Today we are talking about how to help your nanny kids or children, learn, grow and thrive during the Covid-19 Pandemic. This is a very unprecedented time for the world and effects everyone no matter how old you are. This includes children and teens. We wanted to take this opportunity to provide some tips, guidance, and resources to help you navigate this time with your nanny kids, children, and teens.
First, I would like to say to everyone reading this “ You are doing a great job as a parent, nanny, or caregiver!” This is a very stressful time for many due to losing jobs, or reducing income for one member of the family or the other, being cooped up inside the house with all of your family members, not being able to go out to your favorite places, and most of all not being able to attend school and keep up with your normal routine. For any Parent, Nanny, or Caregiver this can be a very difficult time in many ways. Please know we are here for you in this difficult time. If you need anything at all, please do not hesitate to reach out for any reason. We are all in this together!
Our biggest pieces of advice to help children learn, thrive, and grow during this time are:
1.) Stick to a daily routine: Have a daily routine structured for younger children and work with older children to help establish a daily routine with them.
2.) Talk to them openly and honestly about the situation and value their thoughts and feelings. Refer to the CDC and Mayo Clinic’s guidelines below on how to talk to children about the Covid-19 pandemic.
3.) Get outside at least once a day. This is so important for everyone. Being outside helps everyone stay in a good mood and feel great.
4.) Get proper exercise and eat healthy foods. Take care of yourself and your nanny kids or children. We want everyone to keep their immune systems up and healthy to avoid getting any sicknesses.
5.) Make a goal of doing a minimum of one educational activity each day. Shoot for more than one activity, but know if you have achieved at least one activity a day, then you have hit your goal and the children have learned something new. (pat your self on the back). Also, for older children and teens make sure you are following homeschooling guidelines set by your child’s school.
6.) Do not forget to incorporate time for yourself in the day, everyone needs a break and if you are stressed out so is your family or nanny kids. Do not forget to do one thing a day that brings you joy and happiness.
6.) Most importantly take every day one day at a time. Just focus on handling the daily tasks at hand and try not to worry about the future. (I know this is hard for a lot of us)
We have listed several great resources to utilize for your children and teens. Please feel free to take advantage of any of the resources below.
Resources on how to best discuss Covid-19 with your children or nanny kids.
The best source for information on Covid-19 in the US is the CDC. Check out their website for tips on how to talk to the children about Covid-19
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/talking-with-children.html
Mayo Clinic has a great resource for How to Talk to Your Kids about Covid-19. They are experts in the medical field and have excellent advice.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/kids-covid-19/art-20482508
13 activities to make the most out of video chats with kids.
PBS has published a list of fun activities to make the most out of video chats with kids. Ideas include special songs to sing, puppets, family history game, and a food truck game. Check out the blog below for more fun ideas.
https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/activities-to-make-the-most-out-of-video-chats-with-kids
Sesame Street Resources
Sesamestreet.org has a ton of free resources for children, parents, and caregivers during the pandemic.
Elmo’s Play Date
They are also hosting a special play date with Elmo coming up on April 14th at 7:00 pm on HBO, tbs, TNT, Cartoon Network, and PBS. Set your DVR to record this playdate and show it to the children at a time that is appropriate if the children can have a little bit of screen time.
Establishing Routines
Sesame Street is helping parents establish healthy routines for the whole family during this pandemic. Visit the link below to get tips on creating a routine for your family during this time.
https://www.sesamestreet.org/sites/default/files/media_folders/Images/PDF4V3.pdf
Talking to Teens about Coronavirus
The following website has great advice on talking to teens about Covid-19. This website helps parents talk to their teens about the challenges and opportunities during the pandemic. I think this is a great source for parents to get some guidance on how to navigate this time with teens. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/chest-lungs/Pages/Teens-and-COVID-19.aspx
Ways For Children and Families to Stay Connected to The Local Community During Covid-19
Charlotte Parent Magazine has posted a great article with ideas on how to stay connected during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Ideas include putting up Christmas Lights, Sidewalk Chalk, and Virtual Classes and Events for children online.
http://www.charlotteparent.com/How-to-Stay-Connected-to-Your-Community-During-the-COVID-19-Pandemic/
