With the Coronavirus (COVID-19) now becoming a global pandemic, the numbers of businesses and institutions suspending services continue to climb. For parents, this means that schools and daycares are closed. We parents are left wondering how the heck we are going to manage keeping our kids busy while adhering to “social distancing.”
Along with figuring out how to work this miracle, you’re also probably wracking your brain trying to process how serious COVID-19 actually is and how to keep your kids safe. Between the hype from the media, the images of empty store shelves on social media and rumored cases in your hometown, it’s hard to keep your head on straight. Being married to a doctor, I’m fortunate to have good sense knocked in to me when I need it and I’m going to do the same for you. Let’s start with the hard facts.
Let’s Talk Numbers
First off, please don’t get your facts from social media. A lot of news sights that are fed through sites like Facebook, etc. are not credible. If you’re ever wondering if what you are seeing is true, consider using Snopes. This website will weed out all the trash in your article and let you know the real facts of a story that you’re seeing. It’s calmed my rash thinking so many times and has saved me from sharing or posting about an article that was B.S.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has the information you need to know to make all further decisions regarding family safety during this time. “Community-based interventions such as school dismissals, event cancellations, social distancing, and creating employee plans to work remotely can help slow the spread of COVID-19” (CDC, 2020a). While it is inconvenient, it is the standard recommendation right now to keep everyone safe since the virus seems to spread quick once it touches down on an area.
Keeping everyone safe is the main goal, and for good reason. Let’s say 10 percent of your whole state, assuming the population is 1 million, might have COVID-19. That comes out to 100,000 people. If 10,000 of those people need a hospital bed, that right there would overwhelm the medical system. We have to think about things this way to help put a pandemic like this into perspective. We have to be smart about how we interact in our community during a time like this so we are not only keeping ourselves and others safe, but doing our part to not overwhelm the medical system.
Let’s Talk Kid Safety
Currently in the U.S., the CDC (2020b) has reported 1,629 total cases and 41 total deaths. The US News and World Report recently published data reflecting a 0% death rate for children under 10 who have tested positive for COVID-19 in China, South Korea and the U.S. (Levine, D., 2020).
When talking to my husband, Glen, about these numbers, his commentary further puts children’s safety into perspective. “The very young seem to do well,” he said, “Kids get a lot of colds with other Coronaviruses so the theory is that their immune system is primed to fight this off.”
While the Coronavirus might be new to us, we have known about the Coronavirus strains since the 1960’s. “The Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that have been around for a long time, and one theory is that kids have been getting them their whole life and fighting them off,” Glen said.
While no theory or set of numbers is fixed at this time, the data we do have strongly suggests that this virus will likely not be dangerous to your kids, especially if they are under the age of ten.
Let’s Talk Entertainment
So now that we know the facts and are doing our part to be careful, what to do with all this spare time? Here’s some ideas that involve social distancing and require minimal anxiety over hand-washing. Some of them might be no-brainers, but having a long list might help remind you of some things you already have:
Indoor Ideas
- Indoor picnics
- Cook with your kids
- Food prep with your kids
- Three marker challenge (using only 3 colors of markers/crayons to color or draw a picture)
- Games (Jenga, etc)
- Playdough
- Water table
- Sensory bin (whisks, magnets, buttons – anything for your kids to touch and fidget with)
- Indoor air fort (my kids love this!)
- Story time
- Movie theater (blankets, popcorn, snacks – make it extra and they will love it!)
- Learning activities like ABC mouse, leap frog, chalk boards, flash cards, etc. (For when you want them to keep up with school)
- Journaling, crafting, reading
- Hide and seek, Simon Says, etc.
Google has so many resources for kid-friendly activities. I recommend you take a few minutes and get a list going, put it on the fridge, and refer to it so you or your kids have ideas to take up some free time if they are inside for a majority of the day.
Outdoor Ideas
- Kids scavenger hunt (write down objects for them to find like different colored rocks, leaves, sticks, animals, etc.)
- Daily walk around neighborhood
- Outdoor picnic (not at a park, of course)
- Nature hike (search hiking trails in your area)
- Fishing
- Yard sports (catch, baseball, volleyball, golf, etc).
- Red light green light (my kids could play this all day!)
- Sidewalk chalk art
- Outdoor water table
- Nerf gun battle
- Bike rides, roller skates, scooters, etc.
Again, create a list and put it somewhere to refer to when looking for some ideas on how to stay busy.
Other Things to Consider
If you’re worried about how you’re going to keep up with doctor appointments, shopping etc., keep these things in mind:
- The CDC (2020a) recommends only visiting doctors and specialists if they are absolutely needed. Things like teeth cleanings and annual check-ups should be rescheduled until we get the green light.
- Try to get prescription refills done over the phone. Chances are your physicians and specialists will likely do this without you having to come in.
- Consider grocery pick-up instead of taking the family to the store. Places like Walmart, Target, and even local grocery stores have this option.
- Consider subscribing to products on Amazon. Things like toilet paper, dog food, food items and vitamins can be delivered to your door at your preferred times.
Enjoying Your Life Amidst a Crisis
Above all, try to be mindful that you cannot simply control the way this virus spreads. The things you can control right now, however, are making sure your kids are oblivious to the chaos and ensuring their safety by keeping your family at a safe distance. Also, refrain from getting your news from social media and keep Snopes in mind if you ever see something that gets your anxiety going.
Being present and in the moment also helps calm anxiety levels. So join in on a game or make yourself a sandwich for that picnic and enjoy the extra family time.
If you have any extra resources or would like to share your thoughts and ideas, please comment below! Stay safe!
References:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020a, March 15). Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Situation Summary. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/summary.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fsummary.html
Levine, D. (2020, March 11). How Does the Coronavirus Affect Children and Infants? Retrieved from: https://health.usnews.com/conditions/articles/how-does-the-coronavirus-affect-children-and-infants
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020b, March 15). Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): How it Spreads. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/transmission.html