Quarantine Activities for Adults and Kids

This ultimate list of indoor and online quarantine activities for kids and adults contains over 100 links to fun activities and new ideas to try while still making great family memories. Whether it’s on self-quarantine, corraling kids on an expanded Spring Break, or a work from home assignment, most of us are feeling the effects of this global pandemic and probably will for some time.

We have adjusted birthday celebrations, Mother’s Day brunches, and are adjusting summer plans, but there are still so many ways we can make great memories this summer and explore the world.

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I remember when little man was first born into flu season and I guess we self-quarantined before it was a thing. We stayed home and away from groups of people, bathed in Germ-x, and huddled close for as long as we could. This really is no different, it’s just turned in to some crazy hype. While the hype and all the chaos is not necessary, I do think it’s so smart to just slow down and shut down what we can for a bit and look back in June at this being a thing of the past, back when “2020 was going to be our year!”

So, it seems we have to come up with something to do to occupy our time while the nation semi shuts down and we contain the germs. But, yall its not the end of the world. We could really benefit from putting our phones down, not scrolling, using face time with our real people and taking advantage of some extra time at home to rest and do the things our soul needs most.

Wash your hands like you just cut a jalapeno and need to put your contacts in.
-eye doctor waiting room

The biggest thing we can do right now is not panic, focus on the people around us, and just enjoy the forced time to slow down and rest.

What to do While You are Stuck at home on Self Quarantine or with an extended break - new ideas for taking advantage of the extra time during the coronavirus pandemic #coronavirus #covid19 #springbreak #insideactivities #springcleaning #elderly

What can I do while I’m home on quarantine?

Check on elderly people around you and see if there are errands you can run for them while you run yours – Try this Love your Neighbor activity where healthy adults adopt elderly neighbors and take care of them during these types of panic and confusion
Register for the census – my2020census.gov
mending the clothes in that pile of your bedroom or laundry room
Read the dang book – catch up on the books on your end table/nightstand
clean out/organize your closet since you’ve been putting it off
organize your pantry – throw out expired stuff and put like things together on a shelf – check out Shepard Organizing Solutions for ideas
play a card game – we just got back from an anniversary trip where I carried along a couple of card games and we rediscovered the art of no technology and card game fun
keyword research – this is always the thing I put off for my blogging – the extra time of being still could be a valuable asset to your personal business
content planning – the same could be said for planning new content for your blog or social media for your personal or freelance work
make a dream list of vacations with your kids, spouse or friends – we will eventually get to go to festivals and the airport again
help a friend who has to work. Invite their kids over to play with yours or share meal planning for the next couple weeks
catch up on some documentaries
learn a new hobby – crochet, photo editing, sewing, knife cutting
experiment with a new hairdo
write your compassion kids, neighbor kids, or out of town family
paint your nails and toenails – or call my friend Sally and finally figure out how to apply ColorStreet
weed the flower beds and get ready for planting spring flowers
trim bushes and hedges – clean up out front for curb appeal
wash and vacuum the car – clean out all the food crumbs and random papers
power wash house and clean windows
clean up/out your saved mail or financial files
complete all your tax forms if you’ve not already done so!
evaluate your expenses and set up a budget. Use a tool like Mint or Every Penny to learn more about where your personal money goes
go through your Pinterest Boards and meal plan using some of those things you’ve been wanting to try
Plan your ideas for Easter Basket fillings

Activities for KIDS who are stuck at home for quarantine or extended Spring Break - no need to panic, so many indoor activities, cleaning and learning options for your kids while you avoid the Corona virus pandemic. #springbreak #activitesforkids

Ideas for kids who are home on quarantine

Write/make thank you cards for first responders – mail them or hold them until you can get out again
write/make notes for out of town family
have kids write notes to their friends, instead of texting or calling them
READ
ask you kids where they would love to travel if they could – come up with 5-10 places
work on your summer bucket list of activities
cleaning out the playroom or bedroom drawers
go through closets and sort donate, giveaway, or get rid of – the things in January you always put off
go for a neighborhood walk or in the park and pick up trash
pretend to camp and make smores in the microwave – make a living room tent city
put beans in a wet paper towel in a Ziploc bag and tape it to a window. Watch the sprout grow each day.
make a picnic lunch and take it to the park (then stay and pick up trash)
spend time outside – let them wear themselves out, actually use the outside games or play toys you’ve purchased
get on YouTube and find yoga or exercise videos you can do together
limit screen time – everyone will benefit from this
use cooking to help you work on math and measurement skills
host a living room dance party – not TikTok, old school, show them your moves!
make your kids watch the movies of your childhood or youth (depending on their ages)
research and try to answer those weird questions they always ask you
build a free little library or Little Food Pantry to place in your neighborhood
volunteer with a group who is trying to keep local kids and elderly cared for and fed

Don’t waste this gift of time with just binge-watching Netflix and scrolling in social. Make special, creative memories with your kids.

30 Indoor Fun Activities for Families from Modern Mom Life
Hometown Scavenger Hunt – make it a competition with other families and meet up at Sonic or McDonalds or a local pizza place when you are finished
work on the “someday” folder – when you work at home, you are naturally more productive because you have fewer meetings and fewer pop-ins. This is a great time to just work on some of those tasks like webinars, continuing education, research and planning that are so easy to put off.

How is your family making it through this crazy time that doesn’t really have to be full of chaos?

Alternative ideas for entertaining yourself during social distancing

After I originally shared this post, some fun and new ideas came in, so I”m expanding my original list!

learn a new skill – playing an instrument, master another language
clean and organize closets
work on a thesis or “put off” project
check out books virtually from the library
participate in virtual activities from the library or children’s center
read a book to a little via FaceTime – if you have little in your family, call them on FaceTime or Skype or record a video and share with them – such a fun way to see your face and stay connected while you are social distancing
Home Yoga
tackle a room painting project
clean out the sewing cabinet and layout a new quilt
finally build the online course – seems like perfect timing to market it
use the lesson plans you are building for TPT (Teacher Pay Teachers) course development or homeschool curriculum
try all the recipes
finish taxes!