“Can we go to the pool?”
“Nope.”
“Can we sign up for that sports camp again this summer?”
“No, that got canceled, sweetie.”
“Can we go to the library?”
“Sigh….I’m so sorry. We can’t do that either….”
“What CAN we do!?”
Are you seeing the pattern? I’m sure if you’re a parent, you find yourself having to say “no” to your children’s activity ideas more than usual due to restrictions on public places, cancellations of camps and programs, and your own fears and concerns about what is safe for your family. We want them to have fun and enjoy the break from school; we want to seize this opportunity to deepen our bonds with them; but what can we as families do? Kelly Hess and Amelia Furman have teamed up to give some great ideas for outdoor and indoor fun.
1. Crawdad Fishing: How about some fishing without the specialty equipment and sharp hooks? All you need is a string, hot dogs, a paper clip, and a bucket. Crawfish like still or slow-moving water, so find a place where there is an irrigation ditch or pond, for example, Rolland Moore in Fort Collins, Fairgrounds Park in Loveland, or Flanders Park in Longmont. The kids and I typically tie the paper clip to the string and unbend one prong to create a makeshift “hook.” After pulling our little crustacean friends out of their habitat, we’ll collect them in a water-filled bucket and see if we can beat our record for most crawdads caught. Our adventure concludes with releasing them a few yards from shore so we can cheer for our favorites as they “race” to the water.
2. LEGO® Building: During our time in quarantine, my boys have discovered a tip that has kept them building and re-building their LEGO sets day after day. With a parent’s supervision on the internet, kids can search YouTube with the words “LEGO [set #] alternate build” to reveal several more creations than the original instruction book offers. My kids have found that there seem to be the most alternate build options available for the 3-in-1 Creator LEGO sets; they can turn their set #31102 scorpion into a gorilla or a sea monster instead. We’ve found alternate builds for lots of the other LEGO lines as well — City, Technics, Ninjago, and LEGO Friends. It’s been a great way to spice up our indoor time.
3. Make a Movie: iMovie comes automatically installed on Apple devices, and it includes a number of built-in movie trailer formats. It looks like Android has a number of similar free apps like VivaVideo or FilmoraGo. iMovie has a place to create a storyboard so the kids can plan out their miniature movie, but it also includes scene suggestions. Once my kids decided on a storyline, they recorded 1-2 second long video clips right in the app. Your children can be the actors, and you can use toys as props for spy adventures or fairy tales. I love this activity because it encourages creativity and teamwork among all ages of kids; plus, I come away with an adorable, digital keepsake.
4. Water Play: Our kids are missing the pool terribly, but we have found other ways to have fun in the water despite pools being opened at limited capacity or closed altogether. If we are looking for a quick and easy way to play in the water, we get the garden hose out and run around in the backyard, spraying each other. Our boys love it when we put the sprinkler system on. If your kiddos are “over” the whole sprinkler activity, you can hop in the car and check out the local canals and creeks. For a more extended time in the water, do some Poudre River tubing. https://poudreheritage.org/play-it-safe/
5. Geocaching: This is one of our all-time favorites! There are geocaches all over this county, so go to www.geocache.org for all the local caches. If you are going to handle the caches, use gloves and bring hand sanitizer. You can also make it a family project to create a brand new cache for others to find. (The website has info on how to submit a new cache.) Geocaching is a great way to get your kids outdoors with a mission to complete.
6. Audio books: We all know reading is a great activity for our kids, but sometimes they get tired of reading or perhaps aren’t able to read on their own yet. We use the public library’s collection Playaways, which is available as a CD set or as a downloadable. Hoopla and other resources like Amazon Audible also have children’s books to listen to. Right now, Focus on the Family has the entire Chronicles of Narnia series available as a dramatized audiobook series. Another great option is Adventures in Odyssey, a radio program broadcasted by Focus on the Family. https://www.lightsource.com/ministry/focus-at-home
Another delightful version of this activity is pairing reading with FaceTime with grandparents or friends. Grammie will read a book to the boys, and then the next time, they have to read a book to Grammie. This is a wonderful way to interact with family and to get in some reading.
This summer is a very different kind of summer for families, but luckily, our God has never changed and never will. “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow” (James 1:17, NASB).
We serve a creative God who promises to give us all we need for every day and every season of our lives. When we are out of ideas, we can ask him to share some of his. He has plenty to spare, so be sure to seek his help this summer. You might be surprised how much fun you and your children have during this very different kind of summer.
Amelia Furman is a mixed media artist located in Loveland, CO. You can view more of her work at www.ameliafurman.com or follow her at @ameliafurmanmixedmedia on Facebook and/or Instagram. If you feel God leading you to use your artistic gifts at Faith or want to find community with other creatives at Faith, please contact Amelia at amelia.furman@gmail.com.
Kelly Hess has been attending Faith for 10 years. She is a wife and a homeschooling mother of six delightfully chaotic sweethearts. At Faith, Kelly serves during Kids Day Camp, as writer for the blog, and on the newly formed Encouragement Team. She is excited to share ideas to encourage other moms.
Kelly is from Michigan. When she’s not refilling her coffee cup, she can be found journaling her prayers or walking with family and friends.