AttendING to
Mental Health
Encourage family members to learn
Getting their eLearning done is important.
Even the assignments that aren’t graded will keep kids’ minds actively engaged in academic material.
Both the electronic and paper assignments will maintain momentum in different subjects.
Supplement school-issued materials with other opportunities to learn about topics kids and your family find interesting and engaging.
Dig through your home library.
Access digital resources through your local library system.
Explore online resources - ebooks, videos, museum tours, etc.
Use screen time to expand the mind - watch videos like Planet Earth, National Geographic, documentaries; check your streaming services for biographies and based-on-true-story movies.
Connect books you read with videos on similar topics.
Use online tutorials to learn new skills or hobbies.
Encourage family members to be creative
Inside or out, allow children to use a variety of materials to create works of art or functional objects, to express their experiences and emotions, and to simply have something to do to keep busy.
Use online resources to expand your craft repertoire.
Encourage use of disposable materials to build and create. Allow kids to use old cereal boxes to make homes for action figures, build milk carton bird feeders (do kids still do this??), use toilet paper rolls for stackable Nerf target-practice.
Convert the basement into a play zone: hang sheets from the ceiling and move small furniture to create your own laser tag or Nerf battle field. Using what you have on-hand is a great lesson in resourcefulness!
Make your own play dough or clay and create works of art or expressions of emotion.
Encourage family members to problem-solve
Include kids when making decision about what to do or how to maneuver certain aspects of life right now.
For working through conflict at home, check out a collaborative problem-solving approach that involves kids in identifying the problem and solutions!
Provide non-school-issued stimulating activities to engage kids:
Jigsaw puzzles, puzzle books, board games, scavenger hunts (there are TONS of online resources related to these).
Have kids create some activities for each other or for you!