Kate, from the USA, tells us about the fun her family had camping in their backyard…

What did you do?

We decided to go camping in the backyard! We have a lot of equipment already, so it was pretty simple for us. The basics we had were:

  • a tent
  • sleeping bags
  • a lantern (or flashlight)
  • snacks
  • water bottles
  • we brought a laptop to watch a movie on
  • and hot dogs to roast in our fire pit (obviously, a fire isn’t feasible for all cases) 

We had a great experience this time. Make sure the kids have appropriate clothing as it tends to get cooler than expected at night (even in NC). We did attempt this once before, but we were rained out. So we did an indoor camping trip!

Last time, we took chairs and the couches and made a tent in the living room to watch movies under, and had dinner on the floor picnic-style. Outdoors was much more fun for the kids, but when a tent and comfortable camping weather isn’t available, this was a great alternative.

Any tips for others?

One thing to definitely remember is to make sure the kids use the restroom before you go out for the night.

What’s your next project idea?

We’ve actually started my next idea; it’s called The Chore Store. I went to the dollar store, spent about $20 on toys/treats/etc, and made a list of chores that are not on my kids’ normal to-do list. Each chore has a “dollar value” they can earn and then use at The Chore Store to purchase things. My kids are actually asking for more chores to do. 

Tell everyone a bit about yourself…

I’m Kate. I acquired 3 kids last year via my husband-to-be, so I am very new to this. We live in the US with our 3 kids, 12, 10, and 4.

How are you finding being housebound with kids so far?

Being a newer mom, and being thrown into quarantine has been trying, but also showed me what I’ve been missing, and solidified that there’s no life greater than what I have.

Any tips to help people when they are housebound with kids?

I force myself to remember, multiple times per day, that the kids don’t fully comprehend what’s going on. As crazy as they can get, they’re just bored. Especially our 4-year-old.

Has Housebound with Kids helped?

It helps to know we’re not alone. This is unchartered territory for everyone, and I think we all feel like we’re being forced to face it solo.