This is what I looked like before quarantine.
This is what I look like now. Ha ha ha ha. Just kidding...sorta. :(
Actually, this was how we dressed up for Mini Diabolina's 100th day of kindergarten... spent blissfully at her school a month before quarantine.
But, um, it's how I FEEL after 190ish days at home with my child...all day...every day...with no end in sight. {screams for help}
Thankfully, I stayed home with Mini for a few years so this isn't my first rodeo. I've needed to fill hours and days and months with my child at home before. Creativity, resourcefulness, patience and grace were key then and even more so now in a pandemic.
On March 11, when we started quarantine, I was pretty prepared. I always stock up on crafts, toys, and books that I hide away for rainy/shitty days. But when it became clear the weeks would turn into months at home, I researched new ways to keep my chattering-inquisitive-constantly-moving-demanding-Tasmanian-devil-meets-Energizer-bunny busy.
Here are some of the activities keeping us sane at home. If even one is new to you, YAY! That might be the very thing that saves your life on a Sunday at 4pm, staring down a bored child sheltering in place. You're welcome.
My child is NOT a child that prefers to play alone...ever. But with these pricey magical magnet shape thingies, she will play independently, contentedly for an hour. Since she was about 3. Bless the ingenious makers.
Expensive, yes, and almost never go on sale, yes. BUT that's most good things, right? Think Chanel and Disneyland. Go get them...yesterday. Also follow MagnaTiles on Insta for inspiration.
I have issues with the Lego sets marketed to little girls. In a nutshell, they are pretty lame. I prefer the City line. More gender neutral. Looooooved this LEGO City Space Mars Research Shuttle one. EXCELLENT for the price and for all the time it kills assembling and playing with afterward.
Legos are also pricey but it's a brand we can feel good about supporting after the firm stance they took against racism and inequality a few months ago.
We love all things play dough. Made our own during Zoom art camp.
I usually pick up random kits discounted at Marshall's. We especially love food ones like this pasta one and desserts one.
Hair growing ones (Rapunzel and Trolls) were in vogue for a while around these parts.
But this Doctor Drill and Fill set is a scream. Tooth fairy brought it when she lost her first tooth last year.
On heavy rotation lately because some tooth is always loose right now.
Jewelry kits
Feels like a lot of kids (read: annoying moms like me AND their kids) got into making jewelry and tie dye early in quarantine. What was that collective fashion crazy about??? Here's one of the kits I liked best. Some letters to supplement.
I got myself a grown up version from my favorite Roxanne Assoulin for Mother's Day. This DIY necklace kit (currently sold out) + some magazines = a blissful Saturday night for mommy.
I think ultimately there is something cathartic and reassuring about MAKING something with your hands. Coloring and lettering have had the same effect for me. Words I never thought I'd say.
We've been getting this monthly subscription for about two years. But you can get specific boxes/projects to try it out. Each box includes 2-3 STEAM projects leveled for your child's age. Very hands-on.
The projects required more of my help when she was 4. But now she does 80% of the work. Remarkable to see the progression in fine-motor skills and engineering ability <3
Every month we say, "This one is our favorite one yet!" like nerds. But truly we look forward to it. Quality bonding guaranteed.
I save it for mid-morning on Saturdays because it's an activity that kills at least an hour and gives us a couple of fantastic toys we MADE that we can play with the rest of the weekend. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
Always saw the ads for this one because social media knows I am that mom. Finally clicked early in quarantine and got the monthly subscription. Takes your child around the world to learn about different countries and cultures.
We like but don't love. Wish there was more to MAKE instead of read. She might be a bit young for it. Also she's more of a maker than the nebbish reader I was.
National Geographic Mega Gemstone Dig Kit
I got her this kit for Easter. Bought us hours of quiet digging time over the next week. Huge dusty mess but isn't your whole house a trash can by now? Pondering some more geology ones. The National Geographic store is pretty cool nerdy fun.
My kid never met a box she didn't love. Also adores cramming into places that are too small to fit her comfortably. Et voila! This playhouse was everything. She painted it and played with it for weeks.
One mom told me she gets one over the holidays when the kids are out of school and need a project. Smart. We got ours around Fourth of July. Sparklers sold separately.
Next up in the Things to Do with Kids series:
Screen time and learnin' resources in quarantine.
Spoiler: We went from no screen time to two devices in under six months.
