It's a (Stay Home) Date!

Keep kids entertained at home by organising online group playdates with their friends. As a bonus, parents can take turns to facilitate the activities so that everyone gets to take a well-deserved self-care break from parenting, once in a while.

Online storytelling
Turn storytime into an interactive activity by reading a book via a multi-way live video stream so that the children can view each other’s reactions while you are reading. Books like Lost In Singapore Children’s Picture Book is a fun way to explore Singapore’s key landmarks without stepping out of the home.

Guess the drawing
To encourage creative thinking and develop a child’s motor skills, play a simple “guess the picture” game. You can always make up your own rules but to get you started, here is a suggestion: Take turns to have each child draw pictures in response to age-appropriate questions or clues (for example ‘What do monkeys eat?”) and get their friends to guess what they are drawing. Make the game more entertaining with a unique sketch pad like the Zipstar Rainbow Magic Scratch Notes, where drawing or writing with a plastic stylus will reveal bright colours hidden underneath.

Dance-along
Burn off excess energy with a virtual dance party. Spark your children’s creative juices and inspire them to express themselves by getting them to take turns to come up with dance moves to their favourite songs. They can then teach their friends the movements so everyone can join in on the fun. Or if they are very young, simply play favourite tunes like Baby Shark or Let It Go and let them dance freestyle in any way that they like.

Adults can also stay connected with their friends by playing games and other fun activities together. Check out these innovative ways to hold an online hangout with all the people you miss seeing in real life. 

Go gaming together
Go on quests, explore new lands and conquer strange kingdoms with your fellow comrades by playing multi-player video games together. Simply pick a game or two of any kind that strikes your interest and dive in! For an even more realistic experience, the Sony Playstation4 Pro is equipped with top-of-the-line specifications to provide ultra-lifelike details.

Sweat it out
If you need extra motivation to get off your couch, make a date to Zoom together with your friends in an online exercise class. With many studios and instructors currently offering livestream or pre-recorded yoga and fitness classes either for free or a small fee, there will certainly be something to interest you. Getting the right workout gear can also be inspiring. Some basics to start with include a sweat-absorbent, anti-slip mat towel and high-performance workout gear. 

Hold a TGIF Houseparty
You can still toast the start of the weekend with your best buddies even when you are apart. Use the video chat app Houseparty, which comes with a few games to play, to catch up with each other. Be sure to fix your favourite drink - a refreshing Brass Lion gin and tonic or a fruity white wine are good choices to ease into the TGIF mood. A fun snack like homemade popcorn will also add to the party atmosphere.

Pampering spa sessions are so much better in the company of your best friends where you can chit chat, relax and meditate in a soothing environment. Taking these spa sessions online can be fun too.

Enjoy Korean star-worthy treatment
For a Korean star inspired DIY home spa session, loop in your friends via a call so you can hang out as you pamper yourself with products from your favourite Korean skincare brands. You can also play soothing background music, like what you might hear in a spa.

End the treatment with an indulgent facial mask like this moisturising aloe My Real Squeeze Mask from popular Korean brand Innisfree. Your skin will look radiant and refreshed after this relaxing time-out with your girlfriends

Netflix Party and spa
You can still have a hair spa session at home and while you are at it, hold a Netflix Party - a browser extension that allows you to stream shows with your friends - so you can binge watch shows in good company. Massage in your favourite hair mask, secure your hair within a shower cap so that it does not drip and watch an episode or two of the latest shows. 

Find your Zen together
Group meditation sessions are becoming increasingly popular as more people seek out mindfulness practices for inner peace. If you or your friends are new to meditation, practising together can help you stick to the practice. Create a contemplative mood at home by dimming the light and using a calming scent.

Then, play your preferred meditation on speaker mode so that your friends, who are connected via a voice or video call, can hear the instructions. Newcomers may find it useful to choose from the selection of recorded meditations available on apps like Calm or Headspace.

Dining out may not be possible at the moment, but don’t let that stop you from enjoying a good meal with close friends and family. Here are ways to make a video dining date more interesting.

Swap recipes
Consider this a good opportunity to expand your culinary repertoire. Take turns to host video cooking demonstrations so you and your friends can teach each other how to cook your best dishes. If you are still building a well-equipped kitchen, consider investment pieces from French brand Le Creuset, such as a skillet and Dutch oven. These are versatile enough to be used on the stove and in the oven and are made with cast iron to withstand the test of time.

Brunch with your buddies
On a lazy weekend, have a leisurely brunch with your buddies with a twist - each of you will first have to whip up your own meal. Cool kitchen appliances by Smeg are a treat to use as you prep your brunch essentials. And if you must have freshly baked bread for brunch, the Rommelsbacher Bread Maker is ideal for making homemade bread according to your own recipes.

Have a bake party
Sometimes, it is just more fun to have a variety of baked treats to snack on. Instead of baking everything all by yourself, rope in a few friends and get each person to bake a different type of pastry. Have some delivered to each other so that everyone ends up with a range of sweet baked goods to savour over tea and a good Zoom call.

PS. The Kitchenaid 9 Speed Hand Mixer, which has various attachments including dough hooks, whisk and blending rod, is a home baker’s all-in-one tool.