Traveling is a popular choice for people looking to relax, but leisure time doesn’t always have to involve leaving the comfort of your own home. As a bonus, staying in means you can relax without expanding your carbon footprint—and maybe take the time to plan responsible travel options. In the meantime, here are some suggestions for games, puzzles, and creative kits you can enjoy either solo or in good company while giving your brain a bit of a workout, no travel required.
Card and Board Games
The gaming industry has seen a proliferation of games that combine education and enjoyment in high quality sets. Wingspan (Stonemaier Games) takes the basic “build and collect” model and mixes lovely renderings of different bird species with facts about habitats, diet, and behaviors. It’s more appropriate for older children and up (especially given the game uses smaller pieces), but younger players might enjoy following along just for the bird facts and art.
For younger players, Fish ’n Flip (Helvetiq) challenges participants to save ocean animals from trawling nets. Notably, players can choose whether to play competitively or cooperatively, where everyone works to free all the fish, not just their own. The game even includes information about overfishing and ocean life conservation.
Block Puzzles
Puzzles can offer opportunities for both solo play and sharing among multiple people. Block puzzles are especially fun for young children and can help with developing fine motor skills, problem solving, and pattern recognition, although adult puzzle collectors will also find a lot to appreciate about their craftmanship. For instance, Hazelnut Kids offers a variety of wooden building block sets and simple nesting puzzles that are durable, easy for little hands to handle, and often brightly colored.
For players with a little more hand to eye coordination, Staka (Helvetiq) is a building block set and game in the vein of Jenga. With multiple stacking options and different levels of difficulty, it can be enjoyed alone or with other players.
Craft Kits
Not all at home activities need to be competitive. Simple DIY craft sets offer a chance to create with your own hands and produce unique items to keep or share as gifts. Bella Luna Toys has a variety of options appropriate for young children to adults, whether you’re interested in painting, embroidery, sculpting, or other crafts.
For instance, their DIY Screen Printing Kit provides you with all the basics you need, including five stencils, five acetate sheets, and three vibrant paint colors, to print your own tote bags, clothing, and other items. And if handmade jewelry strikes your fancy, Bella Luna Toys offers a Crafters Clay Jewelry Kit appropriate for ages 7 and above. The kit includes forms for earrings and a necklace, and crafters can experiment with six colors of polymer clay to make your own unique pieces. And by shopping with a certified Green Business Network member like Bella Luna Toys, you can rest assured that the materials are nontoxic and safe to use as directed for developing children.
