6 Fun and Engaging Activities for Kids and Adults
Isolation in the house due to COVID-19 has created time for families to bond more than they normally would on a typical weekday. However, most families have expressed that they are running out of things to do. Here are some activities you can engage in with your family and the people you are in the house with.
Around the world
In this activity, everyone gets a turn to mention a country, city, river, ocean or anything that is on an atlas. The activity starts with a designated person, and then goes round in order. The rule is the next person must mention something that starts with the last letter of the place named previously. For example – First person: London, Second Person: Niagara Falls, Third Person: Switzerland. Other rules include, each person has a definite time limit (e.g. three seconds) and repeating names already mentioned is not permitted.
Epic Tales: Home Version
Collect items around the house and place in an opaque bag. The items may include everyday items e.g. a pencil, a key ring, a mobile phone, but also include some more unusual ones e.g. a hammer, a holiday photograph or a wig. Pass the bag around the group and invite each participant to dip their hand into the bag (without looking) and pull out one of the items. The first person begins a 20-second story about the item they drew from the bag. They then pass the item to the next person. The second person takes up the story and the item, continuing with its flow for another 20 seconds, incorporating the same item passed to them. Follow the order until everyone has contributed to the epic literary tale. Then draw more items and start another round.
One Minute Please!
This activity involves selecting a participant at random to speak for one minute about a given topic. Take some time prior to the activity to write down some easy topics you feel can suite your family or group. Announce the topic first to raise the suspense, then select the participant at random and start the timer. Check how long they can stay on topic before they run out of words. Subjects might include, and are not limited to the following:
- My earliest memories
- My favourite computer game
- Why beans are good for you
- 10 things you can do with potatoes
- Gladiator wrestling
- The tale of Wakanda
Newspaper Puzzle
This activity is fun and can get messy. Get an old newspaper, glue or clear tape, safety scissors and a blank paper. Choose one participant to say the last thing they saw on the television (that does not involve COVID-19) and together, make a newspaper advertisement for it. Cut out words from the newspaper and stick them on the blank paper to make sentences. Cut out pictures and use them to decorate your advertisement. Once it is done be sure to include your name using cut out letters from the newspaper to spell your names at the bottom.
Movie Night
Selecting a movie to watch with your entire family can be a challenge in an era where so much is acceptable in the movie industry. Some cartoons and animations have also embraced scenes we would rather not have our children watch. However, there are a number of websites that review movies in detail and give a rating in sex/nudity, violence/gore and language, which helps us, make informed decisions about the movies we can watch with our entire family. One of these websites is Kids in Mind
Some of the movies they recommend are
- Chronicles of Narnia trilogy
- Lord of the Rings trilogy
- Spiderman into the Spider-Verse
- Onward
- Abominable
Fitness and Fun Workouts
Select a ‘do as I do’ work out video and do it as a family. This is more fun especially when done with the children and done not to perfection just for fun. If you chose to make it a serious workout, go for it. You can also incorporate this with a health and wellbeing lesson for the entire family.
Kindly note that a few of these activities can also be run virtually over your preferred video conferencing software. All the best as you bond and have fun with family!
