Sometimes taking a break from the usual distractions can be a challenge. What do we do now?! The following is a list of things our family has done (or wanted to try), but please don’t read it as a checklist – these are just ideas. Every family has their own rhythm and what makes them happy. The goal is to find what kinds of things your family actually enjoys doing that’s NOT in front of the television. Have your own ideas? Let’s hear ’em in the comments!

• Play a Family Game. The old stand-bys are fine – Life, CandyLand, etc (But please don’t get me started on Monopoly. Don’t do it. There are better options out there. For serious.) However, we’re game nerds, so we have SO MANY other options that those outside of the gaming world may not own. These are just a few of our family’s favorites.
  • King of New York
  • Werewords
  • One Night Ultimate Alien
  • Stuffed Fables (for those who want to try a role-playing style game)
  • Color Brain: Disney Edition (if you’ve been soaking in Disney Plus, this will be perfect!)
  • Kingdomino
  • Outfoxed (Great cooperative game if you have younger ones playing, too!)
• Work on a Puzzle – maybe listen to music (not a podcast or audiobook during this time, because it will be hard to hear among the puzzle chatter!) – download a fun soundtrack from Hoopla (if your library offers you access), Amazon Music (free for Prime Members!), or from wherever your family listens to music. Or tune into a radio station.
• Color – Break out the coloring books and crayons/markers/colored pencils. This would be a great time to put on an audiobook (try Hoopla or Overdrive), Adventures in Odyssey, or a podcast, or just talk while you color.
• Do an on-line art class. Find something on YouTube, like McHarper Manor.
• Do a Lego challenge – there are some available on-line or create your own.
• Read a book – grab an old favorite you want to introduce to your kids, snuggle together, and read aloud. Or, for younger kids, grab a stack, like a whole stack, of storybooks and just enjoy some quality time.
• Bake something together. Find a new recipe on Pinterest or teach them how to make a family favorite.
• Go outside together – Sidewalk Chalk, Bubbles, Croquet, Egg Toss – just play together outside. Or go for a walk down the street. Or even get in the car and go for a drive – gas is cheap enough right now to drive with no destination.
• Do nothing. Seriously. Let your kids get bored. Their imaginations are the most amazing toys they have. After a little while, they will find things to do – just check in every once in awhile and make sure their “something to do” is not dangerous or going to make the kind of mess that will make you lose your mind – every mom has their own level to measure this. If times become drastic and the cries of “I’m bored!” become too common, find something for them to clean every time they say it. They’ll find ways to not be bored. These are the moments when my kids pick up books and start reading quietly in the living room, or run outside to play a made-up game together, or get a game out of the game closet to play together, or start digging through the craft supplies, or rediscover toys they’ve ignored for too long. If you’re worried about what they’ll come up with, just try it and see what happens – they may surprise you in a happy way.

Want to hear what we learned when we accidentally gave up TV just before a pandemic forced us to stay home – with no Netflix?! Read our story here.