How to Encourage Your Friends in Covid Quarantine

Many families are struggling right now through various stages of living with COVID-19. Chances are at this point in the COVID-19 pandemic, you have known a family who had to quarantine for days or weeks together. If you’re like me, you want to help, but you don’t know how. It’s easy to stay stuck in the thinking part and never get to the action part. I hope this post helps you move from inaction to action by giving some practical ideas to encourage your friends while they are in Covid quarantine.

I have experience in both areas—my family was the one in quarantine earlier this year, and I’ve known families in quarantine. If everyone in the family tests positive for COVID at different times, your quarantine moves from days to weeks! My son, who was the only one that never tested positive, missed a month of school as the virus worked its way through the rest of us.

This is Not a To-Do List

These ideas are just that. Don’t use this as a list of the things you must buy or do. Use these ideas as a starting point to get your brain working. Use your own unique talents, gifts, and experiences to decide what way you can best help someone. Each family experiences COVID in a different way—sometimes hospitalization happens or there is loss of pay as someone can’t work.

The seriousness of the family’s situation may make you feel like you shouldn’t even bother because you can’t take the virus away. Even though you may feel like what you’re doing is so small compared to what a family is going through, you still help your friends feel seen.

“We can’t always be problem solvers, but we can be people see-ers.”
-Becky Keife, The Simple Difference, How Every Small Kindness Makes a Big Impact

Help the families that are suffering around you feel seen. Even if everyone has only mild complications, staying home alone for weeks while everyone else is out living their lives does bring negative emotions. Any little joy or message to say, “I see you” is helpful.

Ask What You Can Do

Always ask first in what ways you can help. Your friend may definitely have an answer. But if she doesn’t, then go through this list to see how you can encourage your friend and her family in COVID quarantine. This also works for anyone stuck at home for a longer than normal length of time, whether it is COVID related or not.

1. Food

When we were in quarantine, food was the biggest comfort and help! But it doesn’t have to be a homemade meal, although those were awesome. Here are ideas of how you can provide something to eat for your friends.

• Home-cooked Meal – If it’s within your capacity, cook them something.
• Take Out – Have it delivered or take it to them yourself.
• Gift Cards – They can use whenever they need a meal. You can even email these!
• Snacks – The days are long. Snacks make them shorter.
• Breakfast Items – Muffins can be eaten for breakfast or any time of day.
• Gum, Mints – Just a little something extra.

2. Games

If kids are involved in this quarantine, then yes they are bored and yes they are driving the parents crazy. Games are a fun way to connect and new games are a great distraction from what’s going on. Some of these are small card games that could easily accompany other items or be tossed into a gift bag. Also, if you can’t find a game locally, just order it online and send it directly to your friend’s house.

We own all these games listed, and these are some of mine and my kids’ favorites. I’ve linked them on Amazon where you can check the details and the age recommendations and purchase accordingly. These are affiliate links. If you purchase, I may receive a tiny compensation that does not increase the cost for you.

• Preschool Games – Zingo, Hoot Owl Hoot, Race to the Treasure
• Elementary Games – Rat a Tat Cat, Sushi Go, Moose in the House, Battleship, Guess Who
• Older Kids Games – Harry Potter Clue, Rack O, Poetry for Neanderthals, Skip Bo
• Puzzles
• One player games (for the single person or the family that is quarantining in separate rooms): Gravity Maze, Rush Hour, Kanoodle, Marble Run (not a game but definitely a fun activity some can do alone)

Here is a blog post with other one player games. I have played none of them, but I am adding some to Christmas wish lists:  The Best One-Player Games (That Aren’t Solitaire), According to Gamers

3. Reading Material

Even if they are not readers, magazine and activity books can be entertaining.

• Books – These books by Ruth Chou Simons are beautiful gift books: Garden of Truth and Fields of Joy. Or gift them one of your own favorite books.
• Magazines – Dayspring and Magnolia Journal are both encouraging reads.
• Activity Books – Crosswords, Word Search, Sudoku
• Journals – The Weekly Prayer Project, 52 Lists for Happiness, The Next Right Thing Guided Journal, or a blank journal

4. Comfort Items

Here are some items to bring a little comfort to make the day calm and peaceful.

• Cozy Socks (a personal favorite)
• Lotion
• Chapstick
• Blanket
• Flowers
• Coffee or Tea or A Great Mug

5. Practical Items

• Pens and Notebook – for writing down important things to remember (who got sick and when).
• Groceries – Go shopping or pick up an online order for them.
• Meds – Offer to pick up prescriptions they need.

6. Notes of Encouragement

Don’t forget the impact of a card or text letting them know you are thinking about them and praying for them. I wrote prayers last, but definitely not least important. It is the most impactful thing we can do!

• Cards
• Texts
• Prayers

Do Not Grow Weary in Doing Good

How you do this is totally up to you. Don’t buy everything on this list or even one thing from each section. Keep it simple. Take a meal. Or buy a game and put a snack with it. Mail a card.

You are not trying to fix their situation, but you can say, “I see you and I know that this is not easy.” Do you have ideas that would be great to encourage those stuck at home in quarantine? Let us know in the comments.

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