Most of us have established a new rhythm between child care and home-based work during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, if you’re like me, you might just be looking for some new things to do. Here are a few fun ways to beat those quarantine blues.
I have a fondness for Walrus, a store in British Columbia. It ships across Canada and has a large selection of unique items rarely found elsewhere. Since I had pretty much run out of ideas for activities, I thought I’d see if Walrus has anything to reduce our cabin fever. I was not disappointed.
Puzzles:
I love puzzles but often find them too easy. This 1000-piece, gradient puzzle, made by Areaware goes from pink to yellow and looks as if it might give me a bit of a challenge. If you’re not into pink, the puzzle also comes in a smaller 500-piece blue/green gradient version that looks even more difficult to assemble. A favorite of Oprah Winfrey, this puzzle is a meditation in colour. Click here for more info.
Habitat Building Blocks by Blockitecture 
This was the first and one of the most popular puzzles from the Blockitecture collection for Areaware. Inspired by Moshe Safdie’s Habitat ’67, a housing complex designed for the 1967 World’s Fair in Montreal, Canada, this puzzle is perfect for budding architects. Easy to assemble and fun to make, it’s also perfect for display. Click here for more info.
Thought-provoking Games:
The Relationship Reboot card game is a way to rekindle your love. Things can go wrong in relationships when we fail to make ourselves understood and don’t properly understand our partner. This can be especially true when our relationship is tested, as during quarantine with your spouse and children. These cards are sure to evoke an emotional response, so be sure that you’re in the right frame of mind to play. The goal is to open the channels of communication to prevent future conflict, so no finger-pointing allowed. Click here for more info.
Family is a wonderful part of our lives but, in fact, family life isn’t always easy. Disagreements, sibling rivalry and a lack of communication can wreak havoc with family harmony. Enter 100 Questions – Family Edition. Developed by The School of Life, it has 100 cards covering seven categories. Each card contains a thought-provoking question designed to improve communication between adults and children. Guaranteed to be lively, this game is sure to be an eye-opener. Click here for more info.
And if the above fun ways to beat your quarantine blues are not appealing, you can always buy the book called “Calm.” Also by The School of Life, this book teaches us not only how to remain calm in the face of adversity but also how to change our everyday thinking. •
