them as a family. Maybe even have each person choose a different dish to make and have everyone vote on a favorite.
3. Learning Together
Just because the kids are out of school doesn’t mean learning should stop. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the social distancing pressures, just start by reading to them. Work on learning a new language by labeling things around the house in three other languages. And check out Classroom Magazines for other great ideas.
4. Exercising Together
Since you can’t get to the gym, exercise as a family. Take a bike ride. Go for a walk, hike, or run. Make an obstacle course in the back yard. Depending on your health, try a challenging workout video and see how well you do as a family. Before you start, be sure to stretch. The social distancing fun factor decreases significantly if you have a pulled muscle!
5. Discussing Together
Finally, there is a lot going on that our kids don’t understand. This is an opportunity to give some perspective about what is happening. If you have elementary and middle school-age kids, explain everything in concrete terms. Give them some simple facts and reassurance. Spend time praying together. If you have teenagers, ask them questions about how they feel and what their concerns are. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect.
What do you plan to do to make the most of social distancing?
