Staying Home: The Big List of Stuff We are Doing

Like many other families, we are practicing social distancing, because we can. This is our opportunity to help others by actively staying away.

Let’s be real, though. We are doing some of the things below because they are bringing us a bit of joy, a bit of distraction, a bit of hope. We’re also watching a lot of TV and playing a lot of video games.

I feel guilty for feeling sad at all when we have so much to be thankful for: family time, food on the table, access to green space, and group texts and zoom chats to say WTF over and over again. We know the worst is coming for our medical heroes and victims of this virus. And we don’t know what’s next, after that.

Sometimes, this whole thing feels terrible. But even this feeling is shifting into something else.

So while we’re all here, together, here are some things we’re doing to get through this time…

Author Readings + Activities

Learn Anywhere is a resource of author readings and fun accompanying exercises. My 7-year-old watches the reading, takes notes, and adds pictures. Sometimes we do the follow-up exercise together.

Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum is a PBS KIDS series based on the Ordinary People Change the World books by Brad Meltzer and Christopher Eliopoulos.

The Arts, Music + Dance

Museums offering virtual tours
Met Opera’s livestreams
The Get Down, a free dance party
New Victory arts break: percussion week

Writing Prompts + Creative Storytelling

This Writer’s Life YouTube channel
Author & Illustrator Jarrett J. Krosoczka’s YouTube channel
Writing prompts from the New York Times (ages 13+)
Creating picture books with Debbie Ridpath Ohi
Finish this comic! with Jarrett Lerner
Story Pirates University

Podcasts

Audio Books

Audible is great but a bit expensive if you’re not a regular user. We use Libby to download audiobooks with our public library card (after a few days the titles expire). Some of our favorites include: Matilda, The Mixed Up Files, and Weird Little Robots.

Making

Issue #4 is on its way after a long hiatus. We also started playing around with zines.

Best app for learning a foreign language with kids - DuoLingo

Foreign Language Learning, Gamified

We can’t travel now but we can plan for future travel. My 8-year-old and I downloaded Duolingo and are practicing every day when we remember. Sophie is even keeping a notebook of phrases of vocabulary.