The calendar is littered with canceled events, vacations, summer camps and spots in our calendars that meant to be spent with friends and loved ones.
The summer weeks ahead are filled with ... nothing. (For some, nothing but work.) Adults, kids and adults feeling like kids, are all bored. And that boredom, combined with the fear of getting sick could make for a cruel summer.
But wait. There really is still fun to be had. With a little bit of imagination, we can set ourselves free from that cage of coronavirus. We can play silly games. Connect with family and friends. And find ways to express gratitude for others, including our families and first responders.
It's time to write down a list of activities you and your family want to do this summer. It's an exercise that will free you from the limits of your four walls. Number your list from one to however far you get and maybe even write it down on actual paper.
This is not a homework assignment. It's about finding the joy that still exists inside you — kids and adults alike. Get the first few ideas out. Now keep going, because that's when the ideas get ridiculous and really fun.
Want to walk on the moon? Write it down. Want to play Quidditch with J.K. Rowling? Write it down. Want to use all those wacky kitchen devices you've never removed from their boxes? Time to write those ideas down.
Now, you can't actually fly to outer space right now, but you could stargaze at night and watch the scheduled SpaceX launch to the International Space Station.
My kid hasn't figured out how to play real Quidditch but we do have Ravenclaw-like robes and the Harry Potter edition of Clue, so we can figure it out. We may try to make butterbeer too.
Old-fashioned fun
1. Family game night: Have a weekly game night, and rotate who chooses the game. Check out our local merchants in Dallas to see what new games you an add to the game library!
2. Family movie night: Show a movie on the main television in your home. Serve popcorn and sodas and sing along to "Mary Poppins," watch Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader duke it out in "Star Wars" or watch a modern Disney classic.
3. Family dance party: Host a family dance party to all sorts of different music and show the kids you can boogie (or salsa). Invite more guests via Zoom.
4. House or neighborhood scavenger hunt: Set up a scavenger hunt with clues at the end that involve a prize such as a favorite dessert or the winner's choice of movie night pick.
5. Create light: Make candles from scratch with yummy smells to give as presents. 6. Face painting: Learn to face paint and practice on each other. Hold a contest over Zoom to vote for "best paint job," "most realistic," "best superhero" and "scariest animal."
7. Do a puzzle: If you're bored with your puzzles, trade with a neighbor.
8. Lego challenges: Give everyone a bag of Lego pieces and charge your crew with building a house, a store, a park, their school or a castle in the sky — and then set the timer. Creativity wins!
9. Raise a glass to freedom: Sing straight through Lin-Manuel Miranda's "Hamilton." Not for little kids — we get it — but you can pretty much sing your way through the entire musical. Little kid substitute: "Mary Poppins," of course.
10. Each one, pick one: Each member of the family gets to pick something from his or her personal list for the whole family to do together. One rule: No picking something you already know another relative hates. Not fun!
Let's play outside
11. Create a splash pad: Before there were nearby pools, we'd turn on the hose in the backyard to cool down. Sometimes we'd add plastic bags on a slope to make a slip and slide.
12. Have a water balloon fight: Send your kids outside to battle it out and get soaked or join in on the fun. Fill small balloons inside or with a water hose. Make sure adults also get doused.
13. Grow herbs, lettuces and flowers: We're planting cilantro, basil and parsley in our container garden with high hopes for summer. Or have everyone plant sunflower seeds and patiently see whose will sprout first. As it grows we'll measure it, and once it flowers we'll use the seeds to feed the birds. Check out some of the amazing nurseries in Dallas to figure out what your garden will look like!
14 Welcome the birds: The sparrows, goldfinches and pigeons that visit my colleague's backyard are like her new work colleagues. Like her, you can put up bird feeders, a nesting box and a birdbath to attract more new friends. There is some great bird watching to be had at Baskett Slough Wildlife Preserve!
15. Smash the virus: Make a coronavirus piñata, fill it with candy and whack the heck out of it.
Click the photo for directions on how to make a coronavirus piñata!
16. Chalk art museum:Chalk the neighborhood to make outside your kids' art museum
17. Map the neighborhood: Walk your neighborhood and see if your family can make a map from your house to another location. If they can't get off your property, have them do it inside. (You'll be surprised at what they might notice.)
18. Hike the park: Time to explore all 11 of Dallas parks that you've been wanting to visit such as Dallas City Park, Walnut Park, etc! Get outside (with proper social distancing) to take a walk or hike.
19. Let's have a picnic: Picnic or grill in the backyard or in your local park. Grill meat or veggie hot dogs or bring sandwiches or takeout if that sounds overwhelming. Bring your discs for a round of Disc Golf at Dallas City Park.
20. Outdoor game day: You can invest in a croquet set, ping-pong set up or basketball hoop.
Food and drink
21. Cooking challenge: Create a cooking challenge for your family, where you create a short list of ingredients that must be used in the meal. Think cheese and bread for the younger kids or novices, and more advanced ingredients for the older/more experienced cooks.
22. Random birthday cake night: It doesn't have to be anyone's birthday to bake a cake and top it with buttercream frosting to eat and share with neighbors.
23. Pantry challenge: Pick an ingredient out of the pantry or refrigerator and cook from it. You can look at cookbooks for recipes or check online for guidance. Today's challenge — or perhaps opportunity — could be that random eggplant from our vegetable delivery bag or the lentils a friend gave me when she moved out of town.
24. Ice cream social: Create an ice cream bar with options for sundaes, ice cream sandwiches and more.
25. Host a Meatless Monday dinner: No, I'm not trying to make you go vegetarian. If you live in a meat-centric country, consider many cultures have delicious vegetarian or even vegan options without making it a statement.
26. Host a teatime: I promise many children will happily serve lemonade or juice at teatime, but I will make a proper cuppa and toast my colleagues in the UK.
27. Make a fun drink night: I know this sounds like an adult event (and it can be) but if you turn to the non-alcoholic recipes all over the internet, you'l have a fun activity that the kids can get excited about.
28. Bake for a neighbor: Favorite neighbors are stress baking and walking baked goods over (masked, of course). They are then shared with other neighbors. And scones go with tea. See how it all works?
29. Historic recipe hunt: Call a relative and ask her to walk you through a longtime family recipe. Then make it. If she claims you have to have a certain ingredient or the recipe won't work, ask for another recipe.
30. Eat someplace else: Pick another state or country with food you like, cook it and listen to their music during dinner and bring some phrases to the table from that location. This is especially good if you had planned a trip to that place. You'll be ready to go.
Learn something new
31. Make music: There has never been a better time to pick up a new instrument. Some are easier (and less expensive) than others, like the ukulele, and a wealth of online videos and tutorials make it feel approachable and less intimidating. You can also check out Northwest Music Studio in Dallas for upcoming lessons!
32. Spanish, Chinese, Russian: Everyone can learn a language together in your home, and you can cook food from the country of that language. Watch a movie together and try out phrases that you've picked up from the film.
33. Time to learn science: Take an online science class to learn about viruses and vaccines and how to contribute to public health. Chemeketa Polk Center has a plethora of online classes of interest!
34. Take a happiness class: Yes, you can learn happiness — and for free — from Yale University psychology professor Laurie Santos. Her wildly popular class is online.
35. Play video games: Go online with your kids or kid-like friends and learn the video games and apps they love and play with them. It could be Toca Boca, Minecraft, The Legend of Zelda or whatever else is hip to the kids these days.
36. Use that equipment: Is there kitchen or other equipment in your hallway closet or attic that you've never used? It's time to get out that pasta or Popsicle maker, spiralizer or AeroPress coffee maker (that's on me) and learn how to use it. If you have a sewing machine, Grandma's Attic Sewing Emporium would love to help you learn how to use that sucker!
37. Hire an intern: Have your child "intern" at your home office. Your child can pitch and write stories, take photos, write headlines and participate in many video conference calls. If nothing else, she can fetch coffee and make lunch.
38. Get down to science: Learn chemistry by making homemade butter and bread.
39. Composting is good for the Earth: Learn how to compost and do it. It's good for the Earth and your garden, and vermicomposting is really interesting, because worms.
40. Dance, dance, dance: Time to dance like no one is watching ('cause they're not). Learn to Dance at Dallas Dance Academy! It's super fun and you can get some exercise, too.
Do for others
41. Phone a relative: So many grandparents are missing their favorite little people, so why not call a relative who misses your kids and maybe misses you?
42. Thank-you notes: Write end-of-year thank-you cards to your teachers and other school staff, aftercare workers.
43. "Get well soon" cards: Let's add "we miss you" or "get well soon" cards to send to anyone you miss or who you know isn't well. Real mail is lovely to receive.
44. Hand out snack bags: Gather shelf-stable snacks, bottles of water, socks and wipes into bags to hand out to people who need them. You can spot people from more than 6 feet away, wave, leave bags for them and walk away so they can safely pick them up.
45. Food donations: Make and contribute food to the Dallas Food Bank.
46. Walk a dog: Become a volunteer dog walker for your less mobile or elderly neighbors. Take Spike out to visit Central Bark, Dallas' one and only dog park!
47. Make food to share: Cook or bake for your neighborhood's. You can also share with local first responders at Dallas Fire & EMS.
48. Signs of thanks: Make signs for your lawn that thank anyone your family is grateful for.
49. Chalk messages of hope: Lots of people are walking outside these days, and your kids can cheer them up with hopeful messages.
50. Lemonade stand: Set up a socially distant lemonade stand and give the proceeds to West Valley Hospital, here in Dallas, Oregon. People can place their order from 6 feet away, pay using an app or drop cash into a bucket. The kids should wear masks and gloves as they pour the lemonade, place it on the table and step back to their original spot.
Read or write something interesting
51. Pick a book: Visit the Dallas Public Library and have everyone in the family can pick a book they've never read and read it. Then everyone can come back to the family book club to report what they liked about the book (and eat cookies together).
52. Family reading time: Read one chapter from a classic book out loud every night and ask everyone to listen. Some books and poetry were meant to be heard, not only read to oneself. Think Shakespeare's monologues or Martin Luther King Jr.'s speeches.
53. Book/movie combo: Read the book, then watch the movie, then discuss the differences. ("Harry Potter," "Clueless"/"Emma," etc.)
54. Head to Hogwarts: Listen to a chapter of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" together, and then do a Chapter Challenge to collect house points. (Yes, audio books count.)
55. Write a book: Write the book you've always wanted to read, about your family together. It can be short! Then have a book reading/signing.
56. Your kid's story: Have your kids write and illustrate a book about the day they were born. (They can interview you or not).
57. Hit the road: Read a book about the next place you want to visit.
58. Raising girls and boys: For those raising girls, "Strong Is the New Pretty: A Celebration of Girls Being Themselves" by Kate T. Parker is a beautiful photo essay to support our girls being strong. "The Heart of a Boy: Celebrating the Strength and Spirit of Boyhood" is her equally lovely photo book about boys.
59. Broaden your worldview: Read your kids age-appropriate books about cultures different than yours and theirs (whatever that may be). We are isolating more so we need books that stretch us more.
60. Baby books: Read your children a short book from their toddler time to remind them (and you) of how adorable they were as little ones.
Style, art and architecture
61. Give your wall(s) a fresh coat of paint: Vivid color hues can help brighten up a space and lift your mood. The Decorated Wall on Mill St can definitely help you wit this!
62. Declutter: Set aside some time to finally organize that drawer, that closet, those daunting piles of paperwork — Marie Kondo-style. (She doesn't say you should give up things you like.)
63. Arrange your books: Organize your bookshelf by genre, subject or author. You can even color coordinate and place objects on the shelf to tell a personal story. This may seem like a grown-up activity, but many kids love to play with color.
64. Mini-Marie Kondo: Help your child reorganize her room, combining these ideas of new paint, decluttering and organizing to give her a room for the next stage in her life. (It may not be the time to give up teddy bears.)
65. Play/art/music: Virtually attend a concert, watch a play, experience a museum.
66. Geek out on art apps: Turn your children's art or your photos into masterpieces with apps such as Google Arts & Culture's Art Transfer. Or transform your selfie into a Renaissance-style portrait.
67. Plan a photo shoot: Choose a theme, select a location and get creative with props and costumes. Use a film camera or disposable camera to limit the number of shots and to work in an element of surprise with how they will turn out. Check out Focal Point in Dallas for all your photography needs!
68. Paint with your family: Arrange a family painting session, with supplies, snacks and a good playlist, and choose a painting to replicate. Learn about one another's artistic tastes and explore your chosen artistic style. You can also partake in a virtual paint night!
69. Try art-inspired recipes: They could include Claude Monet's chestnut cookies and Ed Ruscha's cactus omelette. Or shake up cocktails that nod to great Georgia O'Keefe works.
70. Make ornaments: Start making those holiday ornaments together (easy peasy recipe here). Call them pandemic art. They'll serve as a testimonial to your can-do spirit.
Connect as a family
71. Would You Rather? Wrangle your extended family to virtually participate in a game that starts conversations in fun, interesting and maybe shocking ways. Choose any theme (and look for inspiration online).
72. Cut your bangs: Yes, this could be tricky. So, after you've done this, make sure to make an appointment at one of Dallas' many salons to help if you've got yourself into a pinch!
73. Do an at-home manicure: Your nails won't be salon-perfect but you'll be social distancing and having fun.
74. Do yoga together: It helps with depression and does all sorts of other good things.
75. Couch exercise! Exercise on your couch together with Netflix. Win-win.
76. Question a day: If the grandparents live far away, try connecting them with your kids with a question a day. Ours have been simple: What's your favorite ice cream? Stuffed animal? Why do we love koalas so much?
77. Family meetings: Hold weekly family meetings to check in and see how everyone's doing. Make it a safe space so people can share their concerns, and don't feel you have to fix everything on the spot. It's just a good place to start communicating.
78. Clean the house together: Think your kids don't appreciate you? They will after they've cleaned the bathroom a few times.
79. Play Rose and Thorn at dinner: Each person says what was good about the day (the rose) and what wasn't (the thorn). Everyone gets to share without interruption, and the thorn doesn't need to be fixed.
80. Sing together: Since singing in large groups is actually a risky activity at the moment, we can pretty much only sing safely with the ones in our quarantine pack. There's karaoke, singing in rounds, singing in harmony and just hanging with the Beatles classics. Sing with the ones you're with!
Nighttime fun
81. Camp out in your backyard: That travel is limited this summer doesn't mean you can't mimic experiences at home. Pitch a tent in the backyard for a few nights.
82. Fort night: Build a fort in the living room and let the kids sleep there after they've crashed on popcorn and sugar.
83. Pillow fight: Clear all the breakables and sharp edges and have a massive pillow fight. Perhaps after building a fort.
84. Have a s'mores night outside: Chocolate, graham crackers and marshmallows are a perfect combination, and you don't need a fire pit to set a marshmallow on fire.
85. Nighttime tag: Play flashlight tag in the backyard or in the neighborhood. If the other side's flashlight "gets" you, you're out. (That's social distance tag.)
86. Capture the flag at night: Play a few nighttime rounds of capture the flag with your family or "quaranteam." Two teams have a flag or other object, and the objective is to steal the other team's flag and bring it back to their side. The game is always fun, but the darkness makes it all the more thrilling.
87. Go to the drive-in: If you have a drive-in in your town, head there. What's old is cool again. Unfortunately, Dallas no longer has their drive in, but there is one not too far away in Newberg, Hwy 99 Drive In. Or you may want to check out the Independence Drive In Movie Series.
88. Glow-in-the-dark treasure hunt: Try a nighttime treasure hunt with glow-in-the-dark items.
89. Look for the stars: Going to the movies may not be an option, but there's always a beautiful show playing out across the night sky. This summer, watch the International Space Station overhead, look for multiple meteor showers and get tips from NASA on when to spot specific stars and planets.
90. Go to sleep early: Why not? We're all stressed out and anxious about the pandemic, and lack of sleep makes us more vulnerable to illness. Routine, cooler temperatures and a dark room are key to good sleep. Good night!
Grown-up fun
91. Spa day at home: Make your own spa day!
92. Get rid of that hair: See number 72 above!
93. Wine and cheese: Should you be quarantined with a partner, have a wine or beer and cheese date with your beloved on your patio/front porch/back porch balcony/kitchen table, and remember it's "for better or for worse." You can try to make it for better. Dallas and surrounding areas are filled with wineries. Check out a local winery to choose the perfect wine!
94. Hold hands: It's sweet.
95. R-rated: Watch movies that are not for children. It's fine to fall asleep, though. We're tired.
96. Eat a late dinner:Fine, it's second dinner, and eat all the things your kids hate. All of them.
97. Treat your sweetie: Do something nice that makes your spouse happy — make a favorite dessert, take a walk, make a schedule, find a favorite wine, load the dishwasher (whatever's your love language).
98. What's your love language? Speaking of which, find out what your partner's love language really is. (Don't guess — ask.) People often get confused and think their own love language is their partner's. Is this confusing? Go to 5lovelanguages.com to find out.
99. Really talk: Talk about the pandemic and how it's affecting you. Talk about your hopes and dreams and fears. Listen to what others have to say. Connect and keep that base strong to support you and your family.
100. Smooch: Need I say more?
Still need more
101. Reserve an escape room: Plato once said, ‘You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.’ Escape rooms gives your family a great opportunity to get out of the house and work together to complete a mission. In order to escape, you have to communicate well, you have to trust each other, and everyone has to fulfill different roles. Unlike other team building activities, The Escape Game forces the family to work together and communicate in order to reach a shared goal. Without the distractions of phones and outside interactions, family members really get to know and discover more about each other. You not only find out about the strengths and weaknesses of your family but also of their own qualities that they bring to the household. These qualities all transfer back to the home, plus you have some awesome memories to look back on as a team.
Luckily, Dallas is holding an escape room on July 10th and 11th! To learn more, click here.
This blog post is adapted from these sources: