Here Are Safe Outdoor Activities For Kids During Quarantine
We're all doing our part to flatten the curve and slow the spread of COVID-19, and one really great way to do that is to practice social distancing and quarantine. While for us adults, it might not be very difficult since a lot of us are working from home or have various projects around the house we can catch up on, but for kids, it's a different story.
Telling a rambunctious 6-year-old they have to stay inside all day isn't going to go over well. So, here are some outdoor activities that are safe, fun, and social distancing–approved so that your kids can keep playing safely.
Balloon Volleyball Is A Great Way To Bond And Bounce
This game is the perfect backyard smash hit. Even though you can't really play real volleyball right now and you probably don't have enough people in your house for a team, blowing up a balloon and trying to "score" on the other person in your the backyard is a great way to have fun and infuse a little playtime into your day.
Take Advantage Of Your Backyard
Even though not everyone has the luxury of having a backyard, those who do should definitely take advantage of it. Letting your kids frolic in the backyard is a great way to let them enjoy the season even though they can't go to their usual springtime haunts.
Make Some Cool Totem Poles Out Of Old Toilet Paper Rolls
Listen, I know you've got some old cardboard paper towel and toilet paper rolls lying around, so put them to good use with an art project. Get inspired by totem poles and get your kids to decorate your cardboard waste with some funky designs.
Get Cracking On (Hard-Boiled) Egg Races
Right now, we're trying not to waste food, so you definitely shouldn't use raw eggs, but if you put a hard-boiled egg on a spoon and have your family race with them, you can still eat them after.
Don't Go To The Playground
Even though your kids love the playground like nothing else, there's guaranteed to be a lot of other children there. Even if there aren't, you can't possibly disinfect every surface on the playground to make it "safe." Opt instead for a park with wide-open spaces that your kids can run around in—they won't miss the playground at all.
There's No Better Time To Make A Slip 'N Slide
All you have to do to make the ultimate spring activity for your kids is to lay down a smooth plastic tarp, secure it, and run some water with the hose over it. Add some baby oil to make this thing even slipperier (and more fun).
Keep The Vertigo At Bay With A Cartwheel Contest
Kids love to show off how athletic they are, and what perfect timing too. Since the Olympics just got postponed to 2021, you might as well have an athletic fest in your own backyard with a cartwheel competition. If your kids still aren't tired out, go ahead and extend the competition to include pushups.
Take The Trail Less Followed
Nature hikes are a great way to enjoy the warming weather and get your kids learning about nature. Just make sure you're going to trails that aren't popular spots. Maybe now's the right time to strap on your heavy-duty hiking boots and hit the little-known spots in your neighborhood.
Stay Away From Dog Parks, Too
Even though your dogs love to run around and see their friends, the family trip to the dog park right now isn't such a great idea. There hasn't been a whole lot of information about how COVID-19 clings to pet hair, but you don't want to risk finding out because your child can't help but pet a cute stranger's dog. Take your pups and kids somewhere more secluded to run around.
Go To Public Spots At Off-Peak Times
Though you should avoid popular public places at all costs right now, sometimes when you live in a bustling city it can be hard to get outside when there are few people around. Try going to that popular neighborhood park with your kids early in the morning to avoid crowds and other people. However, if there are a lot of people, you can always go home.
Have An At-Home Picnic
Picnics really are the perfect backyard or open field activity because all you need is some food, a blanket, and some warm weather. You and your kids can relax in style and enjoy the beautiful weather.
Get Creative With Some Body Painting
Like any good parent with kids who love getting creative, you've definitely got a bunch of random water-soluble paint laying around. Get your kids in old bathing suits and encourage them to give each other makeovers by body painting. Just make sure you have the hose ready to rinse them off after.
Lawn Twister—Because This Situation Is Already Convoluted
This is a great game for anyone who's got a couple of extra cans of spray paint lying around. All you have to do is paint alternating circles of color that correspond to the color wheel you have (there are digital wheels available too). It's fun, it's quirky, and who's really going to see your backyard any time soon?
Use Old Cardboard Boxes As Canvases
It'd be silly and dangerous to make a trip to the art store right now just for canvases. That's why you should repurpose old cardboard boxes as painting canvases to let your kids' creativity soar.
Get Messy And Happy With A Shaving Cream Fight
Listen, it's not like you have anywhere to go after this anyway—so you might as well have a wild shaving cream fight in the backyard. Don't feel bad about wasting this, either—nobody should feel like they have to shave during quarantine.
Try A Projector Movie Night Outdoors
There's nothing more fun than a drive-in movie, however, those aren't really an option right now. Create your own in the backyard by hanging a white sheet on an exterior wall and projecting the movie onto it. Your kids will love it, plus, you can pause it if they have to use the washroom.
There's No Better Pie Than A Mud Pie
Creativity doesn't stop just because it's rainy outside. Take advantage of the weather by getting your kids to make mud pies by lining the bottom of a bucket with a thin layer of mud. When they flip it over, voila! It's a mud pie that they can decorate with grass, flowers, and any other backyard findings...hopefully, not worms, though.
Camp Out Back In The Yard
No warm season is complete without a good camping trip. While traveling, even if it's to a secluded part in the woods, right now isn't a smart idea, it doesn't mean you don't have to camp at all. Pitch a tent in your backyard, tell ghost stories with your kids, and eat s'mores roasted over a stove.
Stargaze—It's Fun And Educational
If you're in a city this may be hard, but if you're out in a decently rural area or the suburbs, this will be easy. Challenge your child to pick out constellations and ask them what animals or scenes they see in the sky. Since school is out right now, it might be a good idea to turn this into an educational moment.
Get Your Kids Their Green Thumbs With Gardening
Spring has sprung and we all know that now's the best time to start planting. Gardening doesn't have to be boring or solitary—get your kids involved by teaching them how to garden while you get your flower beds in order for the season.
Blanket Relays Are A Serious Pull In The Right Direction
You may not have heard of them before, but blanket relays are the best cure for boredom and you only need two people. One person sits on a blanket or sheet and the other person pulls them around the backyard. If you have four people in your family, you can do a fun little race.
Go For A Bike Ride
Bikes are the perfect option for people trying to social distance but also get outside into the world. All you have to do is make sure you're staying away from others on paths and roads and your whole family will have a fun day.
Have A Little Fun Working At The Car Wash
This activity benefits you as much as it does your kids. What kids don't love washing cars (and splashing each other)? Even though it's technically a chore, car washes are just too much fun not to make into an activity for your kids.
No Sprinkler? No Problem
Make your own sprinkler out of an empty 2-liter soda bottle that you have lying around by poking holes in the top and connecting it to your hose. Your kids will definitely appreciate it.
Show Your Fortitude With A Fort Competition
You could make a blanket fort indoors, or you could get a little more down and dirty and create a natural one outside in your backyard. This works best if your backyard is a woodlot, so that way your kids can build some pretty incredible forts out of sticks and foliage they've found.
Make A Treasure Hunt In Your Backyard
'Tis the season for Easter egg hunts, so you might as well get your kids practicing their finding skills. Hide little things like bottle caps, toys, and other knickknacks around your backyard with little clues and challenge your kids to find them.
Glow-In-The-Dark Lawn Bowling Will Keep Your Nights Fun
Now that the weather's getting warmer, so are the evenings. That means you can set up lawn bowling by putting glowsticks in water bottles to make glowing "pins" that you try to knock over with softballs.
There's Never Been A Better Time For A Water Balloon Fight
On those hot spring days (the few of them we do have), a water balloon fight is the perfect activity to cool you and your family off. Go nuts and fill up balloons to your heart's content in this free-for-all.
Get Acquainted With Some New Pet Rocks
Pet rocks are a great pet, especially for quarantine since you don't have to worry about them leaving the house. Get your kids decorating them for a fun outdoor afternoon.
Channel SpongeBob By Playing Wet Sponge Tag
Normal tag is fun, but you can't deny that sponge tag is even more exciting. Wet some sponges and go to town by throwing them at your kids and family. They don't hurt, but they'll definitely help everyone get some quarantine jitters out.
