At home with little ones? Post ideas here! - YouLookFab Forum

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At home with little ones? Post ideas here!

April

Veteran

Technically this is OT and Angie might prefer to relocate it to that category but I'll start if off here so more people will see it.

A lot of YLFers are at home with little ones right now - often trying to work from home as well.

They might love being home with you, but the little ones are missing everyone (friends, grandparents, teachers) they can't see right now. Here's one way to bring these people into your day.

Let your child dictate a list of folks they miss. Post it near a sink where your wash hands. As you sing Happy Birthday with your child to time your hand-washing, insert the name of one person from the list. Each time you wash hands, sing to the next person on the list. If you draw a star or a smiley next to the name each time you sing to that person, you'll be able to take a picture of your chart and share it with them.

Please share any ideas you have and if our thread gets moved, meet you on the Off Topic channel!

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34 replies

Latest reply was from Joy

rachylou

Veteran

Some kids on my block are counting the days. They post a new number every day on their front door with various artistic flourishes. They’ve also chalked what six feet is on the sidewalk. Lol.

Actually, you know, speaking fashion... this seems a good time to play dress up and have a big tea party for all one’s stuffies...

bella

(website)

Veteran

So far we've done a lot of origami! Tons of videos on youtube for different skill and experience level.
Family exercise time - again lots of videos on youtube.
Baking - chocolate chocolate chip cookies and muffins. My 5 year old loves to take the lead on these.
Watercolor - we create very simple paint by number templates for each other, and then paint.
Connecting with friends over internet - we got three families together and each day one of the parents is reading a book and making the kids do a simple follow up activity.

nemosmom

Veteran

My 7yo's class is doing online show-and-tell with each other on Saturday mornings. We are also doing reading with a friend for my 5yo over video chat a few times during the week. This morning I had them watch a space documentary on the moon, then write or draw pictures about what they learned. That bought me about 30 minutes of time for a conference call...

Otherwise, I throw down some art supplies or play doh a couple times a week and rely heavily on ipad the rest of the week to keep my boys from killing each other

Helena

Veteran

Hiya, accidental homeschooler here too!

I kind of made a daily schedule which I'd be happy to share if you thought it would be helpful. But I'm making the most of all the online tools I can find (older kids, so that's a bit different too - 14 and 11 here - so they are a more independent than the younger ones).

Here's what I've got lined up so far:

Math

lots of worksheets to be found online
math games online
baking and other household activities, pointing out the math bits
looking at the news and pointing of the math bits (lots of statistics going on now - they both understand exponential growth, that's for sure!)

Literacy

mandatory reading time
audio books
encouraging them to write stories, journal, etc.

Other Academic subjects:

markers and other supplies for drawing, crafts, painting, etc.
the keyboard is out for experimenting with music
the kitchen is open for baking and messing with ingredients for science
podcasts, YouTube videos, NatGeo specials etcs. are great for history, science, etc.
Lego, craft materials, etc
Minecraft in limited doses
Lots of museums, etc. offering virtual tours, such as this:
http://www.travelandleisure.co.....ZatiYwckeI

Physical activity

the run of the basement - a mini basketball hoop is up and the ping pong table is set up, lots of soft Nerf-type balls to throw around
daily walks although I have a feeling that will be shut down shortly so we plan to move the treadmill to the sliding door so we can 'fake' a walk in the light and fresh air!
dance practice, Cosmic Kids yoga (great for the younger ones - a bit young for mine but DH she still likes it)
they can find any workouts and things that interest them on YouTube

Life Skills

helping with meal planning
helping with meal prep and clean-up
helping with a 'chore of the day'
working on keeping their rooms tidy, beds made, etc.

Also just being very laid back (as much as possible) ... now is not the time to fuss too much about screen time, etc. imho ... and they are learning more than their fair share in terms of patience, tolerating boredom, delayed gratification, etc. Good luck mamas; we are in this together! xoxo

April

Veteran

If you have kids in the 3-5 range, here's a fun game.

Set up for musical chairs, except have enough chairs for everyone. Yep, you heard me. You wouldn't think this would be fun in any way but they love it. In fact it's fun for longer because nobody is "out" as in sitting on the sidelines with nothing to do.

April

Veteran

And if you're a one-child family like ours, no problem. Kids love this variation on musical chairs even if it's only one kid and one parent, or one kid and two parents. A trainable dog could also join in.

Playing music from your phone means you don't even need someone extra to start and stop the music. Just be sneaky about it so it isn't obvious to your child when music is about to stop.

Stagger the chairs so that one faces one way and the next one faces the other way.

Variations: try it walking backward, or skipping, or while balancing a paperback book on your head. Try it while carrying a hard-boiled egg on a spoon. Using an egg (even hard-boiled) adds drama but it could also be a cork or a piece of sponge or a penny if you don't need that much drama.

nemosmom

Veteran

Another fun one came up today when I had to attend an online demo: Freeze dance! Put the music on any obnoxious dance music or pop music station, and have the kids dance.... then, intermittently hit the pause button which is their cue to freeze in place. Anyone still moving when the music stops, has to sit until the next song.

Sidenote: make snacks available that they can self-serve. How did my kids ever survive at school with only two snack breaks?! My goodness, they are asking for food every 20 minutes.... *waves white flag*

smittie

Veteran

Glue gunning.
Fort building.
Baking.

Love the origami idea!
I take the kids out individually for walks. I get them a little treat at McDonald’s (McD is a WHOLE DIFFERENT experience in Canada. On par with Starbucks.)*
* that was last week and it looks like they’ve closed their restaurant counter now.

I like popsicle sticks with the glue gun, but the kids will glue gun anything.

Also, packing tape/duct tape is a good thing to have around with boys.

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Anonymous

My little 3 m/o "cherubs" have paws and are fascinated by all my extra cables. They also attack feet and climb legs :/ When all else fails: "lookit it's a paper towel, that's a good kitty toy."

April

Veteran

Yes, the snacks.

When I had a child at home and the cousins would visit, there was a place in my fridge labeled HELP YOURSELF SHELF. The rule was I would stock that area with "approved" snacks and the rest of the food in the fridge was off limits.

Nothing worse than counting on a bag of shredded cheese as a dinner ingredient and finding at 5 pm that the children had devoured it at 3 pm...

Becky

Veteran

Families in our town with young children have been going on "bear hunts." As families take walks around in the neighborhoods, they hunt for teddy bears that have been placed in people's front windows. It's a good way to get some fresh air and exercise while keeping the proper distance. (We are a rural area, so there's plenty of space to walk without coming close to anyone else.)

Liesbeth

Veteran

That bear walk sounds fun. We've been working on practicing independent play with our toddler (while we're working), interchanged with simple craft projects, baking, lots of outdoor playing, reading to him. We also play audiobooks to him: there's a surprising amount of age appropriate content available on spotify. On weekends the weather so far is very accomodating for longer walks and garden chores in which he can somewhat participate. We've also done video calls with family though he gets bored easily when we talk.
I'm currently starting up some Easter craft projects. We are usually very passively involved but this year he won't have the school activities and it's becoming very likely we won't be able to celebrate Easter with our families yet. So I thought to have him assist in making cards for the family and an Easter tree with decorations.

April

Veteran

Whether you celebrate Easter or not, if you're able to get eggs right now -- especially white eggs -- fun to hardboil a few and decorate them with markers.

For parents who fear your stash of art supplies dwindling - did you know dried-up markers can be brought back to life? Don't toss them just yet!

In my preschool classroom, we taught the children always to listen for the CLICK when they re-capped a marker. They were absolutely diligent about it.

Also, it was a coveted job to be asked to go through the entire collection of markers and set aside the dry ones for revival, then help with the revival process. It was so coveted it could even be used as a reward for accomplishing something less pleasant.

kkards

Veteran

FYI Audible is now offering some of their kids books for free
https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/21.....index.html

https://stories.audible.com/start-listen

April

Veteran

Brian Lehrer suggested yesterday that a good way to stay sane on lockdown is to think about what others need.

If you have 25 dollars or more that your family can spare right now, take your kids to the website for Kiva and find someone somewhere who needs a loan. Great fun for kids to track their loans and repayments.

Preppy Pear

Veteran

These are fabulous ideas. I am not that good at this, I am afraid. If levels of activities for the kids corresponded to Angie’s levels of stay at home dressing, I’m a definite 5. I cope by limiting screen time, letting my daughter make lots of big messes, and just being near her when she plays.
I ordered a wading pool. As she’s been making lots of art for her grandparents. And watching some TV everyday when I have meetings.

nemosmom

Veteran

This was posted a few days ago - it's a list of free museum tours, guided art projects, and whatnot. My kids are super excited about Mo Willems' lunch doodles!

https://www.commonsensemedia.o.....us?j=77116

kerry

Veteran

Free subscription to Epic! Books
Free subscription to Khan Academy
Free app for Khan Acadmey Kids
Free subscription (90 days) Raz-Kids
Facebook Messenger (FaceTime) to keep in touch with friends and family
Tabletopia to play games online with grandparents
YouTube P.E. with Joe for fitness video

Helena

Veteran

Oh dear - my kids have implemented something new for DPA (daily physical activity - part of Ontario school curriculum - different from PE, just about movement of any kind). Burp walks. They walk or run around the basement burping as many times as they can. Variation - Burp basketball. Burp while shooting hoops. *facepalm* But they are so excited to go downstairs and do their burping activities, I'm fine with it - whatever gets them moving and they are getting along while doing it! Sharing my pain but also a genuine suggestion for those who could stand it and whose kids still enjoy a dose of potty humour

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

WOW.

THESE LUCKY KIDDOS!!!

Debora

Veteran

What a great thread! So many wonderful ideas. Thanks for starting it, April.
The kids in my neighborhood have been drawing inspirational messages and pictures in chalk on the sidewalks. Fun for the kids and a boost for so many on their daily walk.

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April

Veteran

Debora - is that really you? Did Kindrex make it out of NYC before The Great Lockdown began?

Sorry to sound so exclusionary -- for YLF newish-comers, I will say that Debora and I are serious YLF old-timers who once met in person at a Manhattan YLF gathering, and "Kindrex" is Debora's adult daughter.

Echo

Veteran

As a reading teacher, I know these things sound extremely BORING to you, but I can tell you with certainty that just simply READING with your child means so much more than you think it does.

Children remember (often for a lifetime) the books you read to them, and they adore the shorter, simpler books you allow them to read to you, even if it is the same one night after night. They want to settle in and hear you read the next chapter from Little House on the Prairie or Harry Potter. They look forward to reading Five Little Monkeys or Go, Dog, Go! Read the books your child's teacher sent home. Have your older child read to your younger child. It all helps far more than you think it does!

April

Veteran

Echo, you speak the truth. As a professional (careers have included preschool teacher, developmental psychologist, school psychologist, even rare book dealer), I agree with everything you said.

Here is my belief. If you read to your children hoping to improve their reading skills, you may or may not be rewarded. If you read to your children hoping to make yourself a better person, you will always be rewarded.

Debora

Veteran

Hi April and hello all!!! Yes, it’s me! Fondly remembering our YLF meetup in NYC. Thanks for asking about Kindrex.. She is in Brooklyn, doing well and sheltering in place. I’ll let her know you were asking about her. Much love and best wishes to you and all the YLF community. Keeping you all in my thoughts.

April

Veteran

How nice to see you here! I still remember your kind encouragement of our Maya way back when, when she was having social anxiety about a work party and you told her you'd spent much of your adult life chatting up shy, awkward young military officers at social functions. That she wouldn't be alone in her discomfort.

Joy

Veteran

My grandchildren enjoy reading books to their dog. The 2 year old likes indoor physical challenges like balance beams and cushions as stepping stones. The 5 year old had liked building and painting bird houses. A bird feeder was put up outside a window and both kiddos have been working on identifying and painting pictures of birds. Both are suffering with ear infections.

Joy

Veteran

Bubble wrap.. They can make your windows “ stained glass” for Easter with paint or washable markers. Mark off designs first with blue painting tape. Make pictures or write letters to relatives and friends. Show the older ones how to sew, crochet, or knit. Cook and bake, have tea parties. Play hide and seek with a teddy bear or doll. Plant seeds in an egg carton. ,et them go out on a nice day and trim the bushes in your yard or let them cut up trimmings that someone else has done to take up less room in the compost bin or trash can.
Yahtzee is good game to reinforce math skills.

April

Veteran

Yes, any game that uses dice is fabulous for practicing math facts. Way better than flash cards, because of the intrinsic motivation to win the game.

Also, try this one. Take two decks of cards and pull out the face cards (or leave them in to make the game harder, but decide how much the face cards will each be worth.) Then play Double War. You each toss two cards instead of one. Each player has to add the two values before they know who takes the hand. Or multiply the two values for older kids.

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