Hi everyone! This is kind of a weird blog post to be writing. Another week has passed by where I did not have to put out my weekly family events blog post because well…we are all in isolation lockdown and there are no events to attend (that aren’t online anyways). After three and a half years of never missing a weekly post, now I have no choice. Instead I am writing this to really simply say, you are not alone. This is hard. No matter the age of your kids, or how many kids you have, or whether you are trying to work from home or not – this isolation is really hard.

Last week I posted a blog detailing some of the best online resources for kids. If you got a chance to read it, I hope it offered some help. I am home around the clock with my three kids. My husband is an ER doctor, so he is on the front lines right now and working non-stop. It is a crazy time in our house (as it is for everyone), and also a very anxiety provoking time.

I believe you should be doing whatever works best for you and your family right now, even if that includes a lot more screen time than you would normally allow your kids. I have been posting on my instagram weekly isolation staycation activity challenges in the hope I can provide parents with some ideas of even one new thing to do with the children each day. I thought I would also post them in a blog post in case they are helpful to any of YOU!

Some things have changed since two weeks ago when I posted this first list, and many trails are now closed to the public. But you can still get outside and walk around your neighbourhood. Perhaps choose a new route.

The magic milk experiment can be found here. It is an easy, quick and fun experiment that requires very few ingredients.

Writing letters to family members out west, building a big fort in the living room and listening to story podcasts inside, and following clues in a treasure hunt were all highlights of week two.

I have now put together a new list for next week. I have loved seeing what other parents are doing with their kids – getting ideas and having people send me suggestions too!

A virtual playdate can be a great idea especially for younger kids who don’t have their own phones and social media to stay in contact with their friends. I have seen some great examples of scavenger hunts online. A quick google search can turn up a good list of things to look out for when you are out in the yard or on a neighbourhood walk. I am looking forward to trying this stained glass chalk art. I have seen a bunch of examples out on the west coast and they look beautiful! And a friend here in Ottawa hosted an outdoor workout in front of her home last week, pumping the music and involving two other mom friends who live on the same street (participating from their own yards)…I love this idea! You can get outside and have a small dance party or stair workout. Even if you don’t have any friends on your block to join you (and I don’t unfortunately), anyone passing by might smile to see it. Finally there are so many wonderful online tutorials right now – particularly for art and doodling. Sit down with your kids and do one together!

Another thing I’ve been doing with the kids (once a day if possible), is to teach them “life skills”. Doing a load of laundry, peeling potatoes, sorting recycling and even making a pot of properly steeped tea – these are all things I am trying to teach my kids while they are home all day. This may be something you want to consider doing with your children too. There are so many lessons they can learn during this time at home – and they don’t all involve school work.

I hope you are all doing well. If you need help – please reach out. You are not alone in this. Stay home, stay safe.