There seemed to be a physical wave of panic from Coronavirus (also know as COV-19) as school districts throughout the country have closed for the near future. Parents who have recently been sent to work from home are now also tasked with educating and entertaining their children, while also getting work done. Here is a great article about finding joy working from home. My son’s school is closed for a month and while I am by no means a home school expert, I do know a thing or two about working from home. I have some tips, but also I know this is a gardening website so I have many resources for kids gardening as well.
Ack! Because of the Coronavirus, I’m working from home with kids, what am I going to do?
First off, the struggle is real! Not only do you have the stress of the Coronavirus, but you have to get work done and keep your children entertained and educated. Know that you will likely not get as much done as you usually do so plan for that and let your employer, colleges, and clients know that ahead of time. We are all trying our best, but communication is key here. Set up an email autoresponder to let people know of your situation.
This is not a vacation, it is school/work closure due to the Coronavirus epidemic. Make a schedule and stick to it if possible. One of my favorite things about working from home and working for myself is the flexibility to work when and where I want. That being said, if you don’t minimize distractions and keep to a schedule, you will get very little done in your day. With kids in the house, you will be distracted. It is not realistic to expect that you will get the same amount of work completed. Plan for those distractions if possible. It is not realistic to shut yourself in a room for four hours, but it is for 20 – 60 minutes depending on the age of the child (and their nap schedule if they are little). Plan for breaks to check on and spend time with your kids and keep them moving in schoolwork or projects.
One tool that I have found valuable working from home is managing the transitions from work to home life. I have a routine to start my day that says to my brain, “now I am at work”. I have found it helpful to go for a short walk in the neighborhood like we used to walk to school. Not only is it nice to get some fresh air and exercise if possible, but when we arrive back home, we transition to start our work/school day. This may not work for you, but try it on or something like it that you can use as a trigger to signal the transition.
Having a set schedule every day helps everyone stay focused and also provides stability for kids during what can be a stressful transition. An example of a school/workday schedule might look like this:
I don’t know how to teach my kid
Thank God there are some very creative teachers and resources out there! When you are working from home, you don’t have time to set up a curriculum. You need something engaging and educational (hopefully also fun).
- Scholastic – https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome.html
Scholastic has launched a free service that gives age-appropriate lessons for 20 days. They are FANTASTIC. My son so far has really loved them. Best of all, you do nothing! They are that good. - PBS and LAUSD Team Up – http://klcs.org/lausd-news/
There are three different TV stations that tailor to different age groups. All meet curriculum standards and they also stream online for those who are outside of the area. This is just one more reason to love PBS! - Prodigy – https://www.prodigygame.com/Membership/
This is a free app but also has a paid subscription. It uses games to help kids practice and have fun with math. It is a fantastic resource and is really a fun game to play. I HIGHLY recommend this app. - Homeschool Resources – https://www.homeschool.com/resources/
This website had many resources and links to all different types of subjects. - Have Your Kid Learn to Type – https://www.typingclub.com
At this point, it is a great life skill! - GoNoodle – https://www.gonoodle.com
This is a great free resource to get your kids moving. Exercise is an important part of a school day too. - ComonCoreSheets – https://www.commoncoresheets.com/
Worksheets based on Common Core Standards - Brain Pop – https://www.brainpop.com/
My son LOVES Brain Pop and it is up to grade-level standards. The topics are interesting, but age-appropriate. I would highly suggest this.
Gardening Resources
- Wings of Life – https://nature.disney.com/wings-of-life
For those who have Disney+, they have a whole channel for animal and science learning. This can also be purchased through other services. - Nature: Spring Live – https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/american-spring-live-episode-3-connections-2/17650/
Available if you are a PBS member (hopefully this content free soon). - Learn About Bees with the Cat and the Hat – On Netflix https://www.netflix.com/title/70180293
Magic School Bus Butterflies – On Netflix https://www.netflix.com/watch/70286638 - Magic School Bus How Plants Make Their Food – On Netflix https://www.netflix.com/watch/70286660
- Plant a Garden
Add watering and caring for your garden into your daily routine. For most of the country, it is nearly time to start planting a veggie garden (outside or starting indoors). If you can’t access a store, to purchase small plants or seeds if you want to start your garden from seed (an economical choice) you can order seeds online:
– https://www.burpee.com
– https://www.seedsavers.org - Garden with this Salsa Growing Kit from Target – https://www.target.com/p/12-34-salsa-garden-grow-kit-smith-38-hawken-8482/-/A-76841750
- Explore outside if you have access to it and send your kids on a nature scavenger hunt
- Have kids collect flowers and leaves to press in a book and make art with it
Good luck parents! It is going to be a long month. May you stay healthy, productive, and sane!
A big shout out to my fellow parent friends for sending so much of this info in various text threads. I passing this along hoping whoever needs this will find it useful. We are in these weird Coronavirus quarantine times together even if we are physically apart. Message me please if you have something to add and I will post it here as a resource.
And remember to give yourself some grace! This is a weird time that none of us is fully prepared for. You are doing the best that you can!
