Life around the world has changed over the past month. Terms like “social distancing”, “flatten the curve”, and “COVID-19” are now part of our everyday vocabulary. Remote work has become the norm and we’re all spending many more hours at home.
For working parents, the transition into this new stay-at-home world has come with plenty of challenges. Families across the country are searching for new activities and educational resources to keep their kids busy and themselves sane. New family schedules are being shared all across social media, as parents try and create some normalcy into what can easily slide into chaotic home life.
With all this in mind, we’ve gone out and curated a few helpful resources to keep you sane and your kids happy.
Remember, it all starts with…
Self-care
The COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented and we’re all living under the weight of a lot of new responsibilities and challenges. Before we get into any of the resources available for kids and families, it’s important to say this: make time to take care of yourself.
You are foundational to your family, and that makes your own health and well-being of the utmost importance. Whether it’s a bath, 30 minutes in front of the TV, or 20 minutes of meditation, you need to find activities that help you recharge and feel well during these stressful times.
If you have the time, we also recommend this video by Dr. David Price of Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City. In an hour-long zoom call, he shares information with family and friends on how to empower and protect your family during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Family Resources
Now we’ll share a list of some excellent websites that each link to or share several resources for families. These links include activities, educational resources, media suggestions, and tips on how to talk to your kids about the virus.
There are loads of resources to explore on these six websites, and we hope they’ll provide you with countless hours of activities and entertainment.
Zero to Three
ZERO TO THREE is a global non-profit that works to ensure that babies and toddlers benefit from the early connections that are critical to their well-being and development.
They’ve created a resource bank offering tips for families including age-appropriate responses to common questions, a guide to self-care, and activities for young children experiencing social distancing.
The Child Mind Institute
The Child Mind Institute is an independent, national non-profit dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders.
Their resource page has a lot of information on dealing with anxiety in kids and parents, tips for self-care, and lots of how-to’s about discipline and behaviour. A great resource to have bookmarked.
Mommy Poppins
This is a website for parents in New York City, but they have an entire section dedicated to indoor activities you can do during the pandemic.
Games for kids, backyard activities, crafts for the family. There are loads of resources here that you can use to keep your whole crew entertained.
Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media is an independent, research-backed non-profit that has been providing entertainment and technology reviews for families and schools since 2003.
Their resource list includes tips for understanding COVID-19 news coverage, resources to help your family stay calm, learning resources and homework help, and recommendations of positive things your kids can watch, read, and play.
Busy Toddler
Busy Toddler is a treasure trove of crafts and activities for wee ones. With suggestions on schedules, tips on how to stock a craft drawer, and page after page of toddler-friendly activities, these recommendations can help add some much-needed structure to your kid’s playtime.
Edmonton Public Library
The Edmonton Public Library, named 2014 Library of the Year by Library Journal Magazine, has several resources available to families even though their physical branches have been closed.
Their resources are sorted by age and provide you with all kinds of activities for the whole family. Many of the resources do require you to have a library card, which you can get for free online as long as your a resident of Edmonton or Enoch, Alberta.
Stay together, apart!
As we continue to figure out how to get through these trying times, remember to take care of yourself, take care of your families, and support the people in your communities. We’ll get through this together!