COVID-19: Helping kids cope with quarantine
COVID-19: Helping kids cope with quarantine
A month ago I remember having completely different things on my mind. Where we were going to decide to go for our Spring Break this year? If soccer starts at the same time as Baseball, which sport will we choose for the boys? Are we going to make it to our friends Birthday Party in a couple of weeks?
This week is different. Parents in the US and around the world are looking at a brand new normal. Almost a Billion children worldwide have seen a disruption to their regular schooling due to COVID-19 and parents like you and me are looking for ways to not only survive but thrive under quarantine during times that are incredibly uncertain.
At Belle Threads, we will continue to provide you with resources as we find them so that you can have tools to help during this time. Today we are bringing you some family friendly Instagram accounts, LIVE Facebook events, YouTube Channels and more you can turn to for fun & educational tools for your kids. We are also going to dive into some resources we have found for parents to help kids cope with all the changes that are happening in their lives.
Social Media Accounts to Follow during COVID-19
Instagram Content Creators you need in your life right now!
Instagram is filled with fun ideas for kids that can be done easily from home. Tam (Tammi) is a mom of two little girls. Her IG is has so many fun activities that are play based and play to learn.
Dad's like to have fun and learn too! This Dad has put together a STEAM-friendly mix of videos with ideas and experiments that make learning science, technology, engineering, art and math so much fun.
This Instagram account is sharing the best recycled crafts and activities for kids! Want an activity using stuff you probably have at home already? This is your go to!
Her Instagram is devoted to equipping parents with tools to make the early years fun, creative and enriching for their kids.
Miss Jacobs IG has all the tips you need to create colourful, engaging and student-friendly curriculum resources for teachers to use in their classrooms and with their students. (Since we are all teachers now.)
Featuring the very best of kids books from Instagram accounts around the world.
This Instagram account focuses on promoting children’s books that promote marginalized and oppressed voices – books featured include books about diverse families, religious and cultural diversity, gender diversity, and more.
sharing book recs, reading tips + activities
story time live on big city readers Instagram at 10 am CST every day right now
YouTube Accounts you should Subscribe to right now!
Storyline Online on YouTube
The SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s award-winning and Daytime Emmy-nominated children’s literacy website, Storyline Online, streams imaginatively produced videos featuring celebrated actors including Viola Davis, Allison Janney, Chris Pine, Wanda Sykes, Justin Theroux, and Betty White reading children’s books alongside creatively produced illustrations, helping to inspire a love of reading in children. Storyline Online is available 24 hours a day for children, parents, and educators worldwide. For each book, supplemental curriculum developed by a literacy specialist is provided, aiming to strengthen comprehension and verbal and written skills for English-language learners worldwide.
The Art Sherpa on YouTube
The Art Sherpa teaches art in live streaming Easy acrylic step by step painting tutorials to beginning artists like you Starting an Art Adventure . Join for full acrylic Live stream painting lessons Friday -Saturday and Sunday. You can Chat , paint and unwind. With over 800 free video acrylic painting classes you can learn how to paint easily. Its safe, inclusive fun and friendly Art instructions for new painters of every age. We Also have Relaxing Art and Music experiences videos Monday -Tuesday -Wednesday and Thursday. . Even help you destress and sleep. YOU CAN PAINT today. This is a great Art community with tons of support for new artists. We always have something new for you to get excited about making. Its fun, its free and it works.
P.E. with Joe
Starting Monday 23rd March Joe is going to be hosting a free workout aimed at kids LIVE on his YouTube channel at 9am. Keep the kids active even from home.
GoNoodle
GoNoodle videos get kids moving to be their strongest, bravest, silliest, smartest, bestest selves. Over 14 million kids each month are dancing, stretching, running, jumping, deep breathing, and wiggling with GoNoodle. For Parents: Over 14 million kids move along to GoNoodle at school each month -- and they’re moving at home too! Use GoNoodle’s video library to: - Turn screen time into active time - Burn off extra energy on bad weather days - Calm kids down before bedtime - Exercise the whole family… together! For Teachers: 3 out of 4 elementary schools in the US use GoNoodle to: - Give students the brain breaks they need - Host indoor recess - Make subject transitions seamless - Energize or calm their class
SciShow
SciShow explores the unexpected. Seven days a week, Hank Green, Michael Aranda, and Olivia Gordon delve into the scientific subjects that defy our expectations and make us even more curious! Schedule: Sundays - Learn about the amazing topics we can't quite make a stand-alone show about in SciShow List Show! Mondays - Tune in for a short Dose about our weird world. Tuesdays - Find answers to our most asked Quick Questions. Wednesdays - Hank or Michael dives deep into a long-form Infusion episode, or an unscripted talk show or quiz show with a guest! Thursday - Another new dose about the wonders of the world. Fridays - Learn the latest in science News. Saturdays - Get your quick questions answered!
Facebook LIVE with kid friendly content
The Cincinnati Zoo Facebook Page
While the Cincinnati Zoo is closed and kids are home from school, let us help make your children’s hiatus from school fun and educational. Join us for a Home Safari Facebook Live each weekday at 3pm EDT where we will highlight one of our amazing animals and include an activity you can do from home.
Culture Kingdom Kids Facebook Page
Since 2010, Culture Kingdom Kids has promoted cultural heritage and awareness values through interactive performances, workshops and professional developments at Yale University along with public and private schools, and more. Culture Queen has appeared on Fox 5 News, NBC and NewsOne with Roland Martin. Additionally, her work has been profiled in The Washington Post, The Prince George’s Gazette, The Washington Informer,The Patch, Baltimore’s Child, Richmond Family Magazine, and PG Suite Magazine. Join her on Monday, Wednesday & Friday at 6pm for children's music, movement and storytime.
Weather School with Ed on Facebook
"Weather School with Ed" Ed Piotrowski is Chief Meteorologist WPDE - Myrtle Beach, SC and he will be going LIVE on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1pm EST. Join in for a fun lesson on the weather.
Kennedy Space Center LIVE on Facebook
Kennedy Space Center has launched science lessons on Facebook Live.
“We are giving lessons on rocketry, from the Saturn 5 center. We’re teaching people how to make rockets at home from recycled materials that are probably lying around the house.”
Parents also have online access to activity sheets and experiments, making spare time educational but fun. The sessions will take place Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9:30 a.m. ET for young kids. For older children, including those in high school, there will be programming starting at 1 p.m.
Coping with emotions, changes and helping your kids get through this
It is no surprise we are all feeling displaced at the moment. In addition to keeping our kids educated, safe and healthy we are also dealing with all the emotions and stress that comes with major changes to routine and life in general. We have pulled together some resources to help cope with these changes brought on by COVID-19
WHO: World Health Organization outlines some tips on how to help children cope with stress.
Child Mind Institute
https://childmind.org/coping-during-covid-19-resources-for-parents/
Child Mind Institute has put together resources for parents who are are struggling to balance work, child care and self-care while keeping worries — both your children’s and your own — under control. You don’t have to do it alone.
Our clinical and supportive resources include:
- Facebook Live video chats with expert clinicians (10am and 8pm)
- Remote evaluations and telemedicine
- Flat-fee phone consultations for problem behavior
- Comprehensive resources for parents on coronavirus topics
CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/managing-stress-anxiety.html#parents
This site has lots of valuable resources for Parents to help their children cope and to help cope themselves. Here are some of the items you will find:
For Everyone
For Communities
- Coping with stress during an infectious disease outbreakpdf iconexternal icon
- Taking Care of Your Behavioral Health during an Infectious Disease Outbreakexternal icon
For Families and Children
- Helping Children Cope with Emergencies
- Coping After a Disasterpdf icon – A Ready Wrigley activity book for children age 3-10
For First Responders
- Emergency Responders: Tips for taking care of yourself
- Disaster Technical Assistance Centerexternal icon (SAMHSA)
Make sure to check out any of these you think might be helpful and let us know which is your favorite and how it has helped you.
As always we hope you find these useful and you can feel free to add in comments below any resources you think would be helpful and beneficial to others during this time.