Fun Things to Do at Home With the Kids? Ask Dr. Bob

For many of us, this weekend marks 6 weeks of quarantine.  In some ways, our experiences have been the same as we walk through this shared traumatic event as human beings on planet Earth in the midst of a global health pandemic.  But in many ways, our experiences have been vastly different. 

While there are aspects of our lives that are beyond what we can control–how or if others observe social distancing, how long this quarantine will last, or even if there’s enough TP at the store–there are things that we can control.  We can choose to limit our social media, manage our own social distancing, and extend kindness and grace to others.  And perhaps my favorite: we can choose to find fun things to do at home.  

Doing fun things as a family not only helps us cope with stress, but also creates a sense of normalcy in our homes.  In this post–the latest in our Ask Dr. Bob series–Dr. Bob shares some fun things we can do with our kids while we continue to shelter in place.

Embrace Distance Learning

Let’s face it–facilitating distance learning is hard.  Especially if you’re having to facilitate it for multiple children in different grades while trying to work from home.  But there are ways to make distance learning fun for the whole family!  Take advantage of things that your kids are naturally interested in and learn about them together.  Plan a family movie night and watch a movie that ties into something they’re learning, order a few books to read together, or get outside for some fresh air and imaginative play.  Not all learning is academic.  And now is a great time to fall in love with learning while creating lasting memories.

For little ones, sensory play is always a win.  It helps them develop fine motor skills and establish nerve connections in the brain.  It’s also really calming and can keep your little’s attention while you attend to an older child, send some quick emails, or just enjoy a few quiet minutes to yourself.

Cook Fun Things Together

The next time you make a grocery list, add a few extra ingredients you can use to try some new recipes!  Kids love helping in the kitchen and it also teaches them valuable skills.  Try some Chunky Monkey Muffins, 3-Ingredient Strawberry Ice Cream, or grab some quality time with your early riser and wow everyone with these Quarantined Maple Oatmeal Biscuits.

For dinner, at-home pizzas are a great idea (and a fun way to incorporate sensory play, too!).  You can make them from scratch or support a local business by picking up a preassembled pizza kit.  Have fun, get messy, and enjoy the delicious results.  

Fort-Making

When was the last time you got down on the floor and built a fort with the kids?  Now’s a good time to gather all those couch cushions, pull those blankets out, and unleash your sense of adventure.  For some extra fun, grab your pillows and PJs for some indoor camping!  Or if you have a tent or two, set them up, sing a few camp songs, tell some stories, and turn your backyard into a private campsite.  And those Christmas lights you packed away?  Pull them out and put them up for a little extra magic.  

There is no doubt that this current reality is hard on all of us–including our kids.  But as parents, we have the ability to co-author good stories for our kids even as we live this difficult narrative.  For more activities to do at home with your kids, be sure to check out Miami Moms Blog’s Quarantine & Social Distancing Resource Guide.

Returning to Our Routines

Though our routines may never be normal again, returning to our routines as soon as we’re able will help everyone have a feeling of normalcy.  Keep working on maintaining healthy oral habits and re-establishing daily routines.  When things begin to open back up, return to the dentist for those pending fillings before they get bigger and reschedule regular check-ups that may now be overdue as a result of the shutdown.  These normal activities will not only help us feel normal again but will also help local practices get up and running.  Along with numerous small businesses, the entire dental community will need our patronage like never before.  We’re all in this together, and we’ll all come out of it together with the support of our community.

Here For Your Dental Emergencies

In accordance with the State of Florida and recommendations from the CDC, Dr. Bob Pediatric Dentist is closed for non-urgent and elective treatments until at least May 8th.  But the good news is Dr. Bob and his team are still available for true dental emergencies including toothache, a knocked-out permanent tooth, or chipped or fractured teeth.  If your child has an emergency, please call 305-397-8214.  And be sure to follow Dr. Bob Pediatric Dentist on Instagram and Facebook for the most up-to-date information.