Posted by
Laura Kuehn, LCSW on Aug 26, 2011 |
0 commentsHere in New England, we are preparing for Hurricane Irene. We have our water, our batteries, our pantry items and all of our patio chairs have been stowed away. The storm itself will not last long. The power outages, however, may. We have become so dependent on our various forms of media (t.v., computers, phones, etc.), that I am beginning to wonder how many of us have prepared for our family’s entertainment. Here are some quick and easy ideas to get you and your family through those possibly long and electricity-less days and evenings.
During the Day
*Use your judgment with all of these games and activities – only you would know if they would be safe for your family or not.
- Have a stick clean up race. If you have a yard, you are going to have some branches down. Divide the family into teams. Lay out two tarps (or black trash bags), hit the timer and GO! Whichever team collects the most sticks in a specified amount of time wins a half frozen popsicle from the freezer.
- Make a stick tee-pee. Whether it’s simple and frail like Eeyore’s house or a solid as a wig-wam, you and your kids can create a stick building. Once you’ve finished, throw an old quilt inside, grab some card games and some books and relax.
- Visit a neighbor. Walk down the street with your kids and assess the damages. Visit neighbors to make sure that everyone is okay. Invite a few people over for a barbecue in the afternoon. You are going to have to use up all that thawing chicken anyway; you might as well have fun doing it!
During the Evening
- Play “Guess my Favorite”. Using index cards write down some categories for favorites such as “vacation spot,” “color,” “dessert,” “subject in school,” etc. One player takes the stack of cards and writes down his answers. He then says, “Guess my favorite ______.” The first person to get the answer right gets a point. Everyone gets a turn. The person with the most points at the end gets the brightest flashlight for the night.
- Have a flashlight hunt. Pick one toy or stuffed animal to hide (more like place somewhere!) on one level of your home. Give two players one flashlight each. Whoever finds the toy first, wins!
- Read a book round-robin style. Grab a storybook and flashlight. Have each member read two or three pages and then pass them both to the person on his right. Encourage little ones to imagine their own illustrations to the story as they listen.
It is essential to be prepared with the shelter, food and water in the face of a hurricane. It’s also not a bad idea to be prepared with some fun family activities as well.
Remember, my friends, God is in control.
“I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.“ Psalm 121:1-2
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Laura is a licensed counselor with over 15 years experience. She is also the mother of two delightfully inspiring children. She loves sharing her passion for godly parenting with others. Through CfP, she provides consultation services and parenting workshops.
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