Staying Connected During the Pandemic: Kids Edition
If your kiddos are in virtual school, you may be exploring creative ways for them to continue safely connecting with others this fall and beyond. We don’t know what the rest of 2020 will bring, but staying in touch with others is good for the mind and soul. This may become even more important if we experience a cold winter and people are further driven indoors. Here are a few ideas I’ve seen recently that I’d like to try out in my own home:
Story Club
A friend of mine was looking to add to her kids’ virtual learning schedule, as they have been completing their school assignments quickly during the virtual days. She came up with a great idea to keep her kids reading and writing during this transitional period called ‘story club.’ She invited a group of friends to participate and added those interested into a drawing. Each week they would receive a short story in the mail from a friend and have an assigned person to send a story to. Think of it as a creative pen pal! This took no more than 10 minutes a week, but the kids started to look forward to getting their story and crafting their own creative tale.
Baking Exchange
Recently I shared the benefits of spending more time getting creative in the kitchen through a recipe exchange. It occurred to me that this is also a great idea for kids! This time of year people really get into baking, which is an easy sell for kids! Encourage them to spend part of their day trying new recipes and exchanging ideas with their friends online through a baking exchange.
A New Twist on Book Club
If your kids are like mine they are protective over their technology time. As much as we try to limit it, playing video games and watching TV happened more over quarantine. One idea I saw was to try a book club, but also incorporate discussions on educational TV shows (you can access a long list here) or podcasts for kids like ‘Brains On.’ This creates a fun way for them to connect about things they are learning while enjoying educational technology time.
As the winter months approach, it’s a good idea to start thinking of some ways to stay safe and connected. It’s uncertain what the rest of 2020 will hold, but these ideas will ensure learning and community take precedence above all else.
