19 Super Simple Ways to Break Up a Day at Home!
I have five kids who are nine or younger (!) who will likely be home with me over the coming weeks (although the tot’s daycare is thankfully still open…for now!), and I’m nervous about how we’ll handle the prudent, flattening-of-the-curve expectation of social distancing.
It’s a disruption to our routine and rhythm of life. (And if a disruption to our routine is our biggest struggle, I will be humbly grateful!)
I do look forward to and appreciate the chance to slow down. I’m a public school mom who loves the idea of homeschooling! But my parenting style is definitely “when in doubt, leave the house.” I have literally made it my business to be out and about in the community.
This week I’ve been jotting down a list of super simple activities to break up our day. Will we attempt to encourage hand writing practice for our 1st grader and issue math challenges to the 3rd grader? You bet. Will our gymnastics mat take over the floor of the dining room so that the little ones can cartwheel, somersault, and back bend to their hearts’ content? But of course. Will we play and pretend and be silly until the sibling fights ensue? No question. Will we read? Absolutely. For hours. Every day. Just like usual!
But then what?!
Here are the ideas we’ve jotted down. Please share yours!
Make art. Art for Kids Hub has FREE drawing tutorials that can be sorted by age!
Have a Spa day. Nail polish, bath salts, quiet music. Perhaps I’ll even loan the kids my (affiliate) heated foot massager. 😉
Paint outside. “En plein air” just like Claude Monet!
Dance, move, exercise. Our kids love Go Noodle, dance parties are common at our house, and friends tell me we need to check out Cosmic Kids Yoga.
Explore the backyard. Dig out the sidewalk chalk, air up the basketballs, uncover the sandbox, strap on the roller skates, hope for nice weather.
Create giant bubbles. Giant bubble wands (affiliate) are helpful for this!
Be in nature. Tromp through the woods. Take a hike. Take a walk. Take a bike ride.
Take a bath. When in doubt, just add water! Shaving cream, bath bombs, color tablets might be fun but also unnecessary!
Write. Write a story, a song, a script, a poem.
Play balloon volleyball. For older children, blow up balloons, tie a jump rope between two chairs, and squeal/cheer as you attempt to keep the balloon from hitting the floor.
Memorize. Teach little ones their phone numbers. Have big kids present a poem. Learn affirmations, scriptures, speeches.
Make music. Our kids love Hoffman Academy for piano. Hoffman Academy gives free online piano lessons for kids! No instruments? Sing!
Visit a museum, virtually. You can visit these 12 famous museums from your couch!
Play your way to stronger math skills. Our big kids got {affiliate links} Prime Climb for Christmas. Math Dice Jr. was recommended to me years ago by a math teacher and has been played at our house (and in waiting rooms, restaurants, etc) ever since.
Get the kids in the kitchen. We have plans to make trail mix, peach crisp (using canned peaches because #fivekids), and pudding in a bag (a science experiment the oldest tried at school).
Have a sensational sensory experience. I’m stocking up on cornstarch (cornstarch plus water makes oobleck) and shaving cream with hopes that we can take the messy fun outside. Our big girls like to make “rip and wrinkle boxes” for our littles with recycled magazines. But my favorite indoor sensory experience for little kids is soapy water! We fill tubs in the kitchen and then clean the floor when we’re done. Speaking of cleaning…
Clean. Clean more than usual. I have a feeling that more cleaning will help our days to feel less chaotic. What new chores could the kids attempt each day? Washing windows, vacuuming, cleaning the shower, wiping mirrors and counters, scrubbing the kitchen floor with the soapy water they spilled during their sensory time. 😉
Build. Clay animals, theater sets/scenes/scripts, Forts, LEGO creations, block towers, trains and boats made of laundry baskets.
Show love. How can we help our kids think of others during this time? I’m suggesting we make cards, send letters/videos/emails, and make phone calls.
Want to explore more Wabash Valley Homeschooling resources? We have a post!
Local friends, don’t forget that we have the best mountain bike trail in Indiana!
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