Several favorite summer activities, like camps and vacations, have already been postponed until next year due to the COVID-19 situation. Still, with a little creativity and a willingness to try new things, the 2020 staycation can be a fun, relaxing, and novel family time.

‘Planning a staycation together with your family can introduce some anticipation and excitement into the family routine. ’

Blieszner offers the following tips for families who'd like to introduce some novelty to staying at home. 




- Spend time together making plans for special activities for each day of the staycation. Develop some guidelines for these conversations, such as everyone gets a chance to speak once before anyone can speak again. Write them down so everyone can remember.
- Have each person propose an activity for the family to do together, then discuss the pros and cons and choose the best ideas. Make sure each person selects a favorite activity to do alone each day, as well.
- Create a vacation-like daily plan with morning, afternoon, and evening events. Include small surprises and try new things (breakfast for dinner, crazy outfit day).
- Adults avoid work if they can afford it.
- Agree to one or more "no phone/no social media" days, then talk about what it felt like.
- Make notes for each family member: I am grateful for you because of...
- Create and act out a mythical story together.
- Go on an online museum or zoo tour.
- Look for collage materials outside and make a display on cardboard.
- Create cards to cheer residents at a nursing home.
Source-Newswise