Do you have the stay-at-home doldrums? Are you finding it hard to keep your energy level up or stay focused on your school work? Are you scrolling through Kidzworld on your phone or sending Coronavirus Tik Tok memes way too much? We’re all learning to navigate staying at home 24/7. Check out the following tools keep you focused, engaged and entertained.
Move it!
If you’re required to submit home PE “classes” to your teacher, mix it up and try using this short home workout. These six full-body moves will keep you feeling great and keep your immunity strong, too. You can do them anywhere you have a chair and a wall, in 15 to 30 minutes.
Dumbbells are optional, and if you’re relatively new to exercise or strength training, skip them. Also, do the modifications instead if you're new to exercise. Perform each exercise for 25 to 60 seconds, resting in between each move for no more than 20 seconds. Perform the whole circuit two to four times through, resting for two minutes in between each set.
1. Squats: With your feet hip-width apart and holding medium dumbbells at your shoulders, bend your knees into a squat. Keep your back straight, your chest up and your shoulders back. Return to standing.
- Modifications: Don’t use weights and don’t squat down as far.
You can do squats holding dumbbells if you need more of a challenge.
2. Push-Ups: Start in a plank position. Your wrists, elbows, and shoulders are in one line and your core is activated so that you have a flat back, pushing through your heels to create length in your body. As you take an inhalation, lower your chest towards the floor. On exhalation, push your chest back up to the starting position.
- Modification: Perform this on your knees with your hips lowered and aligned with your body.
If you need to, bring your knees to the floor for modified pushups. Just remember to keep your hips down.
3. Lunges: Holding a medium dumbbell in each hand, bring one foot forward. Bend both knees. The thigh of your front leg and the shin of your rear leg should be parallel to the floor. The knee of your rear leg should be almost touching the floor. Keep your front knee behind your front toe. Pushing off of the front heel, bring your foot back and return to standing. Do 10 reps on one side, then switch for 10 on the other side. Keep switching until your interval is finished.
- Modifications: Don’t use weights and don’t lunge down as far.
If you need to modify this move, don't lunge as deeply and don't bring your back knee as close to the floor as pictured.
4. Chair Dips: Place your palms behind you on the seat of a sturdy chair with your knees bent and feet on the floor. To begin, lift your hips off the chair. Slowly and gently bend your elbows and lower your body down in front of the chair. Keep your elbows facing the back of the room. Extend your arms and repeat.
- Modification: Stay in the starting position, holding it there with your arms straight for the whole interval.
Make sure your chair doesn't slide as you do this move. Keep your elbows pointing behind you.
5. Wall Sit: Lean against a wall in “chair” position with your knees bent and your thighs as parallel to the floor as possible. Stay in this position for the interval.
- Extra Challenge: Perform lateral raises at the same time: Lift and lower each arm laterally using dumbbells.
To modify this move, sit with your upper legs at more of an angle.Courtesy of Popsugar
6. Russian Twist: Sit holding one dumbbell with both hands in front of chest. Keeping the spine long and the abs tight and lean back slightly. Twist the torso to the left and bring the dumbbell beside the left hip. Return to center, and then slowly twist to the right and bring the weight beside the right hip to complete one rotation.
- Modification: Don't use dumbbells.
- Extra Challenge: Lift your feet, as pictured.
You can have your feet lifted or on the floor, whichever works best for you.Courtesy of Popsugar
Other resources and activities
Experiment!
Rid boredom and get your science on by checking out websites like “Science Fun For Everyone.” You’ll find cool, doable experiments to pass the time. Here’s one example from the website:
Orange Fizz
Materials:
- An Orange or Clementine
- 1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda
What's the orange fizz science experiment? Grab an orange and some baking soda and find out!
Instructions:
- Cut the orange into slices or peel separate into sections
- Dip a slice or section into the baking soda
- Take a bite. As you chew, it should start to bubble in your mouth
Discover why it bubbled, as well as more experiments, on the website.
Flex your mind
Feel like your brain might be going to mush? Check out websites like “Sharpbrains.” Go to the BrainTeasers tab on the website and try 25 teasers, puzzles and games. Take the Stroop Test, try visual illusions, or test your stress level, attention span and cognitive abilities, among other things.
Flex your mental muscles with some cool brain teasers and tests.
Channel your inner artist
On The Kennedy Center website you can draw, doodle, and explore writing with the center’s artist, Mo Willems. Visit his studio and hang with him and others around the world every day during his “Lunch Doodle.” According to the website, The Kennedy Center will offer this for the next few weeks.
Is art your thing? Get on the Kennedy Center website and doodle with an artist, available for the next few weeks.
Get Homework help
Try these websites if you need homework inspiration, or are just itching to discover interesting new things:
- CuriosityStream: Videos of educational interviews, lectures, documentaries, and performances on a variety of topics.
- BrainPop: Unique games that explore concepts in math, science, health, and technology.
- Brainbashers Games: A ton of fun, free, online games.
- Exploratorium: Captivating site on everyday (and advanced) science topics.
- Figure This!: Complex math concepts presented as real-world examples.
- The Learning Network: This NY Times blog gives fluff-free news and discussion.
- Science Bob: Experiment-packed site with some seriously fun science info.
- Shmoop: Clever study materials that merge humor and learning.
- Mobento.com: Super-searchable, high-quality learning videos.
Check out the following sites for homework help, or to learn something cool for the heck of it.
Share At Kidzworld
How are you staying focused, entertained and motivated at home? What new activities have you done while at home that you normally wouldn’t? Tell Kidzworld below!
