Because electricity is such an essential component of modern life, it can be challenging to picture how things would be different if we did not have access to it. However, the vast majority of people have at least occasionally been affected by power outages. Many individuals realize during these times that they are not ready for a circumstance of this nature. On the other hand, there are a lot of people who have decided to move off the grid and give up using conventional forms of electricity.
People who are accustomed to engaging in electronic forms of entertainment, such as movies, videos, video games, social media, and other forms of digital amusements, may find it difficult to find ways to entertain themselves and their families as well as to learn how to survive without electricity. This may be especially difficult for people who have made a habit of relying on these forms of entertainment.
Outdoor Games
Family members of all ages, from toddlers to grandparents, can participate in outdoor activities together thanks to games. The outdoor games that your family enjoys playing together the most are likely to be the best ones to play together. These activities can brighten up any day that is spent outside with family members. They range from outdoor games for families that can be made at home to traditional backyard games that have stood the test of time.
1. Hide and Seek
When playing this game outside, make sure the children are aware of the boundaries, and decide on a signal that means “game over, come out of hiding.” If very young children are participating in the activity, adults should play alongside them to keep them safe. You have a lot of options to choose from when it comes to playing hide-and-seek.
2. Jump Rope
Children and adults of all ages will have a lot of fun participating in and watching a jump rope competition that you host outside. You could play some games or rhymes called double-dutch to see how long each player can jump in a row without falling while two other people hold the ends of the rope and swing it.
3. Basketball
Spending time with your family outside doing something active like shooting hoops is a great idea. You can play a game of HORSE with two or more players, or you can hold a pickup game with three to five players on each team.
4. Kickball
Kickball can be played with virtually any kind of round play ball at your disposal. Determine the locations of the bases in the form of a rough square, split into two teams, and have someone pitch from the middle while having fun.
5. Hula Hoop Contest
You can find hula hoops at a low cost and with little difficulty in most local stores. Gather your loved ones around for a friendly competition and grab a few hoops. Begin hula-hooping as soon as the timer goes off. Keep a record of the time that each individual’s hoop reaches its final resting place on the ground. The member of the household who can keep the hula hoop spinning for the longest amount of time wins.
Indoor Games
When there is a loss of power, it is always a concern for parents whether or not their children will be secure and unharmed. On the other hand, we can’t always be there to keep them entertained. Because of this, children must engage in some enjoyable activities while the power is out.
A lack of electricity can be turned into a fun and bonding experience for the whole family with just a little bit of creativity. Don’t freak out the next time the power goes out; instead, suggest some activities to your children and watch them discover how much fun they can have in the dark.
1. Board Games
When it comes to planning activities for children to do inside, naturally, board games come to mind. But you should get started on organizing your game cabinet or closet right away if it isn’t already done. Only keep the games that you and your kids enjoy playing together. When the power goes out, the last thing you need is the added stress of searching through a cluttered closet for a game to play. Be sure to play some of your family’s favorite board games while the power is out, such as Uno, dominoes, Ticket to Ride, Monopoly, etc. Stay away from games that have recently become more complicated. A well-loved item can instill a sense of ease and composure.
2. Make Crafts and Arts
There are times when the power outage can last for days, and the weather may even make it impossible for your children to play outside during the daytime. Playdough and air-dry clay are two mediums that are fantastic for people of all ages who want to create unique works of art. Most importantly, they are entertaining while remaining relatively clean. If you do not already keep a family scrapbook or journal, a loss of power presents an excellent opportunity to begin one.
Encourage everyone in the family to reflect on their individual experiences with the power outage by either writing in a journal or drawing pictures. Then, the following time you celebrate a holiday or attend an event, you can give each member of the group an assignment to write about or draw a picture related to that particular day to add to the scrapbook. As the years pass, a scrapbook or journal kept by a family can transform into a memory-filled time capsule.
3. Cook
You are in luck if the stove that you use to cook with operates on gas. If the power goes out, you should still be able to use the stove. Be sure to cook your food that needs to be consumed quickly first. Cooking, however, can be difficult for households that only have access to electric stoves. Because there is no power, there are no meals that can be prepared in the microwave, no frozen pizzas that can be baked in the oven, and certainly no homemade spaghetti.
Make it a goal to have at least three days’ worth of food on hand for everyone in your family, including the animals. Foods that could be provided include peanut butter, soups, canned meats such as tuna or chicken, canned vegetables, granola bars, cereal, and so on. You should make it a habit to check the dates of the food’s expiration at least twice a year and incorporate it into your standard weekly meal plan so that it does not go to waste.
During a power outage, a great activity for kids to do inside is to work together to prepare some easy meals. In this way, you can ensure that every child gets a little something to eat that will make them feel better.
4. Build a Fort
There is no such thing as being too old for a fort. Put a flat sheet over the dining room table to create a quick hiding spot or get creative and build elaborate forts out of cardboard boxes and duct tape. It is more enjoyable to participate in the construction of the fort than it is to use the fort itself, so make sure to enjoy the process.
5. Safari
Find as many stuffed animals as you can and collect them all. Take it in turns to hide them around the house, and then embark on a treasure hunt to unearth all of them. If you already have some cardboard tubes and tape on hand, you can use those to fashion some homemade binoculars for your upcoming hunt.
Be prepared. Prepare yourself. Get yourself ready. The power will go out at some point and some point, regardless of where you live. Power outages typically last between one and two hours. However, power outages can last for several days when hurricanes, ice storms, or tropical storms hit. To ensure that your family has something to do indoors for a significant amount of time, make sure to plan.