Keeping kids busy and entertained, educated and thriving during a Pandemic can prove to be one of the most challenging tasks for parents and guardians, especially if your kiddos are young and are used to just playing freely outside. Below are some of the most unique and fun ideas we could come up with and we shared them on KATU’s Afternoon Live…but first, get to know the “COVID Rules of in-home Entertaining”…

10 rules you need to know when entertaining at home, with guests.

1. Keep the guest list tight and small. 10 or under is best! The number of people invited from one household isn’t as important as the number of households in attendance, considered a “quarantine bubble or unit”
2. Stay outdoors as much as possible. If not, then keep guests hanging out in your largest room of the house.
3. Keep your distance. 6′ is the least amount of distance suggested.
4. Bring your own food and beverage. Just safest to provide your own food.
5. Use disposable plates and serving utensils.
6. If grilling, serve directly from the grill, no platters for sharing.
7. Add more garbage bins and place near the dining table/area. Limiting the amount of guests opening bins and cupboards to toss away trash.
8. Ask guests to wash up as they enter your home, no hugging. Give the elbow bump! Keep hand sanitizer out and plentiful.
9. When not eating, why take the risk -keep a mask on if you are around elders or people with pre-existing conditions.
10. Add paper towels to the bathrooms, and pull waste basket out from under the sink -ask guests to use paper towels and to turn off faucet, flush toilet and reopen bathroom doors.

KATU’s Afternoon Live, kid safe entertaining ideas, shot via zoom from our office.

Kids entertaining ideas for a fun summer during a pandemic:  

1. Mask decorating party. Kids can can bring their favorite doll or stuffed animal to make a mask, not only for themselves but for their favorite little buddie too! Etsy has many options for kids to color their own mask.
2. Zoo Cams! Zoos are offering a “look inside” and it’s happening all over the country! Check out some of these big city zoos:
   1. BRONX ZOO
   2. SMITHSONIAN’S NATIONAL ZOO + CONSERVATION BIOLOGY INSTITUTE
   3. FARALLON NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, off San Francisco, CA:
   4. INTERNATIONAL WOLF CENTER, Ely, MN
   5. SAN DIEGO ZOO PANDA CAM, San Diego, CA
   6. WILDLIFE FOCUS, Brazil & Ecuador:
      • Watch: Southern Atlantic Rainforest, Brazil
      • Watch: Buenaventura Reserve, Ecuador
   1. NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION’S Puffin cam on Maine’s Seal Island
3. Virtual dance classes. Checkout STEEZY, an online dance class for all ages!
4. Pizza making -each kid gets to make their own little pizza.
5. Story time from NASA space astronauts!