Kids Quarantine Activities: How to Make Lasting Family Memories

Quarantine activities for kids using resources from Fargo, ND

Child: Do you remember the Covid pandemic?

Parent: Yes of course! Times were tough, people were out of work, and toilet paper was nowhere to be found.

Child-Hmm. I remember it being the best part of my childhood.

Parents and kids will always have different views of circumstances. It’s how it should be. But the reality is parents are stressed. If you’re lucky enough to still have a job and be able to work from home, you’re juggling entertaining kids and trying to work without interruptions, and just forget being able to pee alone. Inevitably, that’s when kids think they need you the most.

Kids need stability. They need routine. So here’s my 3 step plan for success:

3 Step Plan for Success

• Step 1: set a schedule
• Step 2: be flexible with said schedule
• Step 3: see step 2

Give yourself and your kids a ton of grace during this time. Things don’t have to be perfect and they won’t be. Take some deep breaths. Decide what absolute non-negotiable must do’s are on your list. Then look at that list again keeping in mind that having your family fed, safe, and secure are all that really need to be accomplished.

Free Quarantine Activities for Kids

Take some time to make strong family memories with these free quarantine activities for kids.

• Put puzzles together
• Make a fort in the living room
• Put on music and have a dance party
• Have a picnic in your backyard, if you’re lucky enough to have a snow-free area, or else on the living room floor
• Go on a bear hunt-get in the car or walk around the neighborhood, keeping social distancing of course and look for bears in the windows. 
• Play board games
• Read together
• Do a Skype, Zoom, or facetime call with family members
• Write letters to nursing home residents
• Bake together
• Cook a meal together
• Plan your next vacation
• Do a treasure hunt or scavenger hunt around your house or yard
• Participate in #aworldofhearts. It was started in ND and people decorate their windows with hearts then post a photo on the Facebook group. It’s something the whole family can have fun doing or have your kids work on hearts while you get a few tasks done. Of course, be careful to not show your address in the photo for personal safety. It’s uplifting to see amazing creativity.
• Play with play-doh. Yes, it makes a mess nobody wants to deal with, but you gotta admit, it’s fun squishing things in your hands. 

For parents with kids who are feeling cooped up and bored, here are some quarantine activities for kids using Fargo, ND/Moorhead, MN resources.

Quarantine Activities for Kids: Using Fargo/Moorhead Resources

Imaginative play

Kidderbug Kreations offers boredom buster boxes. Each box comes with 2-3 handcrafted items lovingly chosen from the following categories:  

• Finger Puppet Collection: Adorable and imaginative handcrafted finger puppets made of felt in all the characters your little ones love, from superheroes and animals to firemen and police.
• Non-Paper Dolls: Similar to the paper dolls we used to know, but these durable non-paper dolls are made of felt and come with one change of outfit.
• Masks: Fun felt masks in various superheroes, animals, and beloved characters that will inspire your little one’s imaginative play ideas.
• Coloring Buddy: A portable felt coloring station that comes with crayons and a notebook. A unique “coloring buddy” peeks over the top to join your little one as they explore their creativity.
• Dry Erase Coloring Book: A creative activity your little ones can come back to again and again. Our handcrafted dry erase coloring book is made of felt and covered with clear vinyl so kids can color and erase, exploring limitless creative possibilities. 

You can order your box online and have it shipped or contact Kidderbug Kreations for a coupon to remove shipping charges and arrange for contactless Fargo, ND pick up. 

Ronald McDonald House Charities of the RRV has coloring pages.

Normally I am all for limiting screen time and having kids use imaginative play. But extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. Here are some suggestions for online activities.

Online activities

FMCT is posting videos on their Facebook page with daily readings from The Magic Castle. They’ve actually hired teachers and educators to read favorite childhood stories. They are short stories so good for kids with limited attention spans.  

Code Ninja’s has free virtual game building sessions for kids 7-14. Mon and Wed at 3 pm. While working on belt levels to increase their coding knowledge, kids learn how to build games they love to play.

Wild about Play is available for virtual babysitting through zoom to keep preschool and older kids engaged with stories, songs, interactive games and more while parents need to get tasks completed.

Just for Kix-Moorhead-stay active with their dance videos.

TNT Kid’s Fitness and Gymnastics– let kids burn off some energy with the workouts available on their Facebook page.

Music Therapy in Motion has videos to help with relaxation.

The Red River Zoo– enjoy activities and videos of the animals.

The Fargo Park District has craft projects to encourage imagination and creativity.

Valley News Live– learn weather lessons from Hutch. 

Hayden the Art Dude is doing daily art videos.

Inspire Innovation Lab is posting activities and resources for kids and their parents on their Facebook page every day. And they will be offering the use of their tech lab and staff for students who need help with the new distance education.

The Go/Do app has resources and activities around Fargo/Moorhead for all ages. They’re in the process of updating how businesses are providing their services during Covid-19. (Even after the pandemic, this is a cool way to find free things to do around the F/M area.)

And the Fargo Mom has a HUGE comprehensive resource guide with tips, tricks, and information on handling the pandemic. 

It takes a village to raise a child, and even though we have to practice social distancing, our village of Fargo/Moorhead has come together to provide opportunities for our kids to have amazing family memories. 

We’re all in this together!