New York is gradually starting to emerge from self-quarantine, but this doesn’t mean that the threat of COVID-19 is not present. While it may be easier to get out to go to stores and other public places, people are still (rightfully) cautious and social distancing is likely to remain the norm for quite some time.
By now, many of us have exhausted the creative ideas for activities and ways to spend time that were exciting at the beginning of the pandemic and could use some fresh inspiration. With summer just around the corner and many of our go-to sources of summer fun inaccessible, we thought this would be the perfect time to share some new ways of staying busy, entertained, engaged, and connected.
Become a Pen Pal
Just because you can’t get out to see your friends and meet new people face-to-face doesn’t mean you can’t connect and expand your social circle—and your worldview. Why not take up your pen (or crayon) and write to a friend or a relative, whether they live across the globe or just across town?
The art of letter writing isn’t lost, though it may have taken a backseat to email, texts, chat, and social media. There’s still nothing like the feeling of opening your mailbox to find a handwritten letter. Letter-writing is a uniquely personal form of communication that is often as gratifying for the sender as it is for the recipient.
In addition to writing to people you already know, consider using an online service to connect with a pen pal in another part of the world. What a fantastic way to learn about another culture or different lifestyle from yours!
You can also use the mail to spread kindness. There are many services that connect people like you with individuals who may be feeling lonely, for whom a handwritten note or drawing is a rare bright spot. A great example is Love for the Elderly, which collects letters and cards for people living in nursing homes.
Create a Family Tree
This is a great way to strengthen family bonds, learn more about what makes you you, and stay connected with loved ones.
It’s also an important opportunity to teach children and younger family members about the people who paved the way for them, helping everybody feel a bit less insular in these times that can feel so isolating. Free or paid genealogical research services are a great place to start, and can help you learn more about the “official” lives of your relatives and ancestors. But these sites may not give you the personal and meaningful connection to the past you’re looking for.
Speak with older relatives, and ask them questions about their favorite memories with family members who you might never have met. Not only will you learn a lot, but they’ll enjoy reminiscing and sharing a meaningful conversation with you.
Organize a Family Zoom Party, Just Because!
So, the annual family camp out, cook-out, or reunion may not happen this summer. Many of us look forward to summer family get-togethers all year long, and foregoing them will certainly be disappointing. However, there’s no reason we can’t all be “apart together,” thanks to Zoom and other apps.
Initially created as a way to connect workforces for video conferencing, services like Zoom have really come into their own thanks to COVID-19 as a welcome tool for connecting families and friends. Make use of this technology to bring your loved ones together for a family party. Believe us, virtual charades are just as hilarious.
Rock Some Kindness
Imagine you’re heading down the block to the convenience store, and you see a brightly-colored stone that says “You Rock!” in a planter. Wouldn’t that make you smile?
Well, this is now happening to people in communities everywhere, thanks to the Kindness Rocks Project™, and it’s easy for you to share the fun and spread the positivity. You just find a rock and paint it with an inspiring message, then leave it out somewhere it can inspire a total stranger.
Kids and grown-ups alike can find a creative outlet in decorating rocks, and there’s no end of positive messages you can share. Some rocks that have been spotted say, “This rock thinks you’re great,” “Go for it,” “Proud of you,” and “Be the Change.” We love this idea!
We’re Always Here For You
We hope these ideas help you make this summer wonderful, and you can find plenty more fun activities to help you and your family feel a bit less isolated here.
Just remember: children are endlessly adventurous and creative. Even if they aren’t able to run around at the playground or play sports with their local teams this summer, they can still find plenty of ways to get banged, bruised, bumped, and cut. If your kids’ summer fun leads to injury, the team at Long Island Plastic Surgical Group is here 24/7/365 to treat lacerations, wounds, burns, hand injuries, facial trauma, and any other boo-boos they might add to their summer collection. We will make every effort possible to see patients in an office setting. Learn more about how our service works and download our Contact Card to your phone.