When the pandemic hit last year, it brought unprecedented lockdowns that gave people a surprising gift: time.
Parents and children found themselves with enormous amounts of free time — something many families had trouble finding before between school and work commitments.
As we leave this strange moment in history behind and life returns to its former, hectic pace, it appears that hanging out more often with our children is one of the few bright spots of 2020 that parents would like to keep.
“We know better now that we have to spend quality time together because that time can’t be recovered. You use it or lose it,” says Ann Yanchura, a professor at Palm Beach Atlantic University’s School of Education and Behavioral Studies.
One of the most important ways children benefit by spending time with their parents is that they become more confident and they feel like they matter.
“Every little seed we plant when they’re young, that will grow in the future,” Yanchura says. “Skills we teach them will transfer to their relationships with others. They’ll learn how to build honest, caring relationships.”
Fortunately, there are endless ways parents can plant these seeds.
It can be as simple as taking a walk together, watching a movie or playing a board game. If you’d like something more creative, we’ve discovered plenty of other ways to promote quality family time. Keep reading for ideas and remember to have fun!
Cooking/Baking
Spending time together in the kitchen is an ideal way to bond while passing on useful life skills and family recipes. Show them how to make your grandma’s famous casserole or your coveted cookie recipe.
Baking became so popular during the pandemic that grocery stores had trouble keeping flour in stock. Some families took on the challenge of learning how to make their own bread. Thankfully, you won’t have to scour the grocery stores for flour (or yeast) anymore — simply focus on the messy fun of kneading, rolling and shaping. And nothing beats a freshly baked loaf your child helped make.
Nightly, themed dinners where family members take turns picking cuisines to cook presents an engaging (and flavorful) food experience. Add cooking challenges or rewards — you might be surprised how resourceful your teens can be when they’re competing for the title of the household’s top chef!
Outdoor Fun
With the pandemic keeping everyone at home, many families discovered new versions of outdoor fun. Luckily, South Floridians are fortunate to have the outdoors as their playground where swimming, fishing, relaxing at a beach or simply enjoying a local park are year-round options. You can also ride bikes, rollerblade or create an obstacle course on your driveway. Gardening, flying kites, water gun battles and playing flashlight tag after sunset can gather the family together as well. Pitching a tent and pretending you’re camping (scary storytelling and all) is another great way to make memories. Don’t forget to build (or buy) a fire pit to complete the night with s’mores.
Spreading Kindness
A global pandemic was the perfect time to teach children how to show appreciation. Kids sent artwork to healthcare workers thanking them for their hard work and some collected gifts to brighten spirits in nursing homes.
Heartfelt words decorated driveways in chalk, thanking everyone from postal workers to police officers. Others had meals paid for by thoughtful strangers. Many families adopted pets from overcrowded animal shelters, and budding writers wrote letters to military troops overseas. Lawns were mowed for the elderly, and donations were made to food banks. Fortunately, these are all things that families can do every day, pandemic or not.
Art Projects
Creating art together can include anything from sketching to making photo collages to molding sculptures with clay. One popular activity is rock painting, which was a fad even before the lockdown. Adults and children paint pictures or write encouraging words on rocks and leave them in public places for lucky strangers to find.
Making papier-mâché, learning origami, sewing and experimenting with the hundreds of slime recipes found online promote creativity. Regardless of the age, most kids are willing — and excited — to get messy with your permission.
Travel
At the height of the pandemic, traveling wasn’t an option for many. For those who prefer a national park to a hotel, it was an entirely different story. That’s because one can easily socially distance when camping. In fact, the number of people buying and renting campers increased dramatically last year — and those numbers are still rising. The 2020 KOA Camping Report noted that 25% of campers in the United States had taken their first camping trip that year, and 15 national parks set new visitation records despite the temporary closures due to the pandemic.
Board Games
The pandemic brought back retro playtime as families enjoyed classic board games parents played in their youth. Card games and jigsaw puzzles became sought after, hard-to-find diversions. The release of the Netflix hit “The Queen’s Gambit” spiked sales of chess sets, bringing on an unprecedented shortage of the centuries-old game.
Because kids today use digital platforms for entertainment, board games, cards and puzzles are often new, enjoyable experiences. The best thing about these activities? They can be played anywhere and don’t need to be downloaded or charged.
Movie Nights
When stay-at-home orders were initiated throughout the country, the number of people streaming on-demand shows skyrocketed. Families established movie nights, gathering around the television or digital device with popcorn, enjoying a good movie to pass the time.
Of course, a simple weekly movie night is something that can be done anytime, and thanks to the plethora of streaming services, you can even watch movies on the big screen from the comfort of your living room. Let family members take turns picking the movie. Get creative and screen it outside using projectors in your front yard. It’s like having your own drive-in movie theater without the crowd!
Reading
From reading board books to toddlers to tackling a novel series with your teen, there are so many ways you can squeeze reading into family time. If you have little ones, coordinate an activity that focuses on the topic you’re reading about, like stargazing for books about space or coloring for books about art. Create a fun environment by building a fort and settling into comfy blankets.
For younger kids, use reading as a way to earn a treat or, for the tweens and teens, encourage them to start a book club. Virtual book clubs were created in 2020 and are still going strong today.
Gaming
This past year, many parents have joined their kids in the online gaming craze, and they’ve become closer with their children because of it.
Some moms and dads used it as a substitute for playing sports because public courts were closed during the pandemic so they resorted to online basketball, football and hockey. Others figured it’d be a fun way to spend an hour or two with their children, so they learned how to navigate the virtual worlds of games like “Minecraft” or “Animal Crossing.” Roles were reversed as the kids became the teachers, showing their parents how to master the games they love.
According to a recent study conducted by Arizona State University, some parents view video games as a way for them to strengthen their relationships with their children. It can lead to conversations they wouldn’t normally have, and it teaches complex problem-solving skills and hand-eye coordination. For parents, it can allow for much needed downtime, and, if they’re lucky, they may become as good at gaming as their kids are.
Social Media
As the lockdown continued, short video clips of parents and their kids started popping up on social media outlets, and many went viral. Boredom led sons and daughters to teach parents the moves to dance challenges on TikTok, which were then posted online for the world to see, inspiring other families to follow suit.
A survey conducted by StudyFinds.com revealed that 53% of the parents surveyed learned a TikTok dance with their child in 2020. Parents are not only bonding with their children by doing this, but they’re also getting exercise and learning how their child’s preferred social media platforms work.
Not sure how to get started? Just Google “Parents’ dance challenges on TikTok.” You’ll find a few of the popular ones that may just turn you into an internet sensation. O
