I don’t know how you are finding the whole lockdown situation, but there seem to be inklings of cabin fever sweeping in across homes in the UK. I guess because I work from home I’m more used to not leaving the house as often. Along with the fact I love my own company and could find things to do if I were stuck in a cardboard box. So it hasn’t really phased me. On a day to day basis I don’t really even notice that there is a lock down. However, I know this isn’t the case for everyone so here are a few tips on how you can pass the time during lockdown.
After spending more time than normal on mobile phones or watching “everything” on Netflix (and yes that includes the Tiger King). Tidying every room for what feels like the umpteenth time that week. It seems evenings are often being spent with twitchy fingers or an excess amount of unused energy.
So what can we all do while being stuck indoors with no definite end date in sight? Well, if you read the post on hobbies that will keep kids involved in your activity, you’ll know that now is the time to go hard on hobbies.
In this post, we’re going to focus on things for the whole family. From model building to family-friendly DIY. It’s all about ways of getting everyone doing something different. Other than playing on smart phones, tablets or watching Moana & Frozen yet again. So let’s get busy and creative!
Family-Friendly DIY
While the idea of mini hard hats and tool belts sounds too cute to be true, family-friendly DIY doesn’t revolve around showing your little ones how to use a measuring tape and how to square off corners. You can turn simple arts and crafts activities into full-blown DIY projects with a little creativity.
Examples of fun projects I’ve seen popping up on my timeline include…
- getting kids to make birdbaths out of old Tupperware
- painting stained glass windows with masking tape and poster paint
- building floating boats from plastic to have a race
- making (and then playing) ice chalk
- painting old furniture for a new lease of life
Any chance you get to have the kids doing something dexterous with their hands that isn’t tapping buttons on YouTube is a good thing.
Model Building
Speaking of getting crafty and using your hands, has your family ever sat down and built a plane together? Or what about a scale replica of Thunderbird 2 (something I’m sure dad would love). ModelSpace model planes are fantastic kits with all the bits and bobs you need to make an authentic replica from scratch.
You’ll want to look for something big enough that everyone can sit around the dining room table and work on their own section before you put everything together. And unlike a jigsaw, when it’s complete, you’ll have something to put on a shelf and remember the fun times spent together.
Ruin a wall
This is a bit like a DIY tip, but one where you can have controlled anarchy at home. A lot of people are using isolation as the time to redecorate and paint rooms. If this is a situation you’re in, and you’re about to apply a few coats in the hallway or kitchen, here’s a game to play that will see everyone go crazy for it.
Take a section of a wall you know you’re going to part over and tape it off like a picture frame. Leave a box of markers/crayons etc. beside the “frame” and let the family know that when certain chores or homework is completed, you will allow that person to draw whatever they like in the picture frame.
You’ll suddenly find the kids get extremely competitive at wanting to get work done if it means they can draw on the kitchen wall. Plus, when you have to re-paint the wall, it will give you something else to do to pass the time during lockdown.
Let kids get dirty
If this isn’t the time to finally let the kids go crazy in the garden, then when will? We’re right on the cusp of gardening season and save yourself from having to get the trowel out and dig up the beds by yourself. Just let the kids go at it as they’ll love being able to be allowed to “muck up” the place.
I would recommend showing what different kinds of seeds can be bought online and how they can grow anything from poppies to carrots to Brussel sprouts. Let them take ownership of a tiny patch of the garden to grow whatever they want. It will act as a way to get them outside and actively take an interest in gardening without realising it.
Fancy more family fun ideas at home?
Check out all the latest posts, including recent articles on home gardening tips for the year and the little things you can do while self-isolating.
How do you pass the time during lockdown?
Collaborative Post
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