“Bored in the house, in the house bored.” It was a TikTok trend that hit just a little too close to home back in 2020 and all of a sudden it came back — or it never actually left. Teachers, students, staff, faculty, your neighbors, friends, spouses, maybe even your children, all are going back to the days of 2020. Stuck in the house trying to find ways to beat Cabin Fever.
It used to be that Cabin Fever was a result of bad weather, and that still holds true. However, these days it feels like bad weather is not nearly as prominent a reason to be isolated as testing positive for Covid-19 (or being a close contact).
So here we are again, writing a blog about all the ways to be in the house, without being in the house bored.
Games to Play in the House to Beat Cabin Fever:
Let’s face it if you are home and your kids are there with you, they will get antsy. It will be “Mommy, can we go to the park?” or “Daddy, can we play outside?” We know that kids won’t understand why they can’t leave the house, so the best thing you can do is have a plan up your sleeve and not only entertain them but also get them (and yourself) moving and active.
Hide-and-seek:
Traditional, easy, and timeless. This game can be played inside by limiting it to only one room in the house. Let’s all hide in the kitchen, the den, the hallway. It is stimulating and can be a whole lot of fun for you and the kids.
Limbo:
Grab the mop or the broom. Yes, I said mop or broom and hold it out and let your kid, spouse, or roommate go under it like a limbo stick. Make it a game and see who can go the lowest. Take it to the next level and say whoever loses has to sweep or mop!
Charades:
This doesn’t need to be fancy. Grab a notebook and a pencil, make teams, and start acting it out! Have fun and be silly. When we play this game in my house we go through rounds deciding on a theme for each round, like animals or moving objects.
Slow-motion tag:
Running in the house has always been a no-go for me, but that doesn’t mean that your kids can’t enjoy the games they would normally play during recess just because it is snowing outside or they need to self-isolate. Take the normal game of tag and slow it down. I used to do this with my siblings as a kid and it always turned into giggles and laughs. We still talk about how much fun we had playing this.
Games to Play in the Back Yard to Beat Cabin Fever:
If the outdoors is an option, any games in the above section that you enjoy, take them outside. Everything is a little better outside in my opinion so let that Hide-and-Seek game get a little wild or turn Slow Motion Tag into an all-out game of endurance (Okay, maybe not that extreme but you know what I mean).
Relay Races:
Hop on one foot and see who wins. Who can jump the farthest, the highest, or continuously hop the longest? Bear crawl to the finish line, or crab walk to the fence. Really the possibilities are endless when you bring relays into the mix. I used to play these sorts of games at soccer camp over the summer and at the end of the day I would be so tired there was no energy left to make a raucous over anything.
Hone a skill:
If your kids play soccer, football, baseball, tennis, or anything like that, go in the backyard with them and practice. I remember how special the moments were for me when my dad came into the back and just kicked the ball back and forth with me for a little while. Those were the moments I loved about having a ball at my feet.
Learn a new skill:
If you or your kids or your spouse or your roommate don’t play sports, go out into the backyard and pretend to. If you have never played basketball give it a try and play horse with a laundry basket and act like you are the next Lebron James. Never played soccer, find a ball to kick, and pretend to be the next Lionel Messi. Film your best moves and share them with friends and family or change your camera setting to slo-mo and add commentary to your ‘instant replay.’ Nothing beats Cabin Fever like a little imagination!
Prep Work:
I hate to say work while you are homebound, going through a winter storm, or having to quarantine for the safety of others. But I mean, if you have the time and the energy there is nothing better than feeling like you got something done while having to stay home. It can be something little, or it can be something bigger. Make sure you listen to your body and put your mental and physical health first, but in case you want some ideas for prep work while you are fighting Cabin Fever try… 
Prepping your Editable Sub Plans, or using Monthly Packets, Directed Drawings, Color By Number, and Math Packets to create take-home packets for your students. If your kids are home with you, let them try their hand at creating something new with Transformation Station.
If you want to use a resource that you would normally use in class but can actually be applied to the difficulties of being at home try our SEL Packet activities with your kids or even take a page out of your student’s books and apply some of the practices to yourself. Breathing techniques, stretches, and self-regulation doesn’t just work for K-2 or 3-5 but can also apply to adults trying to fight off the effects of Cabin Fever.
How to get the stuff you love when trying to beat Cabin Fever:
There is nothing worse than feeling the effects of Cabin Fever and also feeling like you don’t have access to some of your favorite things. However, there is something good that came out of 2020 and that is delivery apps and curbside pick-up.
Target, Walmart, Michaels, Kohls, and even most grocery stores like Publix or Whole Foods have curbside pick-up now. Back in 2020 when I tried these services for the first time they were shotty and unreliable but now that these companies have had some time to perfect their process it is almost flawless.
In all honesty, I use these services constantly, whether I need to or not. I don’t remember the last time I actually went inside of a Target. I exclusively use curbside pickup now.
Protip: if you are isolating for COVID you can use the ‘trunk’ option and they will have no contact with you directly and simply put your items in your open trunk.
If you choose to go the delivery route here are some app ideas.
Cooking Websites to Use to Beat Cabin Fever:
Tasty:
This is one of my favorite apps/websites to use when it comes to cooking because it is so customizable. You can set your preferences to anything from 10-minute recipes, to vegan, to 3 ingredients and there will be something for you to try. The other cool thing is that it is not just limited to meals. They have snacks, desserts, smoothies, and pastry ideas. It’s all really easy and really versatile.
Bad Manners:
This is another one of my favorite websites when I am looking for recipes. They are completely vegan but they make veganism feel obtainable, inclusive, and realistic. I tried a posole recipe from this website a few weeks ago. After going vegetarian eight years ago I thought I would never have the opportunity to eat some of my cultural foods again and it was this recipe that brought me back to being able to have things that my grandma used to make for me, like posole. *Warning, this website does use bad language*
Workout Routines to Beat Cabin Fever:
Pinterest Search:
This isn’t a specific workout as much as it is a pro tip. If you search what kind of workout you are trying to do, a ton of different options will come up. For example, I often search things like “resistance band workouts” or “no jumping cardio workouts.”
This same concept applies to TikTok and YouTube. One of my favorite things to do after a run is to search “15-minute vinyasa” on YouTube and do a quick yoga flow to stretch and center myself.
Another fun idea is searching “silent workout” or “apartment workouts” and choosing which one fits your needs the best. These workouts became really popular at the beginning of the pandemic when people that lived in close proximity to others wanted to work out without disturbing the neighbors around them.
Peloton App:
I was always under the impression that you had to have a Peloton in order to be a part of the Peloton community. However, I recently found out that I do not have to have a physical Peloton to have access to the workouts. It is actually a subscription you can sign up for via their app.
This is different from other workout apps I have used because you are part of a ‘community’ you get to see your progress and other people’s progress that are doing similar workouts to you. It is encouraging to have accountability partners and keeps you on your workout path.
I have been doing the “Get Hooked: Peloton Boxing” and it has been so fun. The best part is the only equipment I actually need is my workout mat!
Apple Fitness +:
If you have an iPhone and pay for Apple One, then this is included in your fitness app. This is similar to the Peloton app, there are classes and programs structured into different categories like ‘yoga’ or ‘HIIT.’ I enjoy this app and actually used it exclusively while gyms were closed back in 2020. It is great as a way to get into working out and I loved how realistic and encouraging all the workout videos were. This is different from other apps and at-home subscriptions because it was designed with the pandemic in mind and therefore is a perfect way to escape cabin fever.
Here are links to some of the at-home workout gear I use. They are all pretty basic, affordable, and easy to store. 
Things to Watch to Beat Cabin Fever:
I personally am not big on watching TV. I can’t sit still long enough to sit through a whole movie and TV shows just lack detail in my opinion. But I am a millennial, and that means Netflix is basically just part of my DNA. There are so many new options to stream through Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, Peacock, Paramount +, Apple TV, Hulu, YouTube TV
Go through old VHS Tapes or DVDs:
I don’t know about you, but I have a whole box in my garage dedicated to the old VHS tapes and DVDs that I no doubt, spent a small fortune collecting before the wonderful concept of ‘digital download’ came to be.
At some point during my quarantine, I went into the garage, pulled down that box, and started watching some of the movies I used to love. Something about the bad quality and delay in fast forward/rewind options was comforting and I spent a good couple of days reminiscing about the things I used to love.
It also made me feel good to think the hundreds of dollars I once spent on these VHS/DVDs wasn’t totally in vain.
Learning Something New to Beat Cabin Fever:
Crochet:
I said before that watching TV is not really my thing. I am 100% a busy body. Whether that means organizing my bookshelf for the 35th time this year or color-coding the Tupperware in my cabinet, I always find myself doing some mundane task that really doesn’t need to be done. So I decided to channel that into something I’ve never done before. Crocheting. I taught myself by watching Youtube videos and have now become relatively proficient. I have made beanies, blankets, mittens, and sweaters for my dogs. It is so fun. A great way to pass the time and a relatively inexpensive hobby.
Knitting:
I do not know how to knit, but I figured someone with more coordination than me would probably love learning to knit the way I loved learning to crochet. Try this YouTube video if you think knitting is more your vibe than crocheting!
New Language:
Duolingo, Youtube, and TikTok tutorials are fun ways to learn a new language. You use Write the Room games with your students. Do the same for yourself, except with a new language!
Virtual Experiences To Take to Beat Cabin Fever:
I searched on YouTube “trip through Disneyland Paris” and found a VR video of Space Mountain at Disneyland Paris. This turned into a few hours of visiting different Parisian landmarks! This lead me to start researching some other places I could go via the Internet!
Aquarium:
Aquariums are one of my favorite ‘museum’ sort of places to visit. The ocean is fascinating to me and I love learning about it! These videos are cool because it is actually live footage of the tanks at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California!
Zoo:
These videos from the San Diego Zoo are so fun and a great thing to do for yourself or any children that are suffering from Cabin Fever with you!
Being isolated in one place for whatever reason is lonely and difficult. There are things you can do to make it a little better or a little easier but that does not make beating Cabin Fever an easy thing to do.
You can join a community of teachers on Facebook. This is an encouraging and supportive place where teachers can look for encouragement and solidarity. The three groups are called Fearless Facebook Groups Fearless Kindergarten Teachers: Education to the Core Facebook Group, Fearless First Grade Teachers: Education to the Core Facebook Group, and Fearless Second Grade Teachers: Education to the Core Facebook Group.
This group of teachers is a wealth of knowledge and is continuously encouraging. You can also sign up for our free Teaching Tiny Humans Teacher Course, where you will get weekly emails and guidance on how to navigate challenging situations, along with tips, tricks, activity ideas, and freebies to make this school year a success and constantly be honing your skills even if you are not in the classroom.
In addition, you can follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @educationtothecore for continued information and resources as the school year progresses, or listen to our podcast Where the Primary Things Are.
Written by – Korryna Sanchez
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