Wherever you are in the world, you, like us at Parenting For The Future, are undoubtedly adjusting to the new normal. You may be working from home, helping your children go to school or keep up with their studies digitally, recalibrating your finances, strategizing to ensure food and essentials are available for the long haul or heading to work because your role is essential to keeping our healthcare and other systems up and running.
What is clear is that we all have similar needs. We need:
- To get organized—about our time, spaces and activities
- Creative ideas to keep our children active and engaged
- To stay connected to loved ones in meaningful ways
- To find time and space for self care and reflection
- To keep our spirits up and be reminded that we have the power to change the world
Here are some suggestions and recommendations to make this uncertain, stressful time both fun and meaningful:
- Learn how to Manage Fear and Change: The site “Grit Daily” has a post about finding motivation and managing fear and change. Read it here:
Monday Motivation: Managing Fear and Change in the Path of COVID-19 and listen to Angela Duckworth, the author of “Grit,” on her episode of Parenting for the Future - Carve out time to reflect on the issues we are facing as a human family. Parenting for the Future has featured some amazing and thoughtful guests who will inspire you to better understand what you and your loved ones can do to create a better world.
Phenomena Shaping the Future: Educating all our children. The work of Harlem Children’s Zone
Phenomena Shaping the Future: The Sustainable Development Goals
Parenting Essentials: Personal Leadership
Phenomena Shaping the Future: Education – Is College Worth it? - Create a COVID-19 Daily Family Schedule: Include exercise, work, quiet time and study time. Here is a printable one from San Jose News that you can customize
- Cook dinner or breakfast together (and let kids create the menu!)
- Create a movie list of great classics for the family to watch together (think Indiana Jones, James Bond, ET. See more suggestions from this list from Common Sense Media: 50 Movies All Kids Should Watch Before They’re 12
- Go to the museum from home: These 12 Famous Museums Offer Virtual Tours You Can Take on Your Couch (Video)
- Play the Zoom version of “Name that Tune” with friends and family (play a song on a Zoom chat. The first person to raise their hand with the correct answer wins the round and gets to play a song for others to name)
- Host Family Classes: Ask friends, grandparents, etc. to teach your kids some signature skill they have—how to bake a special cake, how to knit or crochet, how to samba—and host “family class” by Zoom as often as you can.
- Let your kids try:
- Scholastic Learn at Home
The children’s publisher has activities and materials for kids pre-K to teens. - Mystery Science
The membership-based library of teaching resources is offering its most popular lessons for free. - Twinkl
Free lessons (think crafts, phonics, math science, etc.) for pre-K through 5th grade with code USATWINKLHELPS. - BBC Learning (Bitesize)
- Finish this comic strip and drawing inspiration pages
Author/illustrator Jarrett Lerner gets kids started on their own masterpieces with these worksheets featuring chatty cats and crazy hats. - Khan Academy
The non-profit is hosting a free daily webinar for parents and created sample schedules for preschool through high school students, in addition to its existing educational resources in 40 languages. - The Learning Network from The New York Times
Here’s one example that gives students a daily writing prompt to respond to.
- Scholastic Learn at Home
- Host a daily dance party: Give every family member a turn to pick their favorite tune and boogie down!
- Count your Blessings: Keep a notebook and ask everyone in the family to write down (or record for younger family members) one thing that they are grateful for or that made them happy that day.