Stay Connected With Family and Friends!

With social distancing measures in place, maintaining social connections is more important than ever. Just because people are not able to gather in person doesn’t mean we can’t spend time with family and friends!

Video calling, whether it’s Google Hangouts, WhatsApp, Skype, Zoom, FaceTime, or another system, is a great way to do more than just talk with loved ones over the phone. In the absence of being able to gather for meals, movie nights, or other activities, video calling can work as a good substitute. Consider gathering family and friends to take part in a virtual hang out with one of the activities below:

Sharing a Meal

Even though you can’t actually share a meal together, you can still talk to each other while you do! Consider taking this one step further and cooking the same foods – you can even turn it into the competition and send everyone a brand new recipe to test out!

Movie Night

Extensions like Netflix Party can make a virtual movie night easier to manage by making sure everyone’s movies pause and play at the same time. While you’re watching, considering using group texts or staying on a video call during the movie to stay connected. If you’re having a hard time finding something new to watch, consider going back and watching old favourites or popular movie marathons.

Trivia Challenge

Using a physical trivia game or one of the many apps available, designate a trivia “host” and have the rest of your group compete to win the challenge! You can even split up into teams to see who can guess the most correct answers and keep score. If you’re hosting weekly challenges, consider letting each person pick a different theme each week.

Games and Sing-a-Longs

Some board games may be hard to complete virtually, but there are many that can still work with family and friends like these ones. If some people don’t have access to a physical version of the game, try designating someone as the organizer to make sure everyone knows the rules and has access to any information they need. This can go beyond board games as well – you can take part in virtual sing-a-longs, talent competitions, and more!

Start Planning: Lovely Valentine’s Day Treats for the Family!

Valentine’s Day is only a couple weeks away – which means it is time to start planning now what you and your family can do to celebrate the occasion! From shopping to baking and signing cards, there’s plenty to get started on ahead of time:

Planning

First, it is important to decide what you and your family will be doing for Valentine’s Day. For example, instead of just handing out paper cards, consider decorating special Valentine’s Day cookies or treats? Not only will this be a fun activity your whole family can get involved in, it will make for a sweeter and tastier treat for people to receive on the day! Before getting started, you’ll need to consider who your recipients are – is it just family or friends, or maybe classmates? Consider how many treats you’ll need and if there are any dietary restrictions you’ll need to accommodate.

Shopping

Now is the time to start shopping for any supplies you may need, like cookie cutters, sprinkles, icing, food colouring, piping bags, and any other accessories. If you’re looking to add chocolate or other candies, many grocery stores start selling them early so you can be sure to get what you need well before February 14. Make sure to pick up any supplies and accessories you need to put the treats together, like little bags or wrapping material, as well as ribbon, pens, cards and/or tags to include a small message.

Putting it Together

Make sure to set aside some time in advance for you and your family to put together these Valentine’s Day treats. Too often people make plans to bake or make a craft together but either forget about them or find they just don’t have the time to do it. Mark a day or weekend in your family calendar and ensure that everyone is aware of when and what you are all doing. It can even be a simple weeknight activity throughout the week, where you decorate and wrap a few treats each night before bed. Remember, the intent of this activity is to have fun together as a family and create a fun treat to give out to others. It shouldn’t be too stressful or time consuming, but an engaging and simple way to celebrate Valentine’s Day!

For a list of ideas on what to make, check out this post on Valentine’s Day recipes.

Spring is here - get outside and enjoy it!

After a long and (very) cold winter, it looks like spring is finally upon us! The days are longer, and the weather is a lot warmer – so why not take advantage and spend more time outdoors with your family! There are many free activities you can organize that everyone in your family can participate in. From exploring Calgary’s parks to having fun in your own backyard, you and your family don’t have to break the bank to enjoy the season.

Decide on an activity

It isn’t easy trying to decide what activity to do, especially if multiple people are involved. Why not start by getting together with your family and allowing everyone to share what activities they would like to do throughout the spring and summer. Everyone can be tasked with coming up with one or two ideas, which can be recorded on a board or sheet of paper. Once a few options have been decided, you can start putting them in to action. It is a good idea to go through all of the activities and make sure they are possible to accomplish. Are there any age limitations? Is distance or cost an issue? Do they require equipment you don’t have? Depending on what activities have been chosen, you can either decide to randomly draw an activity each weekend or every couple of weeks, or you can plan out activities for the next couple of months (especially if they are time sensitive or require special planning).

Plan your experience

For free activities like visiting city parks or natural areas, the only factor that might prevent you from visiting is the weather or renovations. Check the weather a couple of days before to get a more accurate idea of what the conditions might be and plan accordingly. Some events might take place at certain times throughout the summer and can only be experienced on certain days. If you need to book time off work, make sure that you are able to take that time, and make any other arrangements, like transportation, as soon as possible.

There are many activities that you can even plan in the comfort of your own backyard, like sports, scavenger hunts, tag, and campfires. These activities may require a visit to a local grocery or recreation store, but there are not many other tasks that need to be completed ahead of time. During periods where they weather is more unpredictable, activities like this are more ideal because they can easily be scratched or changed as needed.

Pack a bag (and bring some snacks!)

Before you head out, put together a day bag with plenty of sunscreen, bug spray, and water. Don’t forget to bring hats and sunglasses on particularly sunny days. For parents with younger children, a few snacks should also be packed for full-day activities. Snacks do not have to be anything extravagant, just enough to satisfy any hunger cravings, and prevent you from having to spend money on pricier items at stores or restaurants. Multiple snacks can even be combined in one bag to make a fun-looking treat!

• Fruits and vegetables

Not only is this snack easy to put together, it’s healthy and easy to carry around as well. Cut up carrots, slice an apple, or wash a handful of grapes and store in a plastic container or recyclable plastic bag. When you’re choosing fruits and vegetables, choose ones that don’t have extra peels, stems or pits, and pre-cut anything that can’t easily be eaten on the go.

• Cheese and crackers

This is another simple snack for shorter excursions, as the cheese should not sit out for a full day, especially if you don’t have a cooler or cold place to store your bag. Consider placing the cheese slices on the crackers before placing them in a container or plastic bag for each child for a more efficient snack break.

• Energy balls

With so many different variations, energy balls are also a delicious and easy snack that can be made up ahead of time. They can be sweet or savory, and you can bring a couple of different kinds to a weekend activity, so your family can pick and choose which ones to have. Putting the energy balls together can be a fun activity on its own, as everyone in the family can help roll them out.

Have fun!

Sometimes, even the best plans can fail, so always be prepared for weather, injuries or other obstacles that may impact your spring activity plans. Whatever happens, make sure that you make the most of the warmer season enjoy the warm weather with your family!