Our families face new challenges now because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the stay-at-home order and subsequent home schooling. How do we care for our children while working and schooling at home and not panic during this outbreak?
First … take a deep breath. You’ve got this and we have your back. We are all in this together and together we will get through it.
The following are some tips from the AAP to help families cope during this new “normal”.
Most importantly keep a routine. Children thrive in structure, so let them help create a daily schedule and hang it in a prominent location in your home. This should include your child’s schedule and your own, so that children know when the work day is over.
Wake up, get dressed, and have breakfast at the normal time.
Provide work spaces for everyone including yourself. Decide where everyone can do their work most effectively and without distractions.
List times for learning, exercise, breaks and family time. Younger children usually work well for shorter times – maybe 20 minutes on a class assignment followed by a 10 minute break. Older children and teens can focus for longer times, but max. concentration usually only lasts for 45-50 minutes and a short break between subjects is advised.
Schedule time for lunch and snacks. Older children may want to schedule a “virtual school lunch” with the friends they usually hang out with during school hours.
Don’t forget afternoon breaks and time for exercise.
Have dinner together as a family and talk about your day or make plans for the next or the weekend.
Enjoy more family time in the evenings, playing games, reading a favorite book together – this is the time to read something above your child’s reading level and discuss the story. Some nights watch a movie, take a walk around the neighborhood or exercise together.
Stick with normal bedtime routines as much as possible. Proper sleep helps all of us cope better.
See below for a list of things that we have found for some ideas online.
Lastly don’t stress!
General Education
- Scholastic – Scholastic has launched a “Learn at Home” website that has daily courses for students from Pre-kindergarten to grades 6 and higher.
- Khan Academy – Free YouTube instructional videos in a wide range of content areas. Parents can view and track their child’s progress.
- Khan Academy Kids – Free interactive learning app for kids ages 2-7. Available on Apple devices.
- CK -12 Foundation– Free online learning resource for grades 1-12.
- 123 Home School 4 Me – Offers free printable worksheets for all subjects, Pre-K through high school.
- Discovery K12 – A free home-school platform with online resources for ages Pre-K through grade 12.
- Marginal Revolution University – (MRU) – Free economics courses offered at the K-12 levels.
- TED – Ed – TED‐ Ed offers a free suite of high‐ quality videos on a variety of topics for learners of all ages.
- Academic Earth – View hours of free lectures and course materials from leading universities.
- Alison– Offering a range of free online courses in all subjects.
- Codecademy – Codecademy offers free access to basic lessons, with the option to pay for more advanced courses if your child gets really into it.
Math
- Prodigy Math – An online math program that uses a fun video game‐ style interface to engage learners. Both free and paid versions available.
- Bedtime Math – A free app (iPhone and Android) offering mini math lessons for kids ages 4-9.
- Times Tables Rock Stars – Free (for up to 60 days) access to math facts tests, both printable and online.
- Dream Box– Online math lessons for kids grades K-8. Also available in Spanish. Sign up for a 90 day free trial through April 30.
- Delta Math – A free website for middle school through high school math content.
Language Arts
- Dog on a Log Books – Free downloadable learning materials including printable board games, books, and phonics flashcards.
- Reading Eggs – makes learning to read interesting and engaging for kids, with great online reading games and activities.
- Dream S cape – A free interactive literacy game for grades 2-8. Available on the Google Play or Apple App store.
- No Red Ink – A free, online writing and grammar resource that helps learners of all ages to practice and refine their writing skills.
- Cincinnati Public Library – Kid Space web-page with various other games/resources.
History
- Bunk History – A free digital archive or American history.
- Active History – Students ages 11-18 can learn about history through interactive simulations, games, quizzes, and worksheets. Free for one month.
Sciences
- Mystery Science – Mystery Science is offering free memberships for up to one year, with engaging lessons in a variety of science‐ related areas.
- Vroom – Science tips and printable for kids 0-5.
- Club Sci Kidz – Find free cooking and science activities on their blog.
- Backpack Sciences – Free videos for hands-on, elementary science lessons.
- Biology Simulations – Free virtual labs for biology topics.
- Chem Matters – Magazine content available online for high school students.
- Cincinnati Zoo Facebook – Cincinnati Zoo Facebook live sessions daily at 3 pm
Foreign Language
- Duo Lingo – Free online learning tools in 36 languages.
- Better Chinese – Mandarin – Chinese language lessons for Pre-K through college. Free one-month trial.
- Fluent Key – Educational videos in Chinese, English, French, and Spanish. One month of professional service is being offered for free with code STAYSAFE; basic subscription is always free.
Music
- Busy Kids Do Piano at Home – One month of free lessons with code PIANOATHOME.
- Flat – A music education platform connecting students in real-time.
- Chrome Music Lab – Free hands-on music experiments.
- Carone Learning – Health and physical education classes for grades K-12. Free through the end of the school year.
- Go Noodle – Video-based movement and mindfulness exercises.
- Little Twisters Yoga and Emotional Wellness – Free yoga products for kids.
Theater & Art
- Digital Theater Plus – – A temporarily free resource offering access to theater productions, backstage insights, and interviews.
- Artrageous With Nate – A free digital series exploring creativity around the globe.
- Creating a Masterpiece – Fine art training for kids ages 5+. Free access for one month with code Corona2020.
- Art Tango – Free online art lessons for kindergarten through grade 5 students.
Free Online Museum Tours
- The British Museum
- The Dali Theater Museum
- The Google Art Project
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- NASA – Glenn Research Center
- NASA – Langley Research Center
- National Gallery of Art
- The National Museum of the United States Air Force
- The National Women’s History Museum
- Smithsonian Institution
- Smithsonian Institution – Learning Lab
- The Vatican Museums
Leah M. Welty, MD
Anderson Hills Pediatrics 