Activities For Depressing Dreary Indoor Days

Recently my husband was diagnosed with Covid. When I told the kids we were quarantining, my son said, “I feel like we’ve been quarantining all year!”

(We haven’t.)

But I get it. In a normal year January-February can be dark and discouraging…coming on the back of 2020 it feels like EVEN MORE ISOLATION.

Looking for unique activities for your family when it’s dark, dreary, rainy, and still winter? Here are some of our family’s favorites:

• Chopped Jr. Challenge: I did this for the first time recently and my oldest said, “This was one of the most fun things I have ever done. I liked this post for basket ideas. I gave each kid a basket of different things and then told them suggestions of other ingredients to add. They did amazing! I did sit there FYI just so the house wouldn’t burn down. You could also just do a cookie decorating challenge.
• Kids In Charge Day: Try giving your kids an appropriate amount of independence. My kids are 11, 9 and 6. I gave my kids an hour of TV, two “treats,” had them make their own breakfast and lunch (which they’ve done here and there), assigned them a few morning chores and gave them a list of suggested activities.And then I said the day was their’s. It was actually a huge win, for a few hours anyway.
• New Experience (when you can’t *leave*, you can still have a new sensory experience). Here are some ideas:
  • taste: special dinner or breakfast
  • smell: simmer a pot of cinnamon sticks on the stove
  • touch: fill the bathtub with stuffed animals, use water beads, build a fort in the bedrooms, get a new pet (like a fish, hamster, lizard)
  • see: rearrange the furniture (kids LOVE this), or set up an afternoon TV theatre with a new show (American Ninja Warrior, Amazing Race, Masterchef Jr., Dude Perfect documentary)
• Sleep in a different spot: Let the kids (and you?) set up beds in a new spot (the living room, altogether in one room, in a tent indoors). Setting up for this usually takes at least a few hours.
• FaceTime RaceTime: I made this game up during quarantine and I’m Use an indoor scavenger hunt list, FaceTime some good friends, and then have a race to see which family can find an item at a time. You can also see who finds the most creative item listed…like both find a red item, but the funniest / most original gets the win.
• Virtual Escape Room – We did this on NYE and loved it! Totally recommend!
• Have a special family “restaurant”: My kids adore playing restaurant where I make up special menus. My friend does this on Valentine’s Day and the kids check off their menus for things like shrimp, steak, or lobster! We are doing a “Bad Mommy’s Burger Bar” (play off of “Bad Daddy’s, which is near us) and the kids get to choose their toppings for their burgers like a restaurant. Total win for the kids.
• Make Valentine’s Day cards: This takes forever and a day so start ahead. My sister brought over a Covid gift of Valentine’s crafts and card supplies and what a great activity.
• Make blessing bags for those experiencing homelessness. Here’s a tutorial. Always a win to get your mind off of yourselves!
• Speaking of, write your Compassion child. They love letters and this could make a huge difference in their day / week / lifetime. I love the tips here.
• American Ninja Warrior course: My kids created their own little courses throughout the house and timed themselves. ps They may need some guidance on this. pps. If you’re a parent you probably already knew that. 😉

ps. Here are my ideas for shows for parents!

Any other unique indoor games for kids?

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