Written by Danielle Caggia
With my children home indefinitely, I thought an appropriate project for my very bored 10-year-old daughter was to come up with a list for kids, by a kid, on how to not stayed bored during this challenging time. I hope you and your children enjoy Danielle’s tips on how to stay entertained. Stay safe, everyone!
The Coronavirus has forced all of our schools, stores, gyms, and restaurants to close down. While we will keep busy with distance learning, we kids need some ideas on how to pass the time, too. If you are a kid like me and looking for things to do, here are my top 10 ways to avoid boredom while being stuck at home.
Provided by Jillian Rippolone
1. Get Crafty
I love to draw and create things. There are so many ideas online and you can even get creative with the things in your home like cotton balls and paper plates! (Allison’s tip: if your child with diabetes wears a continuous glucose monitor or an Omnipod, you can be creative and decorate them! Check out my favorite from my friend, Jillian Rippolone, T1dChick.)
2. Watch Movies
Let a family member pick a new movie each night. It will allow you and your family to be together and appreciate each other’s favorite movies, too. So far, my brother and I have agreed on all of our choices! (Allison’s tip: there are so many movies that portray diabetes inaccurately. Get a laugh with your family watching movies from this list. And be thankful for technology and the progress we’ve made as a community!)
3. Start a Journal
With everything going on in the world, this is a great time to put down your thoughts and feelings. Hopefully, when this is all over, you can look back and reflect. (Allison’s tip: This is not a bad time to let children with diabetes take some ownership over their diabetes management if they show interest. Jotting down what they’ve eaten, the carb count, and the insulin dose taken may be a great exercise to empower them in the future! This may also be a great exercise for us adults living with diabetes and can also help our mental state.)
Provided by Allison Caggia
4. Connect with Others
I miss my friends! Thanks to phones and social media, I can stay connected and we can make each other smile! (Allison adds: We really all need each other to lean on during this time. No matter where you stand on screen time, make sure to take advantage and stay connected to your loved ones like grandparents and your friends who are alone.) (Allison’s tip: This is a great time for children with diabetes to get a penpal! Beyond Type 1 has an amazing Snail Mail Program that will help your children to form friendships and not feel so alone.)
Provided by Allison Caggia
5. Bake
My mom loves making healthy foods. I am going to help her come up with some tasty desserts that will last us a while. Check out some ideas here! (Allison’s tip: This is a great time to experiment with some low-carb options of your favorite desserts, visit Caroline’s Keto Kitchen for some delicious ideas.)
Provided by Allison Caggia
6. Get Some Fresh Air
With the warmer weather coming, we should all take advantage of the not so cold temperatures. Getting outside can also help stop the spread of germs. And it can also help us clear our minds. (Allison’s tip: Someone posted in my neighborhood Facebook group about having the children participate in a “rainbow hunt.” We all asked our children to draw a rainbow and place it somewhere noticeable outdoors, on your door or a window, etc. Then take a nice walk with your family and see how many you can find!)
Provided by Allison Caggia
7. Have a Picnic in the Car
My mom and I love being out and about! Two of our favorite things to do are going out to lunch and shopping. We decided to have a lunch date in the car and it was nice to get out of the house for a while. (Allison’s tip: Always be prepared. I wound up going very low because the food we ordered for curbside was taking longer than expected. Luckily, I had a Gatorade in my glove compartment. I was glad I was prepared and that my low didn’t ruin our mommy-daughter time!)
Provided by Allison Caggia. This was taken way before social distancing was even a thing.
8. Do Something Good for the Community
There is so much sadness in the world right now. Figure out a way your family can safely help. My mom and I always ask our elderly neighbors if they need anything when we go to the grocery store. And our project for this upcoming weekend is to look through this list and pick a way to give back! (Allison’s tip: Check-in on your local diabuddies to make sure everyone has insulin and supplies. I taught my daughter and her friends a valuable lesson this winter, when we delivered insulin to a diabuddy in need.)
Provided by Allison Caggia
9. Pamper Yourself
I love face masks! And lotions! Use this time to take bubble baths, try new hairstyles and maybe even offer a family member a free manicure! (Allison’s tip: Our skin is often put through the wringer with harsh adhesives and constant pricks and injections. Rotate your sites and let your skin breathe!)
Provided by Allison Caggia
10. Get Active
It’s important to not just sit around and be lazy. We must take the time to exercise our brains and our bodies! If you have a mom who is a CrossFit fanatic like mine, you may find yourself doing “wods” (workout of the day). She sometimes schedules workouts, and my friends join in from their homes, it’s a lot of fun! This is my friend, and our moms are doing an awesome workout called Deck of Death! Find a way to be active; you won’t be sorry! (Allison’s tip: Check out our latest article COVID-19: Apps to Stay Active at Home).
This is a really strange time for all of us. I am trying my best to stay upbeat and happy. Because I know I do have a lot to be thankful for. I can’t wait to see my friends and do all the things I love again! I hope you all stay safe, healthy and entertained!
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