A schedule or routine will help reduce stress and create some structure and predictability in your day.

*Set a regular time to wake up and go to bed.

*Get dressed and ready with a regular school/work outfit as much as possible, yes a day or two of being in comfy pjs all day is fun but it’s important to create some normalcy in your day.

*Schedule things such as screen time, time for you and your child to call/video chat with friends and family, free time and movement breaks.

*If your child is old enough, get their input.

Here are a few examples of schedules for school aged children as well as Pre-K and younger.

There is no doubt that you have been fielding questions from your child about COVID-19. If you aren’t sure what information to give or how much to give you are not alone! Here are a couple of resources to help you manage your own and your child’s anxiety as well as how to talk to your child and answer their many questions.

*Please consider your media intake. It is important to stay up to date but try not to obsess or overload yourself or child with news. Information overload may create unnecessary panic and stress.

Great article about how to talk to your child about COVID-19:

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/how-to-talk-to-children-about-the-coronavirus-2020030719111

Focusing on the positive is one practical way to help reduce stress and anxiety.

Everyday think about 1 or maybe 10 :) (but at least 1) positive things you have experienced or found in this difficult situation.

Make sure you share your positivity with others and help build one another up. Let’s spread positivity throughout our community and make each other smile - smiling is good!

Also if you have time...try out this activity with your child from Big Life Journal “I am Strong Like a Tree”. It is an amazing activity to help build resilience in challenging situations. We have included some additional directions and an example.

For physical and mental health it is best to move your body for at least 30 minutes everyday!

Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Schedule regular breaks for kids and yourself to move

• Go for a walk (Fresh air is an added bonus!)

• Have a dance party (Share some of your favorite music with your child)

• Ask your child to lead you in one of their P.E. activities or stretches

• Check out some of these online resources:

  • GoNoodle has vides to get you energized or help you calm down

  • Cosmic Kids Yoga for more relaxing movement

  • Movement and Action Songs from Preschool Inspirations

  • Hello Wonderful

30 minutes of activity will help reduce stress, boost energy, increase productivity, help you sleep better and many, many more things! Try it today and everyday!

Click on the images below to be directed to the sites.

As you all have probably experienced it is extremely important to stay connected with friends and family during this time of social distancing. For many children their relationships with friends is the most important part of school. This is also a very unique opportunity to build stronger connections and relationships with the people in your home.

There are a lot of creative ways that we can stay connected with or without technology.

Although a lot of the ideas listed below are related to using technology all the games and activities can be done face to face as well. For example if you don’t have access to technology you can write notes to one another in your home instead of texting/messaging.

Video/Messaging Resources:

• Facebook’s Messenger Kids App (managed through parents Facebook account)

  • Kids can send messages, have video chats, play games and create group chats

• Zoom

• Marco Polo App

• Facetime

• Skype

• Google Hangouts

Games/Activities:

• Have family members read a bedtime story to your child

• Set up groups chats

• Workout with somebody

• Have a Dance Party

• Teach/Learn a new skill (ex. origami, cooking, or how to fix something)

• Play a game (ex. Hangman, 21 Questions, or True or False/Trivia)

Follow this link for more game ideas and descriptions on how to play:

https://www.adventure-in-a-box.com/games-to-play-on-facetime-with-friends/

Share your ideas with your school community by emailing, posting, or tagging your school with any of the creative ways you are staying connected!