Although it’s pretty much a guessing game on how the weather in Qatar will be this weekend, a lot of people will most likely choose to stay home. Wouldn’t that be boring? Well, it does not have to be. Family, friends and neighbors can still bond, have fun and sneak in some fitness activities despite staying in close proximity to their homes.
Go Have a Pool Party!
Hot and humid weather + pool + people = fun. Easy equation to understand. A dip in the pool can certainly be a refreshing. A smart way to add some fitness is to play pool games. A swimming race can promote a whole body workout. A treasure hunt—asking participants to search for a specific item on the pool bottom—exercises the participants’ lungs since they will need to dive and search the pool. And yes, put a net across the pool and you can play water volleyball. If you want to have a more intimate bonding time, keep the pool activities within the family. Either way, it will be a fun.
Okay, so not everybody has a pool in their home or villa. So what now? Well you can always improvise. Inflatable pools are available in sports and online shops. Just purchase a big one—or two if you really have space—and problem solved. You don’t even need to get out of the house since online shops can deliver it right in front of your doorstep.
Cook Together
Cooking together is a great family activity, especially for kids. Besides bonding, it’s a great way to teach kids responsibility. Also, it’s a subtle way to teach them healthy eating. And who knows? You might discover that you have a little chef in the family.
If family and friends already know how to cook, then have a ‘cook off’. Decide on a theme or a signature dish and cook away. You can do it individually or by teams. Choose a judge or judges, so someone will make an official decision on whose dish is the best. In truth though, everyone wins because not only will everyone bond, they will be full and burping when it’s all over.
Get Fit With the Kids
Obviously, kids love playing. Exercising? Not much. Unless you introduce it in a playful way. Teach your kids light exercises like running in place and jumping jacks. Make it fun. Be creative (ever teach kids basic Yoga?). Besides the bonding, you and kids will get fit.
Have a Barbeque
Speaking of cooking, here’s a summer activity which will never get old—barbecue! Just the sweet smell of cooking meat—especially if done in coals (forget about the electric griller) can liven up the summer. Add some wood chips to the coal to give it a distinct flavor and aroma. But meats are not the only ones you can grill. Brush olive oil on vegetable slices like carrots, zucchini, tomatoes, and sprinkle some spices and they are good to go. Put some corn on the griller too. Grilling is a healthy way to cook food, mind you.
Go Old School
Fight the urge to just grab your smartphone and tablet and play all day. Instead, play the old school way. Play board games like Scrabble or Monopoly with family and friends. This way, you get actual interaction from your family and friends. You also might learn a thing or two. You can even play charades—the game where a person acts out a specific word and everyone guesses.
See? You may have limited options, but it doesn’t mean your weekend won’t be awesome.