Dr. David Palmiter's Blog for Hectic Parents

Taking the focus off of parenting for a bit, I’ve put together a list of fun activities for adults who are social distancing.

• Play Quiplash https://www.jackboxgames.com/quiplash/
• Go fishing
• Paint an acrylic painting using a step-by-step YouTube video; gifting it to a friend or loved one can be especially meaningful (pictured here is one I did for my eldest daughter…I know, don’t quit my day job!)
• Go biking
• Watch a Broadway play https://www.broadwayhd.com/
• Garden
• Write and deliver a gratitude letter (instruction here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxau97SFiXE&t=55s
• Watch a movie in real time with a remote friend https://www.netflixparty.com/or www.letsgaze.com
• Play one of CNET’s recommended online games: https://www.cnet.com/how-to/all-the-best-online-games-to-play-with-your-friends-during-quarantine/
• Create a YouTube channel or a podcast on a hobby or interest of yours. Here’s the one I’ve created for parents and couples: http://www.kidsandcouples.com
• Play Drawphone: http://drawphone.tannerkrewson.com
• Go swimming
• Take a walk in nature
• Watch a free virtual opera from The Metropolitan Opera: https://www.metopera.org/user-information/nightly-met-opera-streams/
• Organize photos and videos; consider making a presentation using software like FotoMagico
• Cook at a fire pit
• Play a board game, either online or in person with the people you live with
• Learn to do 10 free magic tricks: www.penguinmagic.com. This is a great and fun skill to possess if you work with kids or teens in any capacity.
• Stargaze
• Play Evil Apples (definitely an adult game): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.evilapples.app&hl=en_US
• Play http://skribbl.io
• Share a museum virtual tour (e.g. the Vatican Museum, the Louvre)
• Join an online book club
• Listen to audiobooks or podcasts that you’ve never made time for before
• Take a world tour by logging into live cams (it’s remarkable how many locations have one); you could pair this activity with foods you’ve created from each country. Or, just tune into some relaxing and enjoyable cams (e.g., see this YouTube video for examples: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ob9KrFbwcy8
• Watch the Sofa King Fest of virtual concerts: https://www.sofa-king-fest.com/
• Listen to one Ted Talk a day on a favorite topic: http://www.ted.com 

I hope some of these ideas will help to lift you up these days when we are all living down rabbit holes. I’ll close with a graphic of my favorite acronym: