Entertain During a Power Outage
Things to Do During a Power Outage
Storms bring power outages. While there’s no question losing electricity brings big inconveniences, there’s also a plus side. If you and your family members tend to literally leave each other to their own devices, you now have an enforced togetherness – and it can even be fun, as long as the power isn’t out for too long. Along with your storm emergency kit, have some old-fashioned items on hand that can make enduring a power outage worthwhile.
Board and Card Games
As long as you have some natural light, or you have plenty of flashlights or battery-operated lighting on hand, a power outage is a perfect time for board pr card games. Your kids can learn the joys of classic games such as Monopoly, Life, Scrabble, Clue and the like. It’s also a good time to teach an older child the basics of chess. While there are plenty of family card games available, you can play – or learn – adult card games with the older members of the family. If you’re by yourself, play solitaire.
Read Aloud
Sure, you can all read your own books or magazines during a power outage, but you can also take turns reading aloud. Harry Potter books are a good choice, as is anything by Mark Twain, but you can choose your own personal or family favorites.
Drawing and Crafts
As long as the power outage doesn’t affect your water supply for cleanup – as it may if you have a well rather than city water – drawing or crafts is a great way to spend time while waiting for electricity restoration.
Shadow Puppets
If you have candles, light them and create shadow puppets on the walls. Modern kids probably aren’t familiar with shadow puppets, but they’ll quickly learn to love them.
Tell Ghost Stories
Pretend you are camping, and do the things campers do in the great outdoors at night – other than roast marshmallows. Sit around your living room or kitchen table and tell ghost stories.
Peruse Photo Albums
It’s likely you still have family photo albums around even if you’ve digitized most of them. Your kids can make fun of what you looked like at their age, but they also want to see photos of relatives, both alive and dead. You might want to share stories with your kids of when you were growing up, and tell tales of your friends and family members. A power outage can serve as a wonderful opportunity to connect with your family, and connect the past with the present.
Alone in the House
If you’re a couple without kids in the house, you don’t need spelling out what you can do in the dark. However, if you are by yourself, you can still take advantage of the quiet engendered by a power outage. If you’ve been pushing yourself lately, take a nap. If you’ve fallen behind on your cleaning, this is a great time to tidy up, again if water is available.
If you’re looking to buy or sell a home or find a rental property, you need a knowledgeable, experienced realtor. We make sure buyers, sellers and renters understand the process every step of the way. Contact Island Realty Group LLC at 808-689-7407 or IslandRealtyGroup@irghi.com.
