15 FUN ACTIVITIES AT HOME
If you’re a parent in the Bay of Quinte region, you probably know that the kids are feeling just as restless as the adults are right now. You may be at home helping them with virtual classes all day or hiding in their pillow fort with your laptop trying to answer emails. Are you running out of activity ideas or just looking for something different to do? Here’s a hefty list!
Yes, another COVID reminder! Keep washing those hands, physically distancing, wearing your mask and following Public Health and government guidelines. For the latest COVID updates, please check in with one of our local health units.
Take Home Kits from Belleville Public Library
From craft ideas, take-home kits and storytime, this is a great way to support your local library and stay inspired. The Take-Home Kits are split into three groups: ages 0-6, 7-11 and 12-16 (teens). Each kit includes a craft, outdoor activity and colouring pages with a changing theme each week. Contact the library to set up safe curbside pickup. No registration required.
If you’re looking for something a little slower, they also have an Online Fun section that includes e-books, puzzles, storytime anytime and access to Treehouse, PBS Kids, TVO Kids and more.
Go Camping in Your Living Room
If you have a tent (that will fit in your living room), have fun putting it together with your little ones and then throw all of the blankets, pillows and stuffed animals in there with them. If you don’t have a tent, a classic pillow fort is always a fun idea and gets their imagination running wild. Once the tent or fort is complete, crawl inside and read some of their favourite books or tell a funny or spooky story.
Watch the Clouds or Stargaze
Even if the weather is grey and the sky is covered in a blanket of clouds, getting outside for some fresh air and Vitamin D is essential and will give you a boost of energy. Watching the clouds on a bright, cool winter day is a lot of fun—what shapes do you see in the clouds? If the clear day continues into the night, bring your blankets back outside and enjoy stargazing – an activity that never gets old (but it does get cold! Bundle up).
Learn About Wildlife
Check out Birds of the Bay and watch for visitors out your window. Tropical Garden Petshop and Birdhouse Nature Store are doing curbside pickup if you need birdseed or supplies to build your very own birdhouse.
Build Something
Build something together using Lego pieces or material from around the house. Try making a castle out of empty toilet paper rolls or the Belleville Bay Bridge out of popsicle sticks!
Get Creative
If you’re not covered in paint, did you really paint? Setting aside some time to make messes and draw or paint is a great activity to do together at home. If you’re running low, Barratt’s Office Pro in Belleville and Brighton is doing curbside pickup for all your creative needs.
If you don’t know where to start, here are some ideas:
• Make a gratitude poster
• Draw your favourite thing about your home
• Make some fun “coupons.” Maybe it’s a coupon to help do dishes one night, free hugs or help with shoveling snow.
Buzz Box Fun Kits
Buzz Box Fun Kits is a Bay of Quinte local business that offers fun activity kits that are all inside a pizza box or an envelope (funvelopes). One kit example is the “Dino Dig,” which includes an excavation dinosaur head, one pack of dinosaur sunglasses, a mini dinosaur skeleton, dinosaur stickers and more! They offer shipping across Canada and the U.S. and if you’re in the local Quinte area, use the promo code #Quinte for FREE delivery.
Bake Something
Choose a simple recipe and have your kids help with the process! Pizza or cinnamon buns with ingredients from Dough Mama make for a delicious dinner or snack. Take it to the next level and create some fun labels to put in front of the final masterpiece and pretend that you’re working at a bakery or restaurant.
Put On A Fashion Show
All dressed up with nowhere to go? No problem. Get out of your sweat pants and brush the cheese out of their hair that you just noticed (it’s okay, we get it) and host a fashion show. Have fun together getting all dressed up in your most formal outfits, sprinkle on some makeup, maybe even spray a little perfume for fun and start the music! Consider being the MC and photographer as they come out and show off their favourite outfits.
Go on a Treasure Hunt
Make a list of things to find around the house like a special toy, post-it notes, keys, a hair scrunchie, etc. If you’re feeling extra creative, make some clues on pieces of paper and leave them around the house for your kids to find. Maybe the cookies you baked earlier are the treasure or the treat at the end!
Take A Virtual Tour of Glanmore NHS
Do you enjoy history and want to learn about some history right in Belleville? Well, you can visit Glanmore in the comfort of your home and explore the historic house with a 3-D virtual tour. The tour allows you to navigate through each room with a 360-degree view. Another fun part of this virtual tour is you can even go beyond the rope barriers! How cool is that?
Museum At Home with the National Air Force Museum
Check out the ‘Museum from Home’ tab on their website, which has fun activities such as colouring sheets and even a couple of different exercise plans. Another cool and exciting activity is a board game just in time for family game night. Try the Be An Airman game; print it out and play it with your family!
Play A Board Game
Belleville’s friendly local game and toy store since 1985, Scalliwag Toys has a wonderful online store with lots of variety. Purchase items like puzzles, card games, board games and toys for all different ages. If you live in Quinte West, check out the selection to rent or buy at Pieces Board Game Cafe.
Kanhiote Tyendinaga Public Library
For residents of Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, Kanhiote Library has a wide variety of books for you and your family available for curbside pickup. Don’t want to leave the comfort of your home? Check out their website for online resources you can access at any time.
YPlay Virtual Activities
Is your family looking for creative ways to find fun physical activities at home? YMCA has created an online platform called YPlay connecting you with YMCA programs and activities like singing, arts & crafts and healthy play!
STAY UP TO DATE AND FOLLOW ALONG
Follow Bay of Quinte on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and sign up for our newsletter for more of what happens here in the BoQ.
