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We recently moved to a new home and I went straight to work to settle in and make it decidedly ours as quickly as possible. I had a chance to redesign Winston’s room as we journeyed from "Toddlerhood" to "Bigkidhood". I wanted his room to be playful but practical with lots of storage for his toys and books, and make clean up and stow away a breeze! Just as with my clients, it was important that Winston’s personality was reflected in his space with the help of Hyperacitive Monkey, by artist Jerome Lu, or as Winston affectionately refers to him as, Uncle Jerome. Jerome is a creative genius who designs amazing toys, apparel inspired by his love for cartoons, and comics and toys from the 80s. Winston loves how his room turned out, now if I could only get him to stay in his bed at night! 🙂
A few months into 2020, you could say we are really enjoying every inch of our new home. I’m still wrapping my mind around this current reality that caught most of us by surprise. I don’t think we ever imagined that we would have to shelter in place with our immediate families, physically distancing ourselves from our friends and loved ones. I wasn’t sure what to focus on for this month’s blog and how to tie in design with our current reality, so I decided to use Winston’s playful room as a guide to help us have some fun with our kid
Go Virtual!
We’re missing our friends and family like crazy! FaceTime and Zoom have never been used more in our household. We use these tools daily to keep in touch with my mom in Sweden, friends down the street, and neighbors and schoolmates.
Side note for grown up time: Happy Hour over Zoom has become one of my new favorite activities 😉
Physical Activity / Join a Live Dance Party
The mind and body connection is strong. A change in your physiological state can immediately invigorate and boost your mood. A simple breathing exercise when you wake up, a quick at-home workout, a walk or scooter around the neighborhood (at a safe distance, always!) or even a cold shower if you dare, are some of the ways to alter your physical state, get your blood flowing, and gain a different perspective on a tough time. Binge watching Netflix or the news with snacks is easy and tempting, but as long as it is balanced with physical movement. Alternatively, dance! DJs like @D-Nice are jamming out on Instagram Live! Stream it on your TV screen, blast the sound and get moving to burn some calories.
Film TikTok Videos
Need I say more? As its popularity continues to rise, your kids are probably already on the app so this will be a great way to bond with them, while getting in a few laughs.
Go Camping, or set up a picnic
If you had been putting off camping or the great outdoors just isn’t your thing, this might be the perfect time to pitch a tent in the living room, bring a blanket and a few pillows and spend an evening under your Christmas lights, eating dinner, reading a book to your kids, sharing stories, and making wish lists for when shelter-in place is over. You can do this with a daytime picnic too but something about a moonlit night, Christmas lights and a tent that will make this so much more fun for your kids.
Take a virtual trip to a museum.
So many museums are now offering virtual experiences. If your kids are old enough, this might be an excellent educational and creative activity to do with them.
Final thoughts…
The opportunity to slow down has been a blessing for me because I’m always on-the-go. I’m spending more time with my family, and more time on things that nurtures creativity. I stay informed on current events, but balance how much news I take in with stories of kindness and generosity people are showing to one another in these challenging times. I support my local small businesses as much as possible; and check in on family and friends to make sure they are doing well.
It’s important that our kids maintain structure and academic learning, but, as parents, we are setting an example for how to manage and rise above a crisis. We are showing them how to persevere, be resourceful, and get creative. They will encounter many future challenges and what a teachable moment this is for them, and for us.
I can’t wait to give you a hug and share a coffee once we’re on the other side of this.
For now, I am sending you virtual hugs and kisses. Do what you need to do to stay strong and healthy.
If you do any of these activities with your kids, post a picture in your stories and tag @sagainteriors. I’d love to see your take on these ideas!
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Philosophy
“Let’s create magic.”