Fun Social Distance Activities
By: Renu Venkatesh
Fun Social Distance Activities to Do with Friends Safely
It is hard being stuck at home. We all love seeing our friends and going on little adventures around town or even hanging out with them. Our world is changing, and we need to find new ways to keep in touch other than through social media. Humans need social interactions, but what are some safe and fun ways to do that when there is a global pandemic? Do not fear! Even though we may not be able to see and go on adventures with our friends in traditional ways, there are still many things to do with friends while keeping each other safe and healthy.
BEFORE WE BEGIN
There will be both in-person and virtual ideas on having fun with friends and being safe. It is important to remember, though, that the most crucial goal is to keep you and yourself healthy. Before any interactions, here are some reminders on how to stay well and healthy.
REMEMBER TO:
- Wash your hand for at least 20 seconds whenever you can: to let the soap sink into your skin and kill the germs, it needs at least 20 seconds to do so. Rather than count to 20, try singing a little song like the alphabet. Even singing the beginning to one of your favorite songs, then dance around the room to dry your hands after.
- When in-person, make sure to stand at least 6 feet apart: it is tough to stay indoors 24/7. Sometimes we want to see a friend, and being on Facetime or Teams sometimes does not give that satisfaction we are looking for. If you must go out or want to see someone, make sure to be at LEAST 6 feet apart. This distance limits the spread of germs between each other.
- Wear a mask whenever outside your home: wearing a mask is essential! Masks also limit the spread of germs and keep YOU safe. With the pandemic still here, wearing a mask helps control the spread of the virus.
- Limit the number of people you are with in-person: our social circles are much larger than we think. Not only are we affected by the people we directly interact with, but the people our friends have interacted with. The largest groups should be no more than ten people, but it is always better to keep that number in the middle-to-low single digits. The fewer people we interact with in person, the harder it is to spread the virus.
- If you are feeling unwell, stay home: please stay home if you are not feeling well. It is better to rest up and keep yourself and others safe from getting sick. It is better to stay home rather than end up in the hospital.
NOW FOR THE FUN
Now, as promised, here are some fun activities you and your friends can do both in-person and virtually to keep in touch.
IN-PERSON ACTIVITIES
Play a board game
Social distanced ice cream time together
Personalized “Guess Who”
Chalk sidewalk drawing
Outdoor movie
Grab a blanket outside and read a book together
VIRTUAL AND QUARANTINE ACTIVITIES
(These are done through platforms like Teams or Facetime)
Host a large group call
Play among us
Have a video game tournament
Stream a movie together
Host a book club
Virtual dance-off
Have a huge virtual gathering and eat a meal together
CDC Guidelines and Updates: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/quarantine.html
