no items to display
A positive spin on the current health climate? More time to spend with the family at home, more time to unwind and get some distance from work, and more time to listen to our bodies.
Of course, if you have little ones at home, this time might feel like more of a quarantine than actually being sick. That’s right, I said it - being cooped up in the house is hard! But it doesn’t have to mean everyone binge-watches television or holes up in different corners of the house.
In the spirit of positivity, here are some ideas to keep the family active and healthy while stuck at home.
Get Outside!
A family hike or bike ride is a great way to stay active and connect with each other while enjoying the outdoors, and getting fresh air is more important now than ever. Obviously, skip the more public attractions, like parks and botanical gardens. Find a nature trail or hiking route, or just walk around the neighborhood. Exercise will also help dispel some of the anxiety your family might be feeling.
Splash Down
Speaking of exercise, nothing gets kids moving like water. Fill up a wading pool in the backyard or let the little ones run in the sprinklers. Play tag with water balloons. Water play is one of the few activities that will keep my five-year-old daughter engaged for hours – and you don’t have to go to a water park or pool to have fun with it.
Backyard (Or Living Room) Camping
If you’d like to spend even more time in nature, set up camp in your backyard. Kids love the novelty of doing something different in a familiar place – just set up a tent and some sleeping bags for a perfect reading nook, playhouse, or home base. And…did someone say s’mores?
Make a Game of It
Board games are good family fun, but if you’re looking for something more active, how about trying a game of Twister? Or chalking a hopscotch grid on the driveway? Or organizing a scavenger hunt? If you’d like to get out of the house without planning anything elaborate, go for a penny walk. Leave your house and at each corner, flip a penny to see whether you’re going to turn left or right. You might end up in a part of the neighborhood you’ve never seen before!
Dine Al Fresco
Is it just me or does food always taste better outside? Whether it’s dinner at the patio table or a picnic at a nearby park, try eating some of your meals in the great outdoors. It doesn’t have to be anything time-consuming or fancy. We picnic a lot in our family. Some of our favorite on-the-go foods are turkey and cheese wraps, cucumber and carrot sticks with paleo (dairy-free) ranch dip, sliced watermelon, and cassava chips.
However you choose to staycation, make sure to stay healthy. Remember the basics – hydrate, eat whole foods, and get enough sleep. Remember to move and stretch. And most of all, remember a little positivity will go a long way.
Are you stuck at home? Share your tips with us on social!
