to ask for advice on 10 days in hotel quarantine with DD 6 & 9!?

[newtoedinburgh]

We are moving back to the UK in a few weeks, we face 10 days in a hotel room with our 2 daughters. We would wait until post pandemic but we can't, our visas are about to expire where we are. Looking for any tips from anyone who has done it already. We will be flying up to Edinburgh but seems we will quarantine first in a Heathrow hotel. 10 days is a fuckin g long time in one room let alone with my 2 children. But there we go. Has anyone seen any blogs or brilliant articles on how other people have coped. I should add my DH is also travelling. We may be the 4 of us in interconnecting rooms, but if there are none available we will be split for the entire stay, I will have DD6 he will have DD10.

Not looking for advice on how to avoid it, just how to 'cope' so to speak
THANKS x

That sounds really tricky!

Personality I'd be allowing lots of screentime, books, sticker books, board games.

I might be talking out of my arse here, but
I wonder if some sort of routine would be good? Maybe get Dd to help make a day plan.

So say, wake up, wash dress, breakfast. Take some workbooks of some kind so you do an hours learning. An hours reading. Then it's lunch time.

After lunch, family game of some kind, possibly an online board game (I doubt you'll have room for actual board games) or card games. Then it's time for a film, each person gets a turn at choosing the film?

If your girls are into sport or dancing, could they spend an hour doing some kind of dance or yoga type fitness. Then it's time for dinner, shower, pyjamas on ready for another film before bed?

It seems very easy to write out, but I know it probably won't be like that in practice.

Could each day have a different 'activity'. So pack a few things to do a spa afternoon. During lockdown a lot of zoo's did virtual tours, you could watch some of those if they are still available. Take some pens, pencils and colouring books to keep them entertained. Anything small but interesting.

Can you find a Facebook group or similar for those that have done it. I know groups exist for Australia.

Otherwise a general expat group might be your best bet (I'm thinking two fat expats, but I'm sure there are others).
Snacks, puzzles, games, colouring stuff, pens and paper.

Good luck with the move.

Great ideas from Florence

Are you able to do the 5 day test to release ?

Otherwise I agree routine is good , and probably accepting that there will be a lot of screen time. Audiobooks are also good and jigsaws and colouring books. For the 10 year could she learn to knit or embroider, there are some lovely kits suitable for children.

Ask for extra pillows, blankets chairs... Make a den so that they have their own space and are also super comfy in the evenings xxx

If you can afford it and get it in the time, get 2 portal devices that you can hook up to the hotel TV Ford staying in touches with people and each other if in separate rooms

There are loads of Just dance videos on YouTube. Younger child may like Cosmic Yoga as well.

(Do you get decent internet?).

Do they like Lego? Massive set each to build?

Hama beads can occupy mine for ages. My 10yo has recently discovered Paint By Numbers.

Good luck.

If you have suitable devices, can you book family and friends in for regular calls? Maybe they can play a game together or something like that?

@GlencoraP

Are you able to do the 5 day test to release ?

Otherwise I agree routine is good , and probably accepting that there will be a lot of screen time. Audiobooks are also good and jigsaws and colouring books. For the 10 year could she learn to knit or embroider, there are some lovely kits suitable for children.

Test to release is for amber countries only

I'd expect the food to be shit, so take lots of snacks - sweets, crisps, nuts, dried fruit, maybe cereal if anyone is fussy.

Activity books and whatnot for the kids.

Download things to watch on Netflix if you can, just in case the WiFi or signal is shit.

Keep a routine. My biggest problem during lockdowns and isolation has been insomnia.

Yoga. Helps with the mentioned insomnia.

Can you take a couple of books to read aloud to them? Eg Harry Potter.
If there is a bath tub treat that as a part of your day rather than a quick wash before bed thing.
Agree with doing school work and dance videos.

Eat meals slowly. Are you able to have things delivered? If so I’d spend a bit on treats eg a tub of ice cream with bowls and spoons one day.

Take a pack of cards and teach them games eg memory.

Take noise cancelling headphones that people can use to get some time out
If you get time out of the room to exercise make use of it. Play tag, move as much as possible.

Well depending on where you are travelling from you might be able to spend time in an Amber list country if permitted and then travel to the UK and quarantine at home where you're not all in one room and might have a garden.
If however you don't have a home to go to yet I'd just do the hotel quarantine and get it over with and make the most of that time with virtual viewings and organising where you will go from there.
I'd order deliveries of food they like and games to entertain the kids. Can you find out what exercise is permitted? If you could do it in the middle of the day it would break it up a bit but not sure if you get a choice.
Also if you are moving from abroad and will have a lot of luggage I'd try to pack specific cases for the duration of quarantine to avoid opening every suitcase you've got.

Is there something you could all try and learn? I can't think of anything off the top of my head - but a skill of some sort, like juggling or something equally silly. See which pair are the best by the end of 10 days?

I'd be flying to an Amber country for 10 days. No way I would pay that amount of money to be in prison essentially. Have you seen the videos online?

I would book 10 days somewhere Amber that allows people in from your country then fly to UK.

virtual tours are a good shout. Can they each make a little video diary or a short film using their toys? A model kit to build (lego or otherwise) that will take them a while / could be a multi-day project. Duolingo on an ipad, short burst every day? You can get books of blank cartoon layouts so they can create their own cartoon story. Teach them a few card games. Lots of baths!

Take it half a day at a time, I guess and try not to think about the whole lot at once?

What @OMalleyTheAlleyKit said. It looks like a prison camp.

Sorry OP, no advice to add but this is my idea of hell and I would do anything NOT to have to do this.
I would need a lot of alcohol.

Cosmic Yoga on YouTube? There are so many to choose from, you could do a different one every day, they're totally geared up to children but I join in too!
It's fun and would kill an hour, you don't need much space or equipment either.

Have you tried the app Together - it’s a kids game video calling app so can play games like Uno etc via video call eg with other family members

PE with Joe Wicks every morning?

Take the ten year old, and get her into Prosecco.

Assuming decent internet, my two would happily spend half the time playing roblox or Minecraft or watching Netflix! Will they have school work to do (or will it be school holidays?)? If not could you set an amount of time each day for reading/learning -if nothing formal then maybe each does some reading/maths/languages etc for a couple of hours a day. For me, a routine would help me get through the day.
Things to keep active in a small space: Resistance bands (lots of kids workout videos on YouTube), skipping rope/skip ball, small beanbags/juggling balls. Hula hoop (folding/collapsible). On youtube try cosmic yoga, Zumba (or just Zumba), netflex workouts.
Things to do that are small to pack: Stacking cups, Uno, top trumps, bop it, Lego set, activity sets: slime/perfume/painted pebbles/friendship bracelets, Slime, natural hair dye, nail art, face paints, knitting, sewing,
Take plenty of food!
Can you get deliveries of food/Amazon parcels at the hotel? If so, have something fun arrive every day/couple of days. If not, maybe pack some surprises to get out during your stay.
Good luck.

Some good practical tips here: www.corporatetraveller.com.au/resources/insights/how-survive-hotel-quarantine-and-keep-your-sanity

Screen time! Not much else to do.

Books, magazine, toys first thing around breakfast.
Tidy up.

Online physical activity
then "homework".

Lunch - family movie.

more online sport.
another hour or so of "homework".

Free time - can be anything minecraft etc.. related.
Tidy up.

Movie together in bed.
Depending on your children, yoga before or after the movie.

Read in bed to make them sleepy.

Its boring, but it sounds worst than it is. I have heard a LOT of complaints about the grotty food too.

KEEP YOUR ROOM TIDY! It will be quickly become very claustrophobic if it's a mess.