It's borderline miraculous that every child-centered activity we deemed normal three months ago is now being normalized by technology and staying connected through a screen. But the truth is, all of this virtual stuff with kids is actually a lot more work for moms than sending your kid to camp, school, ballet class or anywhere that provides outlets for our kids creativity, intellectuality and ENERGY.
These places and classes IRL have provided us with the much needed BREAKS that virtual activities don’t do for more than ten minutes for most kids. What this virtual boom is also creating is the idea that we are expected to do ALL the things we did before because ALL the things are being offered virtually. And this idea can lead to every mother’s kryptonite: Guilt, guilt, and more guilt.
The good news is I have come up with a solution for a summer in quarantine that covers all the bases. No costly virtual camp and summer school, no guilt for not spending enough of this special (mandatory) time with our children, and all at very little cost both monetarily and emotionally.
Here it is:
Do ONE cool thing with your kids ONCE a week for 8 weeks. This one thing will be something you plan and look forward to as you lead up to it each week. This doesn’t mean don’t pay attention to your kids the other days of the week but owning and committing to this one activity will let your poor busy self off the hook of always trying to think of something creative to do under quarantine. These 8 things for 8 weeks will also get you through almost the entire summer and your kids get to spend time with you and you get to feel good about yourself and everybody wins!
Even though it feels like it, you don’t have to do EVERYTHING, Mama’s. In fact, you don’t even have to think about what to do for those 8 weeks, because I have thought of it for you.
WEEK ONE: Become a Balloon Animal Professional
Come on, you know you’ve always wanted to. When you’re at a Mexican restaurant and a waitress comes by and blows your kids mind by building a bear out of balloons in two minutes – you have thought to yourself how cool it would be to make your kids' jaw drop like that, right? And just think, you’ll be a hit a birthday parties long after quarantine and for years to come.
Click here to become a balloon animal-making machine for just $20!
https://www.etsy.com/listing/280157338/stay-at-home-quarantine-fun-activities
WEEK TWO: Build a Lemonade Stand
My friend Erica and her 5 year-old Regina had the brilliant idea of building a lemonade stand out of boxes and they made honey lemonade to sell to Regina’s stuffed animal friends.
You can do this for no cost by using your own boxes and some duct tape and whatever art crafts you have laying around but for more ideas, check out some DIY ideas on Pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/535435843197819453/
And here is a refreshing and easy honey lemonade recipe: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/609956343263121414/