Stuck In The House With Kids? Here’s What I’m Doing To Stay Sane

Things To Do When Stuck At Home

We are all in the same boat. Stuck in the house with kids!

These are challenging times. Being told to stay inside due to sickness is not something we have dealt with before.

What we are going through is nowhere near what our normal lives consisted of.

Being trapped in the house with kids for an unknown amount of time is terrifying.

It is a huge change for you and for your kiddos. So, right off the bat, we know it will not be business as usual.

The routines we are used to are going right out the window. We are navigating our way to a new normal.

Let me spill the beans a little. I have yelled. I have cried. And through it all, I am trying to give myself grace and just keep doing the best I can.

Nothing is going to make this time completely stress free. But there are things we can do to make this time inside much more enjoyable!

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Here Are 10 Ways To Keep Your Sanity When Stuck In The House With Kids

1) Forts

A fort a day keeps the tantrums away. OK, I just made that up. But I have to say, forts do something magical to my child.

Throw together some blankets and pillows and you would think my daughter saw an actual unicorn.

My fort making skills are decent at best.

But a fort is a great way to spark some creativity. In my house, we like to take turns coming up with stories to describe the fort.

Sometimes the fort is a magic cave that makes you invisible. Other times it is home to a mean troll.

The possibilities really are endless.

I am still trying to convince my daughter that forts are the perfect spot for naps!

2) Books

We are a book-loving family.

Reading to my daughter brings back so many memories of my mom reading to me back in the day.

Now, kids are probably not going to sit and let you read to them for hours on end.

But 15-20 minute book breaks are a great way to break up the day a little.

These are our absolute favorite books!

3) Dress Up

Show me a child that doesn’t love playing dress-up.

My daughter is at the age now where her idea of dress-up is putting on one of my bras and running around the house. I’m completely fine with this.

Let your kids do your hair or makeup. Maybe even your nails. It doesn’t matter how crazy they make you look. You aren’t leaving the house anyway.

4) Games

Game nights have always been a big deal in my house. We actually play games almost every night.

You can’t go wrong with the classics like Candy Land or Guess Who.

But there are so many games out there, you are bound to find some that your family will love.

In our house, we are currently obsessed with Sequence, Silly Street and Spot It!

5) Adventure Bucket

Have everyone pick things they want to do when we can all leave the house again!

Write the ideas down and put them in a bowl or any kind of container.

Talking about and planning for the future is fun.

This gives everyone something to look forward to.

6) Chunk it Up

Break up your day into chunks.

I promise you that 30 minutes to 1-hour chunks will make navigating the day so much more pleasant.

This has been the biggest sanity saver for me.

It gives the day a nice flow.

7) Go For a Walk

Get out of the house and breathe some fresh air. This is a must!

The weather might not be ideal where you are. It is chilly by me but I am still making sure my daughter and I get outside every day for at least half an hour.

8) Create a Family Schedule

There is a dry erase board in my kitchen that has our daily schedule on it.

Now, we don’t stick to it exactly every minute of every day. But it is just a general guideline we follow most days.

Kids need structure. They like it. Adults too.

My daughter wakes up around 7 in the morning and goes to bed around 7:30 at night! And her napping days ended long ago. So, we are dealing with long days.

Schedules are a necessity. Have your kids help you create a schedule. They are more likely to be excited about it if they played a part in creating it.

9) Dance it Out

Music is a powerful little tool.

On those especially tough days, have 72 dance parties. If that’s what it takes to make it through the day then that’s what you do.

Music is almost always playing in my house. It helps to create a positive and comforting environment.

10) Theme Days

Taco Tuesday? Wacky outfit Wednesday?

Fend for yourself Friday? Just kidding. Nice thought though!

My daughter loves stuff like this.

Add some silliness to your days. It will help!

On a scale of sane to selling the kids, where are you at?

As of right now, I am feeling pretty good. But I know that tomorrow might be a little more challenging.

The ideas on this list truly help me. And I know they can help you.

We are all in this together and we will get through this.

Until things get back to normal, you can find me building a fort while rocking purple lipstick (courtesy of my daughter).

What are you doing while stuck at home with kids?

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