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School Closures: What Parents Need to Know

Manisha Snoyer (www.modulo.app)
36 min readJul 19, 2020

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On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) for the current outbreak of coronavirus disease, known as COVID-19. On March 4, 2020, 33 countries announced school closings resulting in 300 million children missing class. With 1 billion children now missing school, officials have announced that school closures may last for a long time, possibly until September. It’s important to develop a plan to ensure children continue to learn and parents find a way to continue to work remotely until the outbreak has been contained.

Parents will want to stay informed of the following key topics:

  • Remote Schooling: Most schools are preparing a remote learning plan and it is important for parents to familiarize themself with this plan by asking the school, teacher or looking for relevant communication. Parents having difficulty with technology can contact us to be connected with a volunteer IT specialist who can walk them through new technology.
  • Learning: There are many tools to support parents in supplementing their child’s education or keeping them on track if a remote learning plan is not in place.
  • Meals: Most schools will continue to provide meals for children at designated meal centers, so it is important to contact the school to get this information.There are many companies offering free Internet to children and their families in an effort to ensure that no one gets left behind.
  • Childcare: During the outbreak, doctors recommend Social Distancing, so if possible, it is recommended that parents stay at home with their children and work remotely. If remote work is not possible with a parent’s current job, there are many remote jobs available that do not require many prerequisites. Emergency childcare is usually available to essential personnel like health care workers and low-income families. To find emergency childcare, Google “emergency childcare” and the name of the city to find support.

How to find out if a school is closed

Most schools are currently closed. To determine if a school has closed, visit the school district’s website or contact the district. It is the school’s responsibility to keep parents informed of school closures and information about academics and meal distribution (if relevant). Also, make sure the district, school and child’s teacher has up-to-date contact information for the family to avoid missing important online communication.

  • The CDC advises parents to be sure to ask their children’s schools about their plans for school dismissals or school closures.
  • To find a public school’s website or contact information, visit https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/.
  • Parents can also find their school district by state and county here.

What to expect if a child’s school closes

Most schools will have an action plan in place for continuing classes online during a closure. according to Nancy Messonnier, a director at the Centers for Disease Control.

  • Parents should ask their school for teleschool or online learning plans via a website like Google Classroom.
  • If a school does not have a plan for remote learning, consider using a free online resource such as Khan Academy that requires no parent involvement, is aligned with state standards for learning, and will help make sure children are staying on track academically.

Getting familiarized with a school’s learning plan

A school’s learning plan is the toolbox for understanding what to do for successful distance learning (the terms distance learning and online learning are interchangeable).

Online learning may feel uncomfortable. It’s also a major change for educators around the world. Here are some general distance learning guidelines and notes on what to expect: https://www.educationcorner.com/distance-learning/distance-online-learning-guide.html.

To get familiar with a school’s learning plan:

  • Visit the school’s website. The school website will likely have a newly designated place for distance/online learning activities. Most schools have moved distance learning to the top of the site. To find a school’s website, try searching google or calling the administrative office at the school.
  • Ask questions! Teachers want to hear from parents during this time and answer questions in order to meet the needs of communities and families. Unless otherwise specified, email the teacher with questions regarding lessons and activities.
  • For support using new technology, please call our hotline and one of our volunteers will talk through the process of getting set up.
  • Students who are learning offline can also benefit from volunteer tutors. To be connected with a volunteer tutor, contact us.
  • Students who do not have laptops can contact us and we will work to ensure they get the nevcessary technology to support your child’s learning.

How to pull a child out of school if schools do not close

Most schools are closed and social distancing is recommended. Even if a child’s school does not close, parents may want keep them home. In the United States, “the Supreme Court has ruled that parents have a fundamental right to direct the education of their children.” This means that a parent has a legal right to homeschool at any time and for whatever reason.

  • Most schools require a simple letter of intent notifying the school principal of the intention to homeschool.
  • Parents may also consider filing an independent study for a shorter absence (7–10 days).
  • To learn about the local laws for homeschooling state by state, visit this link.

Updates on school closures

To keep up with the latest school closings as they’re reported in local and national news media:

Sample daily schedule

Many parents are curious about what a day of remote learning might look like. Each family has unique needs, school requirements and should feel comfortable designing the schedule that works best for them. There is no right answer, so feel free to be creative and let the schedule evolve. To get an idea of what a schedule could like like, Khan Academy has developed suggested “school day” schedules for remote learning:
https://keeplearning.khanacademy.org/daily-schedule

Food: places for children to get breakfast, lunch and dinner

Many families rely on public schools to provide meals for their children. While schools are closed, variousschools and organizations across the U.S. will continue to provide free meals for children during and after school hours at a designated meal distribution center. Food banks are also available to provide food to those in need.

  • To find out if a school is providing meals, as well as schedules for school-based food distribution, check first with the school’s website or office. To find a public school’s website or contact information, visit https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/
  • If the school website or office does not have information about food distribution, check with the school district’s website or social media (e.g., Twitter). To find a school district’s website or contact information, visit this list.
  • Food banks are continuing to distribute food to those in need. To find a local food bank, visit Feeding America.
  • Families having trouble getting in touch with these organizations who are worried about their children missing meals should contact us to get connected to nutritious meals in their area.
  • No Kid Hungry has reactivated their summer texting hotline to connect kids and families to meals during school closures. Parents & caregivers can text FOOD or COMIDA to 877–877 to find their nearest meal sites. The service is live in 35 states, including Washington, DC. https://www.nokidhungry.org/find-meal-sites

Working Remotely While Kids are at home

During the outbreak, social distancing is recommended. Daycares and schools are closed. Children are learning from home and parents are working from home. While normal childcare solutions are shut down, families find themselves in position where they need to carve out blocks of time to work while also keeping their children engaged and learning. While it may seem overwhelming, there are many techniques to manage this.

Setting up an environment conducive to parents working and children learning

Many families are now facing the daunting challenge of working from home while homeschooling their children. To balance the pressures of working while homeschooling, veteran work-from-home homeschooling parents have provided the following advice, adapted from this article.

  • Set realistic expectations for parents and kids.
  • Parents should realize they are not going to be as productive as they would be working from home without kids being around, much less working in the office. Parents should reset expectations with their boss and themselves and make a conscious decision to pause on anything that can wait until after the crisis is over.
  • Parents should recognize that they are not going to be able to reproduce the exact structure of school at home. It’s okay if what kids do at home doesn’t look exactly like what they do at school.
  • Carve out 2–3 hour blocks of time where parents can focus on work.
  • The idea here is quality, not quantity, of time. While the block may only be an hour, it can be a completely heads down, focused hour that’s really productive.
  • If carving out a completely focused block (e.g., kids are always awake when parent is), isn’t possible, instead set the expectation that work is the top priority during that block. Kids will be the priority during other blocks of time.
  • It’s realistic to get one of these blocks in per work day. Parents will be able to do work at other times during the day, but during distracted blocks.. If possible, push all meetings and calls scheduled into the focused block.
  • Make sure parent has somewhere to get work done during focused work blocks with minimal distractions.
  • If there is no separate room in the home, create separation with headphones and/or visual cues like room dividers, plants, furniture, etc.
  • Make sure kids have somewhere to do their thing.
  • This can be a seat at the dining table, a corner of the living room, or even their bed. Some kids will want or need a formal desk setup. Others will be resistant to sitting at desks. This is not a battle worth fighting right now so don’t push one over the other.
  • Create rhythms and routines vs hour-by-hour schedules.
  • Hour-by-hour schedules work in school or in offices, but not so well at home in the absence of external time pressures. Instead, think about blocks of time — focus time, collaborative time, free time (for reference see the sample schedule below). This provides flexibility to adapt and respond while also providing some of the comforts of predictability and routine.
  • Triage and prioritize.
  • If a school has required assignments to be completed, parents should not ignore them. But parents should give their kids and themselves a lot of grace if the assignments are only partially done or don’t get done at all. If parents find themselves getting into arguments about doing the work, it’s best to let it go. Kids — along with many of their classmates who also won’t get everything done — will sort it out when they go back to school.
  • Bottom line — prioritize maintaining the parent and kids’ mental health at this time. This is an anxiety-filled, unsettling time for adults and kids. It’s important for parents to pick their battles about what’s most important right now.

Sample day for working from home while homeschooling:

Enriching activities for kids to do while parents work at home

It’s normal for parents to be concerned that their children staying home all day may disrupt their productivity. It represents a significant change in one’s day to day routine and can cause stress for the whole family.

Remote jobs for Parents

Parents may feel pressed to make up lost income from shutdowns. There are many opportunities for parents to work at home. Here are a few places to start:

What to do if employers don’t pay during the school closures

Parents may be concerned that their employer either will not or will not be required to pay them while they’re home with children during school closures. Here are resources to help determine whether or not an employer is required to pay and what to do if they are not.

Childcare resources for parents who cannot stay home from work

Many parents depend on school for childcare. Since social distancing is recommended or required in many areas, a large number of companies have found ways to make it possible for parents to work from home. This may not be the case for all, especially in cases where the employee is a healthcare professional or performs another essential job such as a grocery store clerk or stocker. This section covers childcare options for parents who absolutely cannot stay home with their children.

Emergency Childcare

Many cities are either already providing emergency childcare to families or are in the process of setting up systems and locations to do so. If parents need to find childcare in their area, they can:

We will be updating this section as more information becomes available.

Safe ways to find childcare and sitters

If you need child care during the COVID-19 pandemic, below are the things you should look for in a childcare provider.

  • Ask: is childcare needed? Childcare is recommended only if it’s necessary. By avoiding childcare, the risk of contagion to your family and those around you is reduced. If you have a partner and the ability to work from home, consider working in shifts — one of you takes care of the kids while the other works, and then you swap.
  • Decide: what type of childcare do you need? Here are some child care options and when they apply:
  • Babysitter/Nanny: Someone who provides childcare in your home. They may provide regular childcare or one-off care as needed.
  • Daycare center: A licensed facility that provides childcare for a group of children during standard work hours.
  • In-home daycare: A licensed daycare that takes place in the provider’s home, often with fewer children than in traditional daycare centers.
  • Checklist to make sure it’s safe
  • Health guidelines. Ensure that your childcare provider is following new CDC health guidelines including frequent handwashing. Your provider should have sufficient supplies of hand soap, paper towels, cleaning supplies and should be performing additional cleaning and sanitizing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Social distancing. If you’re using a daycare center or in-home daycare, they should be maintaining small, consistent groups of children with the same staff members. If you’re using a babysitter or nanny, make sure they are sheltering in place when they’re not providing care for your family.
  • Paid sick leave. Make sure any childcare provider you’re using has and is encouraged to take paid sick leave when feeling ill.
  • Sick children and family members. If you’re using a daycare, make sure they have a plan for isolating children who become ill while receiving care. Make sure they have strong policies in place to prevent sick children and those with sick family members from receiving care.
  • Checklist to make sure it’s safe
  • Childcare center: All states require childcare centers to be licensed. Being licensed does not ensure quality, but it is a useful criteria that sets the minimum health safety and training standards. Ask for the center’s license number and verify it here
  • Babysitter, neighbor, friend
  • Get recommendations. One of the best ways to find local quality child care is to ask fellow parents (friends, family, and colleagues) for their recommendations.
  • Check references. Making a couple of calls for references takes 10 minutes and provides information about previous experience as well as caring style.
  • Help them to get trained or informed if necessary. Make sure whoever is watching a child or children knows the basics:
  • How to babysit a baby
  • Toddler babysitting tips
  • How to babysit preschoolers
  • How babysitters can nurture children

Childcare for emergency responders

For emergency workers — health care providers, first responders, grocery store workers, and more — finding childcare may be especially challenging. First, unpredictable changes in the work schedule make it difficult to arrange last-minute assistance. Second, the risk of exposure to the coronavirus may rule out many options available to other parents, like using a local daycare or asking a neighbor to watch kids for several hours.

Some states and cities recognize this challenge and have issued executive orders directing schools to provide care to children of emergency responders (for example: the State of Minnesota). In addition to state and local resources, essential workers can search on Winnie’s Emergency Childcare website to connect directly with providers who have immediate availability for children of essential workers.

Emergency responders may also decide to self-isolate from their children to minimize the chance of transmitting the virus. In some situations, that requires finding a caregiver with whom kids can stay for multiple weeks. Apart from extended family members, it’s worth checking if local volunteers or fellow parents have capacity to help. In the latter case, children can benefit both from staying with their friends and keeping on track with the local school program.

For short-term babysitting (from several hours to a couple of days), additional options include:

  • Finding a local provider who is not afraid of potential exposure to the coronavirus.
  • Teaming up with colleagues who live nearby.
  • Connecting with volunteers.
  • In many places, volunteers have created childcare programs for emergency responders. MN CovidSitters in Twin Cities/Metro Area, Meadowlands YMCA in New Jersey, and Family YMCA of Greater Augusta are just a few examples. A google search for local options will turn up similar groups in most areas.
  • Additionally, multiple neighborhood volunteer groups are created every day on Nextdoor, Facebook, and other social platforms. Even if groups mention specific causes (supporting older adults, disabled people, etc.), volunteers are often eager to assist anyone who needs them and will be happy to help people on the front line.

Learning: Keep children on track academically

Parents may be worried that their children will fall behind academically if they miss class. It’s likely that your school will provide homework or online learning for students while they’re closed. Some schools may already have software they use for online learning such as Google Classroom.

Be sure to ask your school what plan they have in place for remote learning while schools are closed.

Even if your school does not have a plan in place, there’s a lot of great support available for keeping children on track academically.

Recommended workbooks and offline learning programs

There are many high quality offline academic curriculum options available for purchase. Utilizing a prepared curriculum provides parents with academic solutions that have been created to suit different learning styles and different levels of parental supervision. There are mastery based and spiral based mathematics, literature based programs, living book programs, classical education programs, cross-discipline options for integrating several subjects into lessons, unit study programs, project based learning, and more. The most important thing to keep in mind when it comes to choosing curricula is to consider if the family’s needs require more parent-child cooperative learning, or a more independent learning model — both options are available across several learning and teaching styles. Many curriculum publishers have assessments available to help determine which level is appropriate for the student’s aptitude.

Complete Curriculums

These publishers offer complete curriculum packages and a la carte options.

Mathematics

Language Arts

  • Essentials in Writing A complete writing curriculum which includes both grammar and composition instruction for grades one through twelve with teaching presented either on DVDs or via streaming video .
  • https://essentialsinwriting.com/
  • IEW Incremental and effective writing lessons provide clear daily assignments and include vocabulary words, literature suggestions, and lesson plans for teachers. https://iew.com/
  • Brave Writer Focuses on establishing writing voice and the writing process in children and teens first, by helping parents foster the right environment for writing risks, and provides parents with instruction in how to nurture and draw out the writing voices of their children. https://bravewriter.com/

History

Science

Free online learning resources

Many free resources exist for parents who want to ensure that their children are staying on track academically.

  • Parents may wish to start with Khan Academy which provides free personalized, on-line lessons for children that are engaging and require zero parent involvement. Khan Academy is also aligned with state standards. Khan Academy: https://www.khanacademy.org/
  • Learning at home by yourself can be hard. In addition to reading, writing, and math, add a fun new learning activity to remote learning by helping your child learn to code their own app or game on Code.org.
  • Youcubed transforms the latest research on math learning into accessible and practical forms for students in K-12. They’re providing a number of math resources through Youcubed At Home, including exercises that bring in math and computational thinking. https://www.youcubed.org/resource/youcubed-at-home/
  • For more resources compiled by educators who are familiar with using online learning tools to supplement or enhance their child’s learning, visit this list compiled by home educators.

Volunteer tutors and teachers

Teachers and tutors working from home are a great resource for parents and guardians helping to facilitate lessons and activities. They can answer questions, provide academic support, and help navigate the expectations.

Volunteer teachers and tutors can be found via a variety of sources, many of which offer free services.

Connect with parents experienced with distance learning

Resources for parents not familiar with technology or online learning are abundant. Those having difficulty choosing which platforms and apps to use or using these tools for the first time can try these options:

  • To connect with parents who are experienced with online and distance learning for additional support, consider joining the S.E.A Facebook group (Secular, Eclectic, Academic Homeschoolers).
  • To be matched with a parent or learning specialist for additional support, please contact us here.

Start a Microschool

Microschooling is a model of education where parents can start schools in their home for their own kids. This is a been proven, viable solution for families wondering how to educate their children during these times.

Parents can support and guidance in starting a Microschool with their children from Prenda. https://home.prendaschool.com/

Here are some other tips for starting your own microschool:

  • Get your kids together. Learning works best in a social setting, even if it’s your own kids.
  • Set a schedule. It doesn’t have to be long and it doesn’t have to be rigid, but agreeing to a time and place to meet each day is a great way to create a sense of official-ness and mutual accountability.
  • Conquer mode : Kids work independently on computers, moving at their own pace on math, English, or other subjects. Use tools like Khan Academy, No Red Ink, Mystery Science and tons more.
  • Collaborate mode: A structured group activity where everyone puts away their computers and interacts face to face. It’s a fun and engaging way to learn rational thinking, interpersonal communication, problem-solving, research skills, and scientific methods. Consider having a debate, solving a math puzzle, doing a science project, etc, You can do these activities with the whole family!
  • Create mode: This is a chance for your kids to unlock their creativity and work together to make projects they are proud of.

More Curriculum for Parents to Use at Home

Teaching Kids to Code

Students of all ages can learn computer science and coding at home. Even though most schools don’t offer it, studies show that students do better at reading, writing, math, and science if they also learn computer science, because it engages them in problem-solving and creativity. Try these options:

Resources for Handwriting

There are a number of online and paper resources for giving kids practice with handwriting.

  • Learning without Tears is offering free access to the online segment of their ‘Handwriting without Tears’ curriculum for 90 days. This mastery-based program is highly recommended for children with a variety of abilities, and is also appropriate for dyslexic children. https://www.lwtears.com/programs/distance-learning
  • The online curriculum offers digital letter formations, teaching videos, and fun animations. Access the curriculum here. The company also offers offline workbooks and puzzles for purchase. They can be purchased here. The price of each workbook ranges from $11.50 — $17.50
  • For cursive handwriting, CursiveLogic offers workbooks across multiple themes and levels, which can be purchased from their online shop. These books cost between $25 and $35. http://www.cursivelogic.com/products

English Language Arts

Adding language arts to a child’s day will both keep them learning and engaged. Language arts enhances children’s abilities to communicate, both on and off the page. There are plenty of ways to continue your child’s language arts development that will fit both families’ needs and budget during this time.

DIY Language Arts Resources:

  • IXL supports learners from Junior Kindergarten through grade 12. Based on the Ontario provincial curriculum, they break down the skills required at each grade level. The site helps children brush-up on key concepts through quizzes and examples. They allow parents to select the skills their child should work on and track their progress through a “SmartScore” so the content can be adapted to any child: https://ca.ixl.com/ela/
  • Keeping kids writing is easy to do for free:
  • 300 creative writing prompts for kids Here
  • Scholastic has a fun story-starting tool here
  • There are plenty of ready-to-go writing activities available here
  • Reading comprehension is easy to do from home. Simply reading stories with your children and talking about them together will help them develop their skills.
  • Free online pdfs of public-domain children’s classics (such as Peter Pan, Pollyanna, the Velveteen Rabbit) can be found here
  • There’s a list of great books for kids along with purchase links (print, Audible, Kindle) here

Structured programs:

  • Brave Writer is a homeschooling language arts curriculum that has made its resources free until April 30th, including writing prompts, ready-made lesson plans, and a free homeschooling conference, Homebound. This resource is best for older students (8–9 or older) who can already write simple sentences. They also offer paid 3–6 week online classes that could be done as a family or individually.
  • All About Spelling is a well-reviewed curriculum with seven levels for early readers to high school students. The necessary student handbook and teacher’s manual, cost about $40. The curriculum also incorporates multi-sensory tools at an added cost ($22-$45). With 25 lessons included in each level, this may be best for parents looking for a longer-term spelling solution.
  • Essentials in Writing sells online writing curricula in grammar and composition for K-12 and literature-based courses for older learners. These online videos and activities cost $90-$120 but their 7-day free trial is a great option to fill a week.

Learning a foreign language

Learning a foreign language is a great way to immerse in a new culture that also has cognitive benefits. Bi- and multi-lingual people have improved memory, problem solving and critical thinking skills. There are many online resources to start or continue language learning at home.

How to Prepare for State Tests and other standardized admission tests (even if they have been suspended)

Most schools have suspended all state testing during closures due to COVID-19. There has been discussion on whether or not schools will even test students this year, as Secretary DeVos has granted schools “a waiver to any state that is unable to assess its students due to the ongoing national emergency.”

Parents should look into their specific state’s Department of Education sites to find out the current status on testing.

While schools are not federally mandated to do testing for this year, states may still choose to test at a later makeup date, so it’s still important to prepare children.

In addition, many standardized admission tests such as the LSAT, the entrance exam for law school applicants, and the SAT have been cancelled or postponed. The College Board has canceled its May 2 SAT exam, and the ACT test has been rescheduled for June 13.

Here are resources to help prepare for all types of exams:

Standardized K-12 Exams

Early Childhood

Self-care and well-being with young children

Self care is important. While finding the time may seem impossible, 10 minutes spent laughing, taking deep breaths, or going for a walk around the block can make a big difference. Here are a few ways to bring more peace and compassion into the day, all of which can be done with kids in tow).

Understanding temperament

The early childhood years are a time of extraordinary development and learning, but that doesn’t mean that it’s necessary to replicate the classroom environment or become Mary Poppins overnight. By keeping in mind some basic principles of child development and child guidance, parents can use regular routines and everyday experiences to help children learn.

Here are a few short videos highlighting key parts of child development that may help parents navigate this new situation:

Enriching activities for preschoolers

Pre-school provides a foundation for the rest of a child’s educational journey. As children stay home, parents may be concerned about how they will keep their preschoolers developmentally engaged and enriched. By identifying activities that support 1) interacting with others (socio-emotional learning), 2) talking and reading (language and literacy), 3) making connections and decisions (cognitive processing), and/or 4) being creative and active (perceptual, motor, and physical development), parents can continue to build towards these developmental milestones with their child at home.

Here are some resources for parents to keep preschoolers on track in each of those four learning areas:

  • Ready4K provides an evidence-based curriculum that preschools and other early childhood education centers can enroll in for parents to receive key tips, activities, and learning suggestions delivered via text message (access to Internet is not needed) that are aligned exactly with key learning outcomes and federal standards. https://ready4k.parentpowered.com/
  • Storylineonline.net helps encourage language and literacy development by providing parents with hundreds of free videos of children’s books read aloud by actors online for children to watch and read along. https://www.storylineonline.net/library/
  • Nomster Chef is an amazing resource for cooking with children — a great way to support cognitive development by navigating a recipe, learning about quantities, and bonding with parents. It will also make them more likely to eat the food on their plates! Nomster Chef offers safe and healthy recipes designed for young children to cook with their parents. https://www.nomsterchef.com/

To keep children mentally and physically active, finding one simple active or creative activity that can be built into the day such as a morning dance exercise from Koo Koo Kangaroo or a lunchtime doodle from Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems can help establish a routine and encourage play.

Getting access to technology for learning and socialization

Many tools and resources to support remote learning require internet access and devices. If parents are in need of help acquiring these, there are a number of ways to do so.

Free internet access

A number of internet service giants have offered free or discounted access during the outbreak. Many are also waiving late fees so customers don’t need to temporarily suspend service. Call a local service provider for more information.

How to get a free tablet or computer

While many school districts have shifted lectures over to Zoom, Google Hangouts, WebEx or other video conferencing tools, students need a way to access them. These options are also typically available through mobile apps — both on iOS and Android. Here are the local resources we’ve compiled so far.

Technological support resources for distance learning

In addition to tech titans Google and YouTube, organizations like UNESCO have collected resources of all types, in support of remote education. These links include options for teachers, students and parents.

Offline materials (mailed and printed)

In some cases, access to a laptop, tablet or phone isn’t possible. Even if it is, offline activities are extremely healthy for children — dedicated time away from screens is more important than ever.

Psychological Support

Psychological support for stressed parents

Concerns about children’s health, cabin fever from being isolated, a disrupted routine, and exhaustion from staying at home with kids may add considerable stress in a parent’s life. This can lead to depression and anxiety. It’s important to take care of yourself first. Dr. Kristine Fuller recommends the following coping mechanisms to preserve mental health:

  • Stay connected in the community. Being quarantined, even with family, can be isolating. Talk to friends and extended family via phone and facetime.
  • Try not to make assumptions.
  • Follow reputable sources about the outbreak .
  • Be cautious of social media and news stories.
  • Talk to children about this pandemic.
  • If quarantined, engage in activities that bring you joy, such as reading a book, doing a new art project, reaching out to friends on social media, watching a movie, learning a new language.
  • Talk about it.

Visit the following links for more information:

Free psychological support

In order to be a good parent to your child, it’s important to take care of yourself first. Here are resources that can help:

Meditation apps

Meditation can reduce stress, help control anxiety, promote mental health, improve sleep and even help generate kindness. Plus, you it can be done anywhere.

MIT Medical recommends the following 5 apps to help reduce stress and preserve well-being. Most have free options or include 7–10 day free trials to get started.

  • Headspace: Starts with the basics and teaches as it progresses
  • Smiling Mind: Not-for-profit app designed by psychologists and educators
  • iMindfulness: 3 meditations of different lengths available in English, Danish and Norwegian
  • Mindfulness Daily: Helps integrate mindfulness meditation into your daily life

For more information on how Mindfulness can help, visit https://medical.mit.edu/stay-healthy-mit-stress-reduction/mindfulness-apps.

How to talk to children about COVID-19

It’s normal for children to be concerned about a topic that’s foreign to them. However, sometimes the way the topic is addressed can also cause stress and anxiety for a child. Dr. Jacqueline Sperling, a psychiatrist at Harvard Medical School, recommends providing the right amount of information (just what they absolutely need to know), to be an example of calmness (if a child sees a parent stressing out it will worry them too), limiting access to news about the virus and being on alert for a child seeking reassurance about the virus, which might take the form of asking a lot of questions. For Dr. Sperling’s full blog on talking to kids about COVID-19 visit this link: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/how-to-talk-to-children-about-the-coronavirus-2020030719111.

Here are some other resources for talking to kids about the virus:

All ages:

Pre and Lower School:

Middle and Upper School

Staying Connected to the Community

In difficult times, our connections to one another become even more important. We all rely on our communities and relationships. As a team of Harvard Medical School reminds us, “It’s important to stay connected even though we should not do so in person. Keep in touch virtually through phone calls, Skype, video and other social media. Enjoy a leisurely chat with an old friend you’ve been meaning to call.”

Why social distancing is important

People are social beings, and being in the same physical space provides an easy way to connect. Therefore, social distancing may not come naturally. Those who are currently healthy may not feel compelled to abide by social distancing guidelines.

However, social distancing is an important public health intervention to slow the spread of an illness like COVID-19, which is mainly transmitted from person to person. It plays a critical part in “flattening the curve”: social distancing can help ensure that the number of cases at any point in time will not exceed the health care system’s capacity to treat these cases. By staying physically apart, everyone can save lives.

The goal is to intentionally increase the physical space between people by staying at least six feet away from others. Therefore, social distancing means not only avoiding large gatherings but also eliminating all nonessential in-person contact — whether at a store, an appointment or even a small get together of a couple of friends.

  • So, what exactly are the rules of social distancing?
  • How can social distancing change the outcome of this pandemic? Play the Social Distance Game with your family.
  • Covid-19 is currently following an exponential growth trajectory. Learn more about the math here.
  • Flattening the curve means that healthcare providers do not have to make choices about who among the sick should receive treatment.
  • The pandemic is not another snow day. Read from a physician’s call to action.
  • See the rest of this section to learn about how to stay connected in these times.

Safe social interaction

With COVID-19, parents may be concerned about their children getting enough social interaction and if it is all right to organize playdates, go on trips or attend activities. Dr. Juvaddi from the Lucile Packard’s Children’s Hospital at Stanford warns against panic but recommends taking extra precautions. “This could mean keeping them home from swimming lessons and indoor play places or activities like gymnastics.” She recommends staying away from indoor places, but continuing to going outside to play, which is important for a young child’s development. There is likely minimal risk in catching the virus on a playdate, but it is wise for parents to make children wash hands for 20 seconds before and after the playdate and to consider having their child to wear a face mask so they avoid touching their face (which is the easiest way to contract the virus).

How to organize virtual playdates

For parents who are worried about their kids being away from friends, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Remember that in our culture, and our particular era, we’ve come to believe that children’s friendships and large amounts of time spent together are highly important. But that’s not a universal truth — in many contexts globally and historically, children have primarily spent time with family, and have been very happy to do so!

Give children time to adjust. There may be a lot of complaining about missing friends early on, but it will likely shift. Kids are adaptable and resilient. They will settle into focusing on other things and connecting with friends in new ways.

To make virtual playdates:

  • Use Facetime, Zoom or another platform. The video chat app “Together” is another option that offers a catalog of books as well as different games that can be played during a video call. You can download Together from this link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/together-family-video-chat/id1405515604?ls=1
  • If kids are younger than 4, they may get bored with screen mediated interaction. Try giving them an activity to do with another kid virtually (for example, a painting project).
  • If kids are younger and need adult support for a virtual playdate, put one parent in in the “facilitator” role and have them read stories or sing songs with two or more kids via video chat, giving the other parents a few moments to load the dishwasher or prepare a meal.
  • Coordinate with another parent so that two or more families are all working on the same project independently, and then have a time to share their projects and talk about it on a video call. Or meet online over lunch to share a mealtime together. Get creative and experiment with ideas to see what works for virtual meet ups.

Health and Wellness

Combating COVID-19 is a team effort that starts at an individual level. Here are a few simple ways to help flatten the curve and stay healthy.

How to avoid getting sick

Eat well, drink water, exercise and sleep consistently — these basic habits have been and always will be key to physical well-being.

Avoid public spaces. See the social distancing section for more on this. Don’t be selfish.

Use free time to call or FaceTime loved ones. And stay calm — quarantine is a perfect opportunity to try meditation with family. Mental health is every bit as important as physical.

Symptoms of COVID-19

COVID-19 tends to be characterized by fever, cough, chest pains or difficulty breathing. Its symptoms are flu-like and generally appear about 5–7 days after infection.

Severe cases can lead to a form of pneumonia and are especially dangerous for older adults with chronic medical conditions like heart/lung disease or diabetes.

With milder symptoms that could be attributed to allergies, take a daily histamine to check whether they subside. In all other cases, call a local healthcare provider for guidance.

What to do if you or your child may be sick

First, call a doctor or pediatrician for advice. Clinics and hospitals are experiencing high demand right now, they can’t accommodate too many walk-ins.

To prevent the virus from spreading within a household, separate affected family members and avoid sharing personal items. Spend some extra time cleaning doorknobs, countertops, keyboards and other frequently touched surfaces as well.

Those that have tested positive should wear a face mask, though research suggests that healthy family members don’t need to.

How to help stop the spread

It can help to think about self-quarantine in this way: staying home saves lives. While COVID-19 can feel overwhelming, anyone is able to contribute by restricting unnecessary human contact and encouraging others to do the same.

Social distancing is critical. Aim to stay 6+ feet away from others when public interactions are absolutely necessary. Though many have already been canceled, avoid crowded events, gatherings and venues. And yes, frequent handwashing helps too.

Ways to stay active with kids at home

Staying active with kids at home is important for adults as well as kids. It’s a great way to get the family together doing something fun and healthy during times of stress. Staying isolated from other people, missing social time with friends, along with a decrease in activity levels can increase stress and leave everyone feeling out of sorts. Thankfully, this is something we can control to a degree. According to Kids Health, people who are regularly active benefit from lower cholesterol, stronger muscles and bones, lower risk of becoming overweight, along with many other physical and emotional benefits, so engaging in some energy-busting physical education is an important addition to a family’s daily schedule.

Work some play-breaks into the day, and be flexible with the daily school and work-from-home schedule by allowing for some spontaneous activity breaks. Here are some ways to start:

School Closures
California
New York
Alaska

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Manisha Snoyer (www.modulo.app)
Manisha Snoyer (www.modulo.app)

Written by Manisha Snoyer (www.modulo.app)

610 Followers
1.7K Following

Building a Decentralized K12 Education System. Learn more at Modulo.app and Masteryhour.org

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