Introduction

It’s late and you’re stuck at home. Everyone is miserable, you need to get some work done, and you’re starting to see the Netflix shows you never wanted to see. It’s times like this that we miss going out with our kids or families most! But instead of getting worked up about missing your friends, remember that staying sharp when you’re stuck at home can actually be a lot of fun. Here are ten ways I keep my brain active when I’m forced to stay home.

When you’re trying to get some work done, squelch those “I’m bored” or “I don’t want to read my book anymore!” cries.

When you’re trying to get some work done, squelch those “I’m bored” or “I don’t want to read my book anymore!” cries. Boredom has a way of creeping in when you least expect it and can make even the most motivated student feel like giving up entirely. If you have kids that get bored easily and quickly, keep some of these tips on hand for when they start feeling antsy:

• Get them involved in household chores. Letting your child help with cleaning or cooking can be a fun activity that will keep them engaged while also teaching them responsibility and the value of teamwork.
• Take the time to play games together. This is an especially great activity if one or both parents are working from home because it gives everyone an opportunity for family bonding time without having to spend money on entertainment outside the house! You could even use this as an opportunity for parent-child bonding by playing a game like Monopoly together (if your kids are old enough) or seeing who can build their house faster in Lego!
• Have a movie night every week where everyone gets together on the couch after dinner so they can watch their favorite show or movie together as a family unit! Not only does this provide quality family time but it also promotes communication among siblings because even though they may not necessarily enjoy watching something together there will always be plenty of opportunities throughout during this event where they must talk about what they saw while watching

If you have little ones at home who can stand to participate, try a variation of the game charades.

The game of charades can be played with people of all ages. It’s a great way to spend family time, especially if you have children who can participate.

If your spouse is busy and you’re looking for something fun to do during the evening, charades is also a good option. You’ll spend some quality time together while getting your mind working!

And what about friends? What if you’re hanging out at someone elses house, or having them over for dinner? Chances are that they won’t mind if you want to play charades with them and their group! Let the games begin!

Parents—whether they are your own parents or parents of a child whom you care for—can benefit greatly from this game as well. Many times when we think of ‘quality time’ between generations it feels forced and unnatural (because it often is). The beauty of charades lies in its simplicity: everyone has fun while using their brains at the same time!

An effective way to engage your young one in a conversation (also a good way to conquer public speaking fear).

Here are some questions you can use to get your child talking:

• About their day. Ask them about their favorite part of the day, and why. Did they have a good time playing with friends? What game did they play with them? How did they feel when they won? Did they learn something new while they were at school?
• About their favorite subject or animal. Do they like reading books in class more than doing math problems? Do they like animals more than people (or vice versa)? If so, what kind of animals do they like best—lions or dogs or dolphins—and why do these animals appeal to them over others?
• About their favorite food. Try this one out during dinner time! What does your child think tastes best on pizza: mushrooms or pepperoni? If you’re having tacos for dinner tonight instead, what would be his ideal taco fillings (lettuce only—no tomatoes!). If he’s having spaghetti instead tonight, what would be his ideal sauce recipe (no meatballs either).

For your older kids, ask them to write their own bedtime story by creating a character and outlining the story using 3-5 sentences.

• For your older kids, ask them to write their own bedtime story by creating a character and outlining the story using 3-5 sentences.
• If you’re having trouble sleeping, try counting sheep (or whatever animal is appropriate for your situation). Count slowly from one to ten, then start over at one again. This will help you relax and fall asleep more quickly!
• If you tend to wake up early in the morning and have trouble going back to sleep, it may be helpful for you try some light reading before bedtime so that when it’s time for bed, it won’t feel like such an abrupt transition between activities.

Trick question! Do not answer. Instead keep your mouth shut and observe for 30 seconds.

When you face a trick question, do not answer it. Instead keep your mouth shut and observe for 30 seconds.

Why? Because observing is the key to solving problems and improving observational skills.

This is a great game for all ages of children that helps with observational skills and problem solving.

• This is a great game for all ages of children that helps with observational skills and problem solving.
• This game involves teamwork and can be played by adults as well as children.
• It’s fun, and good for families, friends, kids and adults alike!

If there isn’t time for this exact game, just do it over dinner or throughout the day.

If you’re stuck at home with little kids, a puzzle is a great way to keep everyone entertained. The idea behind this game is simple: find the letter X where it fits in each word. The only rule is that you must fill each square with an X before moving on to the next word.

That’s it! Now let’s get started! Here are some tips for making sure your family has a good time playing this game:

• It doesn’t matter who starts, but whoever does should be sure not to start until all players are ready; otherwise someone might get upset about being left out of the fun (and no one wants that).
• You can play as long as there’s still daylight outside—but don’t forget about sleep! If you want something quiet and relaxing after dinner or before bedtime, try playing this puzzle together instead.”

This is good for all ages since the younger ones can make their own jokes up or use one they heard at school while older ones can create more complex jokes.

Jokes are good for the brain, the heart and soul of one’s imagination. They can be created by you or your children. They can be funny or silly or just plain ridiculous! But they get families talking and laughing together, which is really important to keep a family strong!

There are many ways to stay sharp with your family when you are stuck at home or up late.

Here are some ideas for you to try:

• Play games. You can do this with the family, or with yourself. When was the last time you played Bingo or Taboo? There are lots of board games out there that will help keep your mind sharp, as well as give you and your family a fun activity to do together.
• Talk about things. What’s going on in your life right now? How did things go at work today? What is happening in the news? Do not forget to ask questions, too! Ask what they think about certain topics and encourage them to share their thoughts with each other.”When was our last trip together?” “Did you enjoy it?” “What would make it better next time?” If someone is going through something difficult, inquire about it if they seem open enough for conversation.”How have things been since we lost our cat?” This can be a great way for families who might not normally talk much during dinner time (or any other meal) get closer together by sharing what’s happening in their lives right now

Conclusion

I hope this article has given you some idea of how to stay sharp with the family when you are stuck at home or up late. The key is to get creative and be willing to try new things.

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