With all that’s going on in the world, it’s fairly likely that There’s No Place Like Home for the Holidays will feature on most people’s festive playlists. You can usually fit a year’s worth of travel into the few weeks that make up the festive season, but things are a bit different this time around. Because of the pandemic, many people are opting to stay put this year and ditch large gatherings in favour of intimate at-home celebrations.
It might not take much to convince an adult to stay indoors, but it’s a totally different ballgame for kids. To say that kids want nothing more than to explore the great outdoors this festive season would be an understatement. Thankfully, there are plenty of kids’ activities to banish boredom from your home. Here are a few ways to turn your kids’ indoor time into an adventure:
Go on a virtual safari
What’s harder than trying to find a black cat in a coal cellar? Finding a kid who would pass up the opportunity to go on a safari. You don’t have to bring live animals into the living room to enjoy a safari ride. There’s a virtual escape for every kind of interest, and safaris are no different. Visit any Engen Wimpy and order a Kids’ Combo Meal to get a free set of World of Animals Augmented Reality cards. Scan the cards with the app to bring to life over 60 animals on screen. An interesting fact is revealed about the animal every time it appears on the screen, turning your smartphone into a personal safari guide.
Set up a treasure hunt
Picture the modern-day definition of quality time: everyone’s in their own corner with their eyes glued to a phone, laptop or tablet. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with some screentime, but even your handheld devices need a bit of a break. That’s where the treasure hunt comes in.
Create clues to help your kids find a location or item, then have another clue waiting for them at the next spot. That tip will lead to the next location, and so on. Make sure there’s a big treasure, such as a toy or treat, at the final destination.
Shoot a movie
You’ve pretty much gone through all the kids’ movies on Netflix and can’t bear the thought of watching a rerun. What’s your next best alternative? Get the kids on camera. And we’re not talking about a 15-second TikTok video of your kids lip-syncing — we’re talking about a short film with pre and post-production.
You’ll need plenty of pens and lots of paper to brainstorm, a few smartphones to film the movie, and a free editing app (I like Splice).
Jot your basic idea down on paper before moving on to the storyboard and scripts. Then choose the costumes and scenery before you press record. Once you’ve shot the film, choose the best takes and splice them together. You can also add music and sound effects for theatrical effect.
The idea of keeping them entertained seems like a mammoth task. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to bring the outside world’s magic into your home.
This post was written in collaboration with Wimpy.
