School is out and the distance learning is behind us…for now. Summer usually brings respite to reconnect and enjoy recreational activities, adventure, or even a vacation. This summer looks vastly different amidst COVID-19. As the schedules fluctuate, it is important to find time to get together as a family. Even if the usual summer entertainment cannot happen over these next couple of months, there are ways to create meaningful, fun moments together as a family.
Explore museums all over the world…from your living room: Venturing to learn about art, history, and culture may not be possible, but you can still enjoy virtual tours of exhibits at famous museums. Bask in the glow of your living room as you maneuver through Louvre Museum in Paris, the museums of the Smithsonian Institution in DC, the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, just to name a few. Museums all over the world are offering virtual exhibits and tours, allowing you to explore like never before.
Combine science and art into a fun activity: Slime or PlayDoh can often be made with items around the house. Get the whole family together for this messy and scientific fun and, once it’s made, get creative! Do you want to make shapes? Make faces out of PlayDoh? The possibilities are endless. Making something together not only instills team-building for the family, but allowing a mess every now and then lets everyone know that it’s okay to have fun. Plus, working with our hands gets us out of our heads and connected to the present moment, making the time spent together even more meaningful.
Go on an outdoor adventure: Going for walks or hikes brings mindfulness and physical activity into your routine, and physical and mental wellness are interconnected and important. Incorporating games like “I Spy” or “Bingo” can engage your five senses and add a little fun! Download these Nature Bingo boards from the Fairfax County Park Authority and see who spots enough items to win! Check out Fairfax County Park Authority’s Virtual Exploration Center for more adventures, like “Homemade Paper,” “Parts of a Flower,” and “Create Your Own Field Guide to a Local Animal.”
Make the kitchen your travel destination: Cooking and baking can serve as a wonderful way for the family to connect. Assign everyone a task in the kitchen and work together, step-by-step. Giving kids a specific task in this process allows them to learn that they have value in the process and builds a sense of competency. Culture, history, and food are often intertwined. Look up a favorite recipe from your ideal travel destination, or a favorite recipe from another part of the world. Together, you can purchase the ingredients, cook, and research the history and culture of this dish and the nation that it came from. This can become a wonderful way to connect as a family and to learn and appreciate something new together.
Have a music and dance party night: Maybe you have a regularly scheduled workout during the day, but what’s more fun than getting out those dance moves together? Music is a wonderful way to engage everyone and regulate the body (and those energy levels). Each member of the family can choose a different song, alternating the pace between fast and slow songs. You can even add in various games, such as freeze dance, musical chairs, or hot potato! Everyone can take a turn pausing the music and/or removing a chair to add to the suspense of the games!
Though the current summer may involve more time at home, there are ways to incorporate the joys of recreation and travel into your summer and your routine. Connecting as a family during this time will not only strengthen your bonds, but will also help to reduce stress.
Written By: Alice Zic, MPH, MSW, a Supervisee in Social Work, specializes in supporting individuals and families in healing from trauma, ADHD, emotion regulation, depression, anxiety, grief and loss, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and kinship family dynamics. Additionally, Alice enjoys working with and has a special interest in family gap conflict, issues of acculturation, and navigating multicultural identity. She is bilingual in Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian and is conversational in Mandarin Chinese.