Activities to Help Pass the Time While Social Distancing

April 24, 2020

Photo by bruce mars on Unsplash

Spring is usually a sign of warm sunnier days spent with friends and family, but it is a little different this year because of the coronavirus outbreak. With social distancing in place for many communities across the country, it is time to get a little creative with what we can do to enjoy the start of spring! Check out our suggestions below.

Looking for a break from technology and social media? Here are some ways to do that:

Cozy up with a book

As we slow down and stay home over the next few weeks, it is the perfect time to fall back into reading. Reading does more than keep your mind active and distracted, it can help to lower stress and boost intelligence. For families with younger children, it doesn’t have to be a solitary activity. It is a great opportunity to bond and connect while reading picture books aloud together.

Become a pro at card games

If you find yourself tired of binging your favorite shows or movies take a break by playing a card game. This helps with patience and concentration as most card games are played with a group where you have to keep track of what card they are picking up and putting down. It can even improve your math skills.

Do a puzzle or a board game

This is a great way to unplug from technology and be present while still having fun. Both puzzles and board games are great for improving your problem solving skills. It is also a great way to bring the family together and have fun!

Unwind with some relaxing yoga or meditation

Yoga can help lower stress and anxiety levels all the while exercising the body! Check out this gentle wheelchair yoga video to guide your at-home practice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=FrVE1a2vgvA&feature=emb_title.

Go outside and enjoy nature

It’s important to remember to get some fresh air! Head outside to your backyard and take a minute to appreciate the air getting warmer. Getting fresh air can lower stress, especially after being cooped up inside all day, and can help reduce anxiety as well.

Want to pass the time but can’t leave the house? Here are some ideas to make the time fly:


Have a movie marathon or binge watch a show

This is a great way to relieve stress and provides laughter as well as bonding time with the family. Make it fun by building a fort to climb into while watching! You can Netflix party with friends while watching the same show and chat using a Google Chrome browser. USA Today shared how to do this step by step here: https://www.netflixparty.com

Get your claim to fame by making a TikTok

There are so many people on this app making TikTok videos of the most random things from dances to making recipes or showing off art skills. You can even duet with other people and react to funny videos. Try it out for yourself… you could get TikTok famous!

Let your creative side out by doing arts and crafts

This is another great way to step away from technology and use your creativity, There are no rules when it comes to being creative. Just have fun as it is a great way to relieve stress. Play some music and get to crafting! Try following a Bob Ross painting tutorial with his relaxing voice. All his videos can be found on Youtube.

Photo by Maarten van den Heuvel on Unsplash

Become a master chef in the kitchen

Make a delicious meal or dessert from scratch. Cooking is a great way to pass the time as the result of cooking can make you feel accomplished that you were able to make a tasty meal yourself. If you are not sure what to make with the food items you have, check out the website SuperCook (https://www.supercook.com/#/recipes) On this website you can add all the food and ingredients you have in your home and it will give you endless amounts of recipes to make!

Visit a museum or art gallery… virtually!

It is important to keep practicing social distancing, therefore even though you cannot go to museums and art galleries, there are many famous ones that you can virtually visit. Here is a list of endless galleries, museums, plays, and ect. that you can visit virtually in the comfort of your home : https://www.cnn.com/style/article/what-to-do-at-home-streaming-art-museums-concerts-coronavirus-trnd/index.html. You can also check out Camp Promise’s Virtual Art Gallery and submit your own artwork to be included! Visit https://www.camppromise.org/virtual-art-gallery.

Travel new places around the world with Google Earth

This is another great option to do virtually as you practice social distancing. Wanna explore areas like Hawaii, or Germany? Google Earth allows you to explore just about anywhere on the planet. Take a tour of national parks that you never knew you could right from home. This can be done online https://www.google.com/earth/ or you can download the Google Earth app.

Join all of our Jett Foundation virtual events!

Jett Foundation and Camp Promise will be offering online activities and events over the next few weeks from movie nights, arts and crafts, and games to educational workshops and more! Check out our activity calendar here: https://www.jettfoundation.org/virtualevents.

21+ Activities While Social Distancing


Wish you were on a nice vineyard at a wine tasting? Get dressed up and create your own wine tasting at home with whatever wine you may have and try and guess what each wine is made up of.

Photo by Dollar Gill on Unsplash

Trying to think of a new hobby to take on?

Learn how to brew your own beer at home with the help from the Northern Brewer: https://www.northernbrewer.com/blogs/new-to-brewing-start-here/how-to-brew-beer-homebrewing-101

Miss going out to the bars?

Get a Google Hangout, Zoom chat, or group Facetime going with some music and drinks flowing virtually!

Do you like to cook and host dinner parties?

Get your friends together via Google Hangout, Zoom, or Facetime once a week and have each person take turns choosing a meal for everyone to make and enjoy together over the chat.

Hopefully this list of activities will help fill up your time with things to do together as a family. We hope you and your families are staying well and safe during this time!

Experience the magic this summer!

How is the rare disease community accomplishing goals?

Tune in on February 29 to hear from our panel and moderators on how they are accomplishing goals and living life to the fullest!

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