We are now a few weeks into the COVID-19 crisis here in Polk County, and now that a full shelter-in-place order has been put out by our government officials, we're likely looking at a few more weeks of being homebound with our families. Sure, for the first few days it might have felt pretty nice...plenty of time to catch up on movies, enjoy long days in your loungewear, and not having to leave the house. However, it gets old pretty quickly, especially if you have kids at home.
So, Country Boy is here to come to your rescue! Here are some fun ways to spice up the days at home, and make quarantine a time for making good memories with your family (and not just memories of Netflix).
Theme Your Day Around the Theme Parks!
Plenty of families saw their Spring Break plans of hanging out at Disney World or experiencing the fun of Legoland go down the drain quickly as Coronavirus loomed over us all like a dark cloud. While you can't experience the parks right now, you can bring some of the fun home! Thanks to technology like YouTube you can experience the "rides" from your living room couch. Make a full day of it! Start out by working together to recreate your favorite theme park meal at home, enjoy a treat that you associate with the park (you can order Mickey Ear ice cream through your local big box store now!) and spend some time on the rides as a family. Was Legoland your destination? Those rides are online too! Wrap up the day with a Lego building challenge and some fresh from your kitchen apple fries!
Make Your Backyard a Destination
If you have a pool, this is pretty simple. Set it up like a getaway! Put out your best pool furniture and accessories, keep a stock of fun drinks and snacks on hand in coolers by the pool, and make it a point to actually schedule a time to "go" to your pool. Organize pool games for your kids, order some fun new pool floats and toys/activities online, and make it your own personal water getaway. Don't have a pool? Your backyard can be just as fun. Sprinklers, obstacle courses, grill outs, etc. can be made "special" just by putting in a bit of effort. A great idea we're seeing from families with kids? A backyard campout, complete with s'mores, hot dogs, and late night stories. The temps are perfect for enjoying it without being miserable before sunrise.
Go Out and Enjoy Yourself...from Your Car.
While you can't go out to stores, restaurants, etc. right now, you can go out and drive. Plenty of neighborhoods are doing "bear hunts" by placing teddy bears in windows, and others are putting together egg hunts for Easter in the same way. Whatever your scavenger hunt includes, make it fun by putting together al list of places you want to stop and get meals and treats throughout your day. Many of our favorite local hot spots are offering drive through or curbside pickup. You'll be enjoying time out of the house, and supporting our local business owners at the same time!
We know this isn't an ideal time for our friends and neighbors right now, but know that we are here alongside you, doing our best to keep things as encouraging as possible and making the most of these days. Country Boy Pest Control knows that Polk County will bounce back stronger than ever when this is over, and we'll all have a better appreciation for our jobs, our family, and our community. Stay safe and stay well!