Hurricane Lane: Five Ways To Keep Kids Busy

Entertain your kids with these easy games and activities.

Photo: By Thinkstock

Schools across Hawai’i are closed on Thursday and Friday due to Hurricane Lane–and that means thousands of keiki are indoors keeping themselves entertained. Why not join them? Here are five fun games to play with kids while waiting for the hurricane to pass. The games are simple and low-tech, so playtime doesn’t have to end even if the power goes out. 

1. Play “Would you rather?” Here’s a game that can be played anywhere, anytime. Ask family members creative questions, such as “Would you rather eat donuts covered in slime, or brownies covered in glitter?” Or simple ones, “Would you rather be Baby Jack Jack from the Incredibles or Ted from Boss Baby?” Then ask the kids to explain why. This might give you some insight about your family members!

2. Create Shadow Shapes:  Are your kids up past their bedtimes? Shine a flashlight or put a camping lantern next to a wall, then create shadows using your hands and body parts. Ask kids to guess the shapes. Have them act out their own story using shadows. Or play follow-the-leader by copying you. Be sure that you have extra batteries for the lights.

Photo: By Handimania

3. Pass the Papers: Bring out crayons, markers, blank papers and colored pencils. Have each person draw on his or her own paper. After five minutes, say “pass!” then instruct everyone to pass papers to the person to their right (or left), and continue drawing. At five-minute intervals, pass papers again. Do this for several rounds. Encourage silly and funny sketches, creative captions and thought bubbles. When the game is over, everyone holds up the papers for all to see.

4. Have an E-Kit Picnic: Spread a blanket across the floor, and have a picnic with foods from your family’s emergency bags. Not only is an “E-Kit Picnic” a fun idea for little kids, it’s a way for your family to eat packaged and canned foods that are close to expiration dates. Don’t forget to rotate and stock up on new foods and supplies next week.

5. Tell Stories from the Past: If grandparents or older relatives are at home with you, have them tell stories about their childhoods. Ask questions, such as, “When you were little, how did your family prepare for hurricanes?” Or “What were your favorite toys when you were a kid?” And, for teens, “What trends did you follow, and what kinds of clothes did you wear when you were a teenager?”

Hurricanes create opportunities for families to bond. Stay safe, everyone!