You’ve heard pretty much everything there is to know about keeping COVID-safe by now, I know. However, as new research about each variant pops up, we always need to stay on our toes.
It’s been two years of keeping our children away from crowds and making sure they come home with the same mask they left for school with. For most of us, the desire to get back to "normal" is overwhelming, but safety will always come first. That being said, for a lot of us, the time to get our kids out there and keep them active is now.
But what activities are on this year, and how can we do them safely?
Implementing Safety Measures in a Fun and Sensitive Way
New safety developments may happen all the time, but new risks occur, too. New omicron research has shown, for example, that the virus survives longer on plastic (and skin) than previously thought. This means our children’s toys are more at risk of housing omicron than previous variants. So keeping sharing to a minimum and sanitizing everything is, of course, a must.
Having your children focus more on physical activities rather than toys is kind of two birds with one stone. It keeps them active while making it less likely they’ll come into contact with COVID if they’re not touching too many random objects. The trick is to make sure they understand why their old normal isn’t the new normal.
Children have a habit, understandably, of thinking they’re being punished whenever they can’t do things they want to. "You can’t see your friend during a pandemic" sounds the same as "You just can’t see your friends because I said so." Depending on how young your kids are, the pandemic is an abstract concept they may not understand since it may not affect them directly. They also can’t physically see it the way they can see a scary monster on TV or an aggressive wild animal on the street.
They have no control over it, just like they have no control over half the things in their lives. So try to give them some control. Help them choose some fun face coverings to wear in public; there’s pretty much every and any pattern, cartoon, movie, and game mask out there. Not to mention you can customize your own by using nifty websites or using fabric markers and iron-on patches on some blank ones from your local pharmacy. Making it part of the fun will ease their stress and give them one more activity to do that will benefit everyone.
With all this in mind, we need to openly and sensitively discuss the consequences of the pandemic without a fight. Assuming their disdain or confusion is an attack on you as a parent will only make it harder for everyone involved. Everyday stresses and the general stress of the pandemic can make this hard, but you and your children will be better off for it in the long run.
What’s On in 2022?
Let’s get on with the real meat of the issue: What can your kids do this year out in the world?
New York, for example, is full of family and kids activities this year, particularly in the spring and summer. You can’t shake a stick at an art gallery, science center, park, or theater without seeing ads for pretty much anything. Art classes, skateboarding lessons, science fun days, movies — the list is endless. But to pick from just a few …
The Kids Rockwell Art Lab is an interactive creative experience associated with the Smithsonian. 2022 is packed with both offline and online events such as storytelling, mosaic crafting, and a full summer program that includes art hunts and crafting projects. It’s the perfect place for your kids to learn new art skills and art history and to socialize with others.
Let’s get sporty for a moment with some golf! American Dream: Blacklight Mini Golf is fun for the whole family, without being too physically intense for younger kids. And it’s not seaside crazy golf, either. The unique and colorful blacklit setting will have you putt through alien worlds, space, and starlit scenery. Mini golf isn’t just fun; it’s actually great for your kids' hand-eye-coordination, problem-solving skills, reflexes, balance, and way more.
For something that’ll get your family into the great outdoors, nothing beats a good bike ride. Central Park Bike Rentals is an affordable, COVID-safe service that allows you to explore the city in style. You can choose from mountain bikes, hybrid bikes, tandems, and other bicycles in various sizes for both you and your children. Sometimes the simplest activities are the best, especially when they give time for you to get to know your family all over again.
Honorable mentions go to: New York One World Observatory, American Dream: Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park, and the New York Botanical Garden.
Regardless of your location, you can find out where your local activity centers are and sign up for email newsletters and notifications. This will take the pressure off constantly needing to search for locations, prices, age groups, and other need-to-know details about each event. There are also general websites that have everything in one place per country — USA, UK, Canada, and so on.
If in Doubt, Fall Back on Old Favorites
You don’t need to plan an extensive trip to your local major city to visit every science center and climbing wall to have fun this year. Ask your children what activities they’ve loved doing around your home town in the past, and try to make something new out of it. Try camping in a new location. After all, camping isn’t usually an activity that involves crowds or indoor spaces, so it’s a perfect vacation for keeping COVID-safe.
There’s nothing stopping your family from bringing portable TVs and game consoles, either. But if you’re looking to relax with their eyes off the screen, then nothing beats a fishing trip or hike in the woods. Bookworms will love a nice sit on the grass while they read their favorites, and there are always open spaces in national parks for games of soccer and catch. You can tailor a camping trip to be an escape from the home or just a very leafy and acoustic version of it.
Whatever you choose to do with your kids this year, just know that it’s possible to stay COVID-safe without stressing too much. It’s totally possible to continue on with our lives without fear and still have safe fun.
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