Your turn to find some fun with the family

Fun games offer both distraction and mental challenges. If taken outdoors, they also can offer a boost from physical activity and fresh air.

Spokane resident Erica Demateis said she and neighbors played corn hole and other outdoor games on Tuesday, which got adults and children outside in the area of the Ridge at Hangman. Demateis set out oversized game pieces she has used for school parties. They include games for Connect Four, ladder ball and a giant Jenga set.

It was a chance for neighbors and friends to socialize and be active while still practicing social distancing.

Most families don’t have extra-large games at home. Some could be built using wood, cardboard or plastic containers. To play checkers outside, for instance, players could draw a checkerboard on the driveway or sidewalk with chalk and use two colors of plastic or paper plates for the pieces.

Other games don’t need pieces. Parents could send children on treasure hunts or playI Spy on a nature walk.

And for indoor fun, puzzles and cards are always fun. But this might be the perfect time to play Monopoly, Scrabble, Risk and other classic board games that can stretch out the hours as families spend quarantine time together.