In Praise of Back-Up Plans: Subscriptions That Save the Day

This week the kids have been sick, which means I’ve been sick too. My husband — apparently immune to the virus and very nonchalant about it (let that be noted) — suggested I use it as inspiration for this week’s piece: “What to Do With Kids When You Are Sick.”

But the truth is: when your kids are sick at home, you do NOTHING. And you shall attempt to do nothing. Five hours of TV? Granted. Still feel like one more? Help yourself.

There are only two battles worth fighting on those days:

1. Take your meds,
2. Try to eat something.

Everything else is free-range kids style with zero guilt. I’m just a human being. And somewhere between tissues and thermometers, I found myself feeling genuinely grateful for every TV membership I’ve ever subscribed to. And that’s when it hit me — an idea. Voilà!

Handy Subscriptions in Valencia, You Will NOT Regret Getting

1. Bioparc / Oceanogràfic

You may think that once you’ve seen the animals, it’s always the same. BUT allow me to rearrange that thought for you. See it as a backup plan.

Got no plans? Pack some snacks and go — I guarantee you the kids will be happy, and as always, it’s very hands-off parenting. Sit back and watch an elephant chew a leaf and let time melt away.

Or see it as a fancy playground. They have one. And again, it’s the perfect go-to place when your brain is too tired to invent activities.

Game idea: Take turns picking an animal. Whoever remembers the most facts about their chosen creature wins. They’ll get familiar with the animals, invent names for them, learn their habits — and who knows, maybe you’re raising a tiny David Attenborough or Jane Goodall.

Bonus: Bioparc now has their Bionadal offer: get a kids’ pass for one euro when you buy an adult ticket. Totally worth it.
https://bioparcvalencia.es/en/Christmas/

2. Homoludicus

A hidden gem. It’s a board-game store where you can become a member for less than €10/year (last time I checked). The best part? You can rent board games.

They have games for all ages and difficulty levels, so you can rent a couple and have a weekend of fun at home — especially when the weather forecast looks unpromising.

Suggestion: Start a tradition: Board-Game Sunday.

3. Decathlon Rentals

Not a local specialty, but surprisingly handy. Their rental plans let you borrow bikes for any age. This was a lifesaver for us when we didn’t have space to store all the kids’ “vehicles.”

We rented bikes for a couple of months and returned them — no strings attached. Perfect when kids are between sizes, and equally great for adults.

Perfect plan: Lazy Sunday cycling through the Turia, picnic included.

So, this is my appreciation post for the subscriptions that rescue us on those “I cannot possibly invent an activity today” days. Valencia is full of sunshine and spontaneity, but sometimes we need a backup plan that requires zero genius and zero emotional bandwidth. A board game rental here, a bike ride there, a quick trip to the Bioparc — and suddenly you’ve managed to create a wholesome family moment with almost no effort. That’s art.