School holidays at home: 5 family activities

With most of us being encouraged to stay home right now, figuring out things to do over the school holidays is going to be really important. So, start having a look at some fun family activities you can do at home – and get planning! Even if you’re spending most of your time indoors, it’s always a good idea to be prepared for unexpected accidents with personal accident insurance. Here, FWD Singapore shares five home-based activities to enjoy as a family and how you can stay safe no matter what you decide to do. Plus, find out how you can get a discount on FWD Personal Accident insurance through to the end of June!

#1 Go camping in your living room

Whether you pitch a real tent in your living room or set up a makeshift “tent” with pillows, this activity is sure to be a hit! You can also hide some of your child’s stuffed animals around the house, then let your little one go looking for the “wild animals”.

Take your indoor camping trip to the next level with s’mores – a well-known campfire treat. It only requires three ingredients: chocolate bars, graham crackers and marshmallows. For safety reasons, we would recommend baking the s’mores in the oven. Here’s how:

1. Lay out graham cracker halves on a lined baking sheet; use as many as the number of s’mores you’d like to make.
2. Place a piece of chocolate on each cracker.
3. Top each piece of chocolate with a marshmallow.
4. Place the baking sheet in the oven and set on broil for one to three minutes, depending on how toasty you want them.
5. Remove from the oven and top each with a second graham cracker half. Squish it all together for gooey goodness – and enjoy!

#2 Afternoon tea at home

Since dining out as a family may not be possible for now, here’s an idea. Why not take one of the most popular activities in Singapore – afternoon tea – and turn it into an at-home affair? Get dressed up and invite the dolls, too! Kids can help to set the table, plan the menu and bake. Get creative and try your hand at everything from pandan chiffon cake and chocolate tiffin to passionfruit syrup cake and cinnamon rolls. But, first, order all the ingredients you need online to avoid the shops (check out some of our favourite online grocers).

#3 Paint your own pots, then plant herbs

Bring the outdoors inside by creating new homes for some special plants with your kids. First, decorate your pots! You can find ready-to-decorate ceramic planters online, along with acrylic paint pens online, or you can purchase all-in-one kits, which include everything.

Once you’ve prettified your pots, get your hands dirty and plant some herbs like oregano and basil (seeds can be easily bought online). It’s a great bonding activity, and a way to add some fresh flavour to your family dishes all year round! Or, plant some citronella seeds to keep mozzies away.

#4 Puppet play

Pull out the crayons, markers and googly eyes, and make your own puppets using paper lunch bags toilet paper rolls or whatever you’ve got lying around. Get creative!

Once you’ve got your cast of characters, take turns putting on a puppet show for the other members of your family. It’s an activity you can make last for at least a few hours!

#5 Family spa day

Make self-care a family affair! Grab some ready-made masks or make your own with ingredients you’ve got at home. Here’s a super simple recipe you can whip up in a jiff:

Honey banana face mask

• Let your child help you mash up half of a ripe banana to make a smooth paste.
• Warm a tablespoon of honey, then mix it with the banana paste.
• Dampen your child’s face with a wet towel, then apply the mask.
• After 30 minutes, wash off the mask with warm water.

As for creating the right spa vibes in your living room, try lighting some scented candles or getting some essential oil diffusers going. You can even cue up a pre-made spa day playlist or let your kids pick the songs. Dim the lights, set up some refreshments and slice up some cucumbers for your eyes if you want that extra touch.

Voila! You’ve got an at-home activity that you probably wouldn’t get to do if you didn’t get this extended time at home.

Enjoy the school holidays, worry-free

Regardless of which activities you choose, you can enjoy the school holidays stress-free by making sure your family is covered against unexpected accidents, even those that may happen at home.

FWD Personal Accident insurance protects you financially against life’s “what if’s”, so you can focus on living in the moment and spending time with the people who matter – your family.  This affordable and versatile personal accident plan covers unforeseen accidents, infectious diseases¹ like COVID-19 and Dengue, food poisoning and more. In fact, with the Singapore Government pledging to vaccinate all Singaporeans and long-term residents against COVID-19 by the end of the year, FWD will also cover your hospitalisation expenses incurred² in Singapore if you develop any side effects within 30 days from the date of vaccination.

In life, accidents do happen. So, it’s best to be prepared with accident insurance coverage for your family. With the school holidays coming up, enjoy a one-time discount of 30 percent off FWD Personal Accident insurance from now until 30 June 2021 with the promo code “ELPA30“. Click here to get this discount! You can also check out other great offers that FWD has online here.

This article is sponsored by FWD Singapore.

Looking for more tips and activities in Singapore? Head to our Living in Singapore section.

¹ Subject to a waiting period of 15 days from policy coverage start date for claims related to the COVID-19 outbreak and 90 days from policy coverage start date for all other infectious disease claims.

² This complimentary cover is valid for COVID-19 vaccinations taken from 3rd March 2021 till 31st December 2021 only. The COVID-19 vaccination will have to be approved by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) and administered by an authorised healthcare professional in Singapore. You must also be medically eligible for the vaccination, in line with the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) recommendations for vaccine suitability. Terms and conditions apply. Refer to FAQs here for more information.

Note: This is for general information only and does not constitute financial advice. This accident insurance policy is protected under the Policy Owners’ Protection Scheme administered by the Singapore Deposit Insurance Corporation (SDIC). This advertisement has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. 

Amy Greenburg

Originally from Los Angeles, Amy is passionate about Netflix, sipping rosé at rooftop bars, travelling, and all things health and wellness-related. She enjoys learning about different health topics through her writing, particularly critical health conditions, food allergies, alternative therapies, and pregnancy and postpartum-related issues