Parenting in a pandemic, so fun, amiright? Yeah. I get it. Here's the thing...even if you aren't working from home, it is really hard occupy children. all. day. long. Especially When you can't go anywhere or have playdates. Here are the websites we have been using, and that my kids actually LOVE! I can't guarantee you 8 hours of happiness, but if you get 20 minutes of solace here and there, then you can recharge and not feel so overworked. We are in this together mama! Feel free to reach out and chat any time. You can always find me on Instagram at @elenaduquebeauty. Hugs!
1. Beanstalk.co OK- This is my ultimate fave. Why? Well, it is free during COVID19, the classes are either live or on demand, and they are super easy but fun and entertaining.... the crafts aren't overboard or messy or complicated (all the things I loathe in a craft). My kids truly adore the instructors. They are super happy and "on" the whole time, unlike mommy who now, at week 5 (or 6? Who the eff knows), Is not as chipper as a Disney Princess. They have cute little science projects, story time, art, etc. Ages 1-10. Trust me this is a great one! BONUS- you will most likely have all the materials in your house to complete the projects on their website.
2. Varsity Tutors are offering FREE Live online classes and virtual summer camps. You enroll in your program of choice, and it's scheduled over the course of a few weeks, as if it were a class you would physically go and take. You can enroll in a class even if it started a couple of weeks ago. In addition they also offer academic courses, classes and testing. Classes are for all ages from K-12th grade. We are not using the academic portion but hey, who knows what the future holds? For now we are taking a weekly science class about liquids. It is a group zoom session, ONE hour long (praise be), and includes a lesson and a simple experiment. My 7 year old loves it and I love it too. Other classes we could have signed up for included creative writing, different types of Art, etc. These are very cool classes, I want to take one myself. Too bad I don't have all this free time during the quarantine I keep hearing about on Facebook!
3. CosmicKidsYoga.com We have used this website before our quarantine, but right now we need it more than ever. Jamie offers more than Yoga, she has beautiful little meditations, brain breaks, stories with meaning and purpose and more. I did the Trolls Yoga session and was out of breathe (and I exercise frequently!). You can choose by category, whether it be calm, focus, energy, or even bedtime. Also, you can filter your search by duration of the session. As we know it's hard to meditate or sit still for kids sometimes, that's why I love that we can do a quick 3 or 5 minute brain break to recharge ourselves. Check it out on Youtube!
4. imPoweredbyME.com Is a great program developed by two teachers in New York. With all that is going on, and our children being isolated, these two ladies, Carin and Carina, have the tools to help our children dig deep and express what they are going through. The focus is on Social Emotional Learning to help young learners become more self-aware, mindful, and strengthen their emotional intelligence. With an enchanting mix of empowerment techniques comprised of belief, trust, and pixie dust, children learn how to communicate more effectively and make responsible decisions to find continued success overcoming challenges in school and in life. One of the recent episodes we watched included making a gratitude jar! Check out their YouTube Channel here!
I hope you find at least one of these websites helpful during these stressful times. Please leave a comment and let me know how you're doing. Remember to take time for yourself, even if it's just 5 minutes. Be kind to yourself, forgive yourself, and know that this is only temporary. I also want you to think about what you can learn from this, and how you can be a better person. I believe that I am being taught how to have patience, be more present with my children, and slow down.
xo,
elena
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