As the coronavirus has continued to spread, only some states have shared their plans to slowly start reopening. However, this is no guarantee. If things become worse from reopening, we’ll lose more resources and shut down just as quickly as before. And unfortunately, other states have extended their shelter-in-place orders making it even more unknown when things will return to normal.
And while some may think that families have finally gotten ‘in the groove’ of things, it might just be the opposite. Some families, after being stuck inside and together for so long, can build tension and frustration. And there seems to be more information available about the virus itself than for parents and their children.
So I’ve decided to round up as many resources possible for parents with Littles of all ages, from babies to school-aged. Some are technology-based, some are DIY activities, others are ways to adapt to homeschooling, and lots more. Plus, I would like to leave the link to Feeding America’s website where it will walk you through steps to follow if you and your family are in need of food right now.
We will get through this if we stick together!
For Babies And Toddlers
While there isn’t the pressure of how you are going to stay on top of your Little’s schoolwork, there is still the need for resources for babies and toddlers when parents have basically exhausted their ideas. One of the best sites I found for this specific era of childhood is Quartz. It offers simple ideas like reading and Sesame Street, and even more complex ideas like how to understand your child’s developing brain better!
Quartz links to Zero To Three, a resource that lists seasonal activities to do with your baby or toddler for every month of the year. It has a link to the ECLCK (Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center) which is a pre-K program for low-income families in the US. And it also has plenty of resources for the overwhelmed parent finding themself in this new and tricky situation.
One of my favorite links they list is to Promise Venture Studio which is a series of short videos with tricks and tips to guiding children’s behavior at home. It even has a section specifically dedicated to caregivers during the pandemic so parents don’t have to feel so alone. If you want to check out this awesome heap of resources in one, check out the link here.
For Elementary Students
“975, 441, 807. That’s the number of school meals kids in need have missed due to school closures.” That’s a direct quote from the No Kid Hungry website. And it’s a very serious issue that many families are struggling with right now. And in doing my research, I found it’s not that easy to find the resources parents need in order to access food. So I’ve decided to leave a direct link to Feeding America’s website that offers step by step instructions for families regardless of where they live in any of the 50 states. Just click here.
A different but still awesome curriculum to offer Littles is the Wild Classroom offered by WWF. From weekly activity plans to do at home to toolkits to learn about different species and biodiversity, it’s a great way to teach Littles about life outside both the classroom and home! Plus, with the celebration of Earth Week passing recently, what better time to introduce the topic? Check out the Wild Classroom here.
For Teens And Parents
One of the absolute best resources I know of for teens is the Khan Academy. With everything from math and science to technology and finance, KA has everything a kid needs to keep their mind active. Plus they even have SAT prep, college admission process, and even entrepreneurship classes as well! Plus, as a donation-based non-profit, it’s completely free to students of all ages!
Even in the midst of this pandemic, they are doing everything they can to be there for students and their families. They even have a daily schedule to help stay on track from grades K-12! If you want to check it out for yourself, click here. And last but certainly not least, parents need resources too! Whether it’s navigating home-school for the first time or apps for students with special needs, and even FREE internet service if you don’t have it, CA PTA has what you need.
You can even take a virtual tour or a field trip all over the world with your kids! And I can’t forget to mention the mental health and emotional well-being resources for parents and kids alike. One of the coolest parts – Create At Home. It’s a creative outlet focused on Visual and Performing Arts, Music, and more. Art programs are one of the least funded sections in schools and this resource is a great way to have FREE access! You can check out the link to CA PTA/Create At Home here.
Together We Can
This is a hard time for all of us. But I know we can get through this by sticking together and that’s what I intend to do until the end. Whether it’s by sharing information, ETM’s essential worker discount, (reach out to me at info@earthtomomma.com if you are one!) or sharing the positive news that we need to hear in order to maintain our mental health.
What do you think? Are there any ideas you have that I haven’t listed? Share ’em in the comments below! You really can change someone else’s life! And if you’re looking for things that you do have control over, check out ETM’s blog here.
As always, thank you so very much for being a part of ETM’s community! I encourage you to join discussions, interact with Mommas and others alike, and be unapologetically yourself! Until next time, I hope I’m able to help make your life as simple as could be. (:
With all my love, Brandolyn – Earth to Momma
