How to Keep Kids Occupied & and Your Sanity during Self Quarantine

You are doing extremely well under these circumstances. It's very apparent that you and your wife are wonderful caring parents. My grandson is under 2 so I understand it's not easy to entertain them. I have a friend who has 3 kids under 6. I feel for young parents. I remember when my kids were young, we used to build a fort using big couch pillows and sheets, they liked it better than their own beds. Sometimes it's ok to be a little messy around the house!

Hello @ethanmcconkey : Yesterday, my wife had a virtual baking lesson with two of your granddaughters. We called it Granny's bake off 2020. We used face time. This activity was in three steps so it took up a bit of time. Our family is five hundred miles away, this was an excellent way for them and us to bond a bit and DE-stress as we find ourselves spending a lot of time at home.

Here is something that I read on yesterday's Mayo News Network -
"Even though being stuck at home may seem out of the norm, consider this time together as an opportunity for your family to make good memories."

60+ years ago I was a stay at home mom for our 2 sons. There were no cellphones or the technology like we have available today. So being creative to keep 2 healthy boys busy was a constant.
One thing that my guys loved (and occupied them for hours, and even days) was when I used a bed sheet or a blanket and draped it over a sturdy table or whatever handy/sturdy peice of furniture that was available to make them a tent. They loved their tiny space, and I let them keep the tent up and operational over the course of several days.

Helping kids cope with the COVID-19 pandemic
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/helping-kids-cope-with-the-covid-19-pandemic/

PS- a big cardboard box with openings for door and window is a favorite, too.

@ethanmcconkey I love to get on Pinterest and find great science experiments for the kids. So many simple ones that use household items. My grandchildren love them!

@rosemarya

Hi
I did the exact same thing with my large dining room table when we had snowstorms in NY and the kids couldn’t go outside.
Had picnic lunches and naps under there too with sleeping bags. It really occupied my son and daughter.
When my first born daughter was toddler age and we lived in an apartment, I had a large roasting pan in the kitchen and usedto buy boxes of cheap oatmeal to pour into the pan, give her a wooden spoon and cups so she could play with the “sand”. Lasted a few days before I had to throw out and replenish. And it wasn’t a problem if she decided to taste some.

We’re not use to using our imagination anymore....a good lesson for the younger people.

FLMary

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Pizon, it sounds as if you are doing the correct thing to unsubscribe from each thread you are getting emails from. When you click on "unsubscribe" in the email notification, does it bring you to a new window where you can select the option to stop receiving emails? If so, make sure you select that option and click update. If you are still having troubles, I suggest using the Contact a Community Moderator form for additional help, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/contact-a-community-moderator/.

Our son said that he and granddaughter had a successful 1st week. She is in 1st grade, and finished all her assignments, they took a hike, and she got to have phone time in the afternoon.
He said the only crisis is that they ran out of glue sticks on Thursday afternoon.
Mommy starts working from home tomorrow, So that is going to be a big adjustment for all of them.

Parents, How was your 1st week?
@ethanmcconkey, Is your son still playing DUNK?

I had a video chat with my children this afternoon. My daughter said zoos are doing virtual tours. Dallas zoos is one of them. I'm sure you can use Google to search more. She also said museums are doing the same thing. This should be interesting for all ages.

Hi. For older kids (age 6 and up) I'd recommend 'Super Sculpy'. It is a resinous clay from Michael's or Hobby Lobby. Can order online. They can make beads or sculpt animals, cars, ornaments, or whatever from it. It is a good time consumer as they will have to sculpt it, bake it on 200 degrees, then paint it. Can Google ideas for things to make with it.