Worldwide our lives are being disrupted by COVID-19. Let’s take this opportunity to connect with our kids and provide them a structured environment at home and focus on education-based activities, adventures, and fort-building!
Below are a list of resources we’ve found and recommend. If you have additional ideas, please share in the comments.
- Alley-Oop
Alley-oop provides fun, interactive challenges and activities designed for Dads & Daughters to do together, as a team. Best for Dads with kids 5-12 (brothers are encouraged to play too!), most challenges average 20 minutes in length and push your creative abilities by designing a rap video to deepening your relationship with conversation starters. Since it is still in beta testing, members can sign up for free with this code: FTDAD.
- PBS KIDS
PBS has a lot to offer parents. From a newsletter (sign up here) to tips for parents and their Activity Finder, there is something for everyone. Just as important as learning activities, PBS also his tips to de-stress like deep breathing exercises!
- ABCmouse.com – ABCmouse.com® Early Learning Academy is the leading and most comprehensive digital learning resource for children ages 2–8. With more than 9,000 Learning Activities and 850 lessons, the standards-based ABCmouse curriculum is available on computers, tablets, and smartphones and is used by millions of children at home, in more than 70,000 U.S. classrooms, and in nearly half of all U.S. public libraries.
- This amazing Google Spreadsheet: User generated and filled with 200+ activities to do in and around your home. You can sort by level of parental involvement, age range, and where applicable, links will take you to additional resources!
- Virtual Tours of museums: If you can’t get to a museum, never fear! This website shares a number of museums that provide virtual tours of their spaces.
- Providing structure is key: I’ve got a 6 and 3 year old, so we worked together to make a daily plan for each of them filled with activities, “homework,” and quiet time to allow all of us to know what to expect during our day.
As you plan, make sure your schedule is child centered. While homeschooling works for many families, if you have not done homeschooling before, don’t stress yourself out. Many schools have set up e-learning plans for your children. Work with your children’s teacher, and check our member Philip Mott’s blog for tips and tricks for success.
