If your child is starting Pre-K or Kindergarten this Fall, there may be a great deal of uncertainty about what that experience will actually look like.
Distance learning may not be an option for children this age, who learn best by having concrete experience with learning materials and toys, and face-to-face interaction with their teachers and other children. In-person learning may not be realistic either because young children often struggle with social distancing and mask-wearing.
Whether your child attends school this September or not, here are 5 ways to make them more comfortable with wearing a mask.
1. Explain in simple age-appropriate terms that we need to wear a mask to keep ourselves and others healthy. The face-covering keeps us safe from giving germs to others and from getting germs from them—no need to go into frightening detail about what happens if we do get sick.
2. Allow children to choose a mask to purchase, or to help make or decorate their mask. Their participation can help foster ownership and more of a willingness to wear a mask.
3. Have masks available for creative dramatics and imaginary play. Make a few smaller versions for their dolls and stuffed animals so they can be included in the action. Having their favorite “stuffy” masked helps to normalize face coverings. Toy Doctor’s kits and Superhero capes are great props to stimulate pretend play with masks.
4. Introduce the word “practice.” Suggest that they practice wearing their mask while watching a video or listening to a story.
5. Model “masking.” When they are practicing wearing a mask at home, you should too. Though it doesn’t always seem so, your example will always be the biggest influence.
And finally, know that if your child is attending school in-person, they will be more likely to follow their teacher’s instructions about mask-wearing when other children are doing so as well. Most kids want to be in-step with their peers and in this case, it will serve them well.
I am a parent and grandparent with over four decades of experience in early childhood education. I share my passion, wisdom and experience, with parents and the people who care for and about children at Little Folks Big Questions, where we're out to answer the questions parents face in today's world.
“Alexa, how do I go to a friend house and not germs?” My heart sank. My incredibly resilient, almost-four-year-old had had enough of sheltering in place. I had seen earlier signs of fatigue and didn’t realize it. A couple of weeks ago he had started inviting the entire cast of Paw Patrol over to the house to stay for dinner. Yes, he regularly engages in pretend play, but this was different. He made a big deal over opening the door to the house each time they “came over” and welcoming them in.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been hard on all of us, introverts and extroverts alike. As a people, we are accustomed to doing things when and how we want to do them. No more is this visible than at the preschool age where our children are developmentally just able enough to start grasping what’s going on, but not quite able to understand things on a meaningful level. For our particular preschooler, we broke things down into simple soundbites: there are bad germs in the air; we don’t want to get sick; everybody is staying home as much as they can, so we don’t mix with the bad germs. We can’t visit our friends and they can’t visit us. This worked for the first couple of weeks. The extroverted and socially dynamic child that he is, we found ourselves in a quandary. How do we keep him connected and safe at the same time? Through trial and error, we found some things that are working for us, as usual, your mileage may vary:
1. Arrange a Distance Picnic with Friends. Yes, you can picnic outside with your friends, it just takes a bit of creativity. Here’s where ingenuity is essential. Use your WI-FI connection to have virtual picnics across distances.
If you don’t have WI-FI, or if your friends are right next door another option is picnicking “across the fence.” Yet another is meeting at a place that’s big enough to allow all of you to be close, but separate. With restrictions easing up, this is now much more doable, and safer. Just please, use your common sense. You cannot take care of your child if you are sick.
2. Teleconferencing Is Not Just for Adults. We’ve had much success setting up one-on-one playdates between our child and his friends via videoconference. Essential for us has been limiting the number of children on the “call.” We’ve found that when there are two or three kids their participation is more natural and they each take turns. The higher the number of kids, the more chaos ensues.
3. Stay Connected in Different Ways. Have your child draw pictures for their friends and send them by mail. Do the same thing for family members that are not with them. Teach them about the value of sending notes, even if it’s a simple “Hi” that is crudely written, photographed, and texted across the ether. When reading a story with your child, ask them questions like: “Does this remind you of . . .?” “Wouldn’t your friend like this story too? Keep their friends present by referencing them in your daily interactions.
4. Get Outside and Distract—Take Long, Active Walks in Your Neighborhood. Going for a walk is a wonderful distraction that gets the blood pumping and provides healthy exercise for the whole family. However, I’m not advocating a simple, family walk. There are lots of different types of walks you can take to engage your child. Here are two examples:
A Sensory Hunt: Make a list of sensory activities that you can “discover” on your walk throughout the neighborhood. Is there a tree that can be climbed? Is there an airplane/helicopter that can be heard? Are there flowers that can be smelled? Are there rocks/grasses/bricks that can be touched? The possibilities for the list are endless. Have your child explain to you what sense is being used for each object. Not only does it get you outside of the house, but it also gets your mind, and the child’s mind engaged in critical thinking skills.
An Activity Scavenger Hunt: This activity is a hit with our energetic four-year-old and we owe it to his dedicated PE teacher! Make a list of objects to find on the scavenger hunt: a red car, a blue bicycle, etc…Then, make a list of activities you have to do for each object that is found: 5 jumping jacks, 4 knee bends, 3 squats, 4 tumbles, etc. When the object is found, you engage in the activity. You can also substitute Yoga poses for activities!
I have to be honest, after my son asked Alexa the question, I was hoping against hope that she would answer, taking us off the hook. Of course, she said, “I don’t know what you mean,” and we were left to our own devices. When his dark brown eyes looked towards me for a response, I said, “Honey, I want you to visit with your friends too. And, I promise that when we can do it and make sure everybody stays safe, we will.” Placated for the moment, he said “Okay,” and rushed to the door to announce that the Paw Patrol would be coming for dinner.
Father, children's book critic, writer, judge, director, actor and amature photographer—together with his husband of 25 years—raising an energetic four-year old! "Parent is not just a noun, it's a verb. If you're ever in doubt as to what to do, substitute the word caregiver. It will steer you in the right direction."
“What if you get sick? Why can’t I play with my friends? Will we have enough money to eat? What is a coronavirus? Mommy, I’m scared…”
These may be just some of the questions and comments you are hearing from your worried child during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a child psychologist and co-author of the new children’s book Shrinking the Worry Monster, I know that children are more anxious now than ever before. Our successful children’s book is the story of Worry Monster who tells children lies so they will worry, but he is finally is stopped by two brave kids who discover his secret.
But in the new reality of living with the coronavirus, what if some of the worries the kids hear from Worry Monster are true? Parents really could get sick. Kids aren’t seeing their friends. Kids have reasons to fear the virus. So can a book about a lying Worry Monster and the use of calming strategies still be helpful to children? Absolutely! In fact, worry-shrinking ideas are even more important to use now. The following research-based strategies are some of the best ways to reduce anxiety in your whole family.
Get Control of Your Own Anxiety
You wouldn’t be human if you weren’t anxious right now. But it is important for you to manage your own anxiety for the sake of both you and your children. Explore the topic online and you will find many good discussions on self-care, but you can also use the ideas described below for yourself. They really work!
Identify Your Child’s Worries
The goals here are to normalize your child’s worries and to acknowledge that some, but not all of their worries, could be real. Start by asking open-ended questions like the following:
What do you know about COVID-19?
How has your life changed because of the coronavirus?
Tell me about your feelings.
Many of us have worries about the virus right now, even Mom and Dad. Does it cause you any worry? If so, what are your worries?
Be very open and accepting of their answers. Remember that they are taking a risk in telling you their fears when they know you are already nervous. Don’t be surprised by any of their worries. Some will mirror yours and others will appear to have come out of nowhere and not make any sense to you. Treat each worry with respect.
Then take a sheet of paper and put a line down the middle. On the left side, you or your child write down the worries in a column. Then…
Divide the Worries into Very Realistic versus Less Realistic Worries
Now that you have a worry list, take each worry and talk about the probability of the worry really happening. Help your child rate each worry from one to five, with five being very likely. Put this number beside the worry. Next, have an open discussion about the worry by listening to your child’s viewpoint as well as offering your own calming suggestions. Then have your child re-rate the worry.
Let’s say the worry is “I won’t see my friends again.” Ask your child how likely that is and have them come up with an initial rating number. You might respond with a comment like “I bet we can think of ways to see your friends in a new way right now.”
You might talk about virtual meeting time with FaceTime or Zoom or seeing each other from a distance in a park. Encourage creative, yet safe ideas. Have your child re-rate the worry.
Don’t be surprised if the worry rating goes down after the discussion. Why? Because you have helped your child face the worry, talked about the low probability of the worry being completely true, and you have reassured your child that you will be there to keep her safe. You have become the source of facts, not fear.
Talk Back to the Worry
The next step can be very fun. In our book, we discuss talking back to Worry Monster who is trying to trick us with scary thoughts. Now it is your child’s turn to talk back to each worry. On the right side of your worry paper, have your child come up with responses to each worry. The goal is to reply to their exaggerated worry with a more measured, less reactive, and realistic response.
Here are some possible collective responses:
I can see my friends over a screen.
I will get to spend screen time with my grandparents who are teaching me to cook.
It is fun to be home with my family.
Most people aren’t going to get sick and most everyone who gets sick, will get better.
There are smart people in charge of this problem.
My parents and I already have a list of what fun things we are going to do together.
Worry Monster, go jump in a lake!
Take Additional Steps to Be Healthy
There are many suggestions in the media about how to keep your child healthy and engaged with activities. Consider exercise, new skills like cooking, crafts, or gardening, kid’s yoga, meditation, daily talks with grandparents, or a family reading challenge. The possibilities are endless. It is important that you stay on a schedule and make sure everyone gets enough sleep.
Learning to shrink the Worry Monster has never been so important. Because of the coronavirus, our collective anxiety is very high. By using these research-based tools to help your child (and yourself) manage the worries, you and your child can reduce your concerns and even have fun together practicing them. Now is absolutely the best time to start Shrinking the Worry Monster!
I am a child psychologist who specializes in children's anxiety. I just published a top seller children's book titled Shrinking the Worry Monster, A Kid's Guide for Saying Goodbye to Worries. I love sharing ideas about decreasing worry in children, especially now. I also love to hike and bike in beautiful Pacific NW.
We are in the thick of winter so we are craving more sunlight and warmer temps. For now, however, we’ll have to deal with the uninspired forecasts. In addition to the lackluster weather, we are in a constant battle to keep the cold and flu germs away. And if you have lost that battle, you are not alone my friend. I am here to admit that I recently had a house full of moderately ill little ones. In fact, I too fell ill. And it was horrendous. I was weak and barely dragging myself around while my kiddies had all the energy in the world. Literally, if it weren’t for their runny noses, you wouldn’t have been able to tell they were sick. But as a mama (or papa) you still have to go on. Life doesn’t stop just because you’re sick. So how did I make it through? I’ll share my simple tips:
1. Rest. This may seem obvious to some but there are those out there who will still try to do everything they usually do while they are sick. Listen, your body is trying to heal and repair itself. It’s ok to slow down a bit. You won’t be able to completely stop, especially if you have toddlers but you can at least modify what you would usually do. And speaking of toddlers, communicate with them that you aren’t feeling too well. I did just that with my four-year-old and it helped her to understand why mommy wasn’t as energetic as usual.
2. Get help. Whether it’s a family member, neighbor or friend, you may need some backup. My husband was able to stay home one of the days I was sick and it helped tremendously! Just having another adult in the house allowed me to let my guard down even more. I napped when the kids were up- something I obviously wouldn’t be able to do had he not been there. Getting help could also mean ordering out or having sandwiches for dinner. Again, don’t pressure yourself into your usual way of doing things.
3. Get some fresh air ASAP. Chances are that if you get sick, you’re going to be stuck in the house for a few days—not fun. So as soon as you start to feel a little better, get some fresh air. Even if it’s to just go on your front steps for a few moments—bundle up and enjoy some sun rays.
4. Remember that this too shall pass. When you’re in the thick of the battle, it can seem like it’ll last forever. But before you know it, you’ll be back on your feet like new. So don’t let yourself get down. Go through the process and allow yourself to properly heal.
I hope these simple tips help. They may not change the weather but they’ll keep you going when the cold and flu bug tries to stop you.
Hi Everyone. I’m Amber. I’m a wife and mom of 2 beautiful princesses. I was born a creative and I’m learning to find creativity in every area of my life. I’m a lover of all things beautiful but I’m also drawn to the broken because there’s always room for restoration.
My kids go to a school where there is no cafeteria, so we have to pack lunches. Every. Single. Day. And while my husband is in charge of school day breakfasts, I still have the task of overseeing school lunches. As someone who thinks about feeding families for a living you it would be expected that this wouldn’t bother me so much, but packing lunches is a job I find to be extremely tedious.
Last year, when they were in 2nd and 4th grades, I decided that it was time for the boys to start packing their own lunches. There were definitely days when it didn’t go as planned, days when I threw up my hands and just packed the lunches because otherwise the boys never would have left on time, but for much of the year, they successfully pulled their own lunches together every day. And it was awesome.
Now that we have done it for a year in my house, I wanted to share the lessons that I have learned and thoughts on what I will do differently this year.
#1. Be clear on expectations, then step back.
Before the school year started, we reviewed what makes up a healthy lunch: one main, one fruit, one vegetable, one optional extra, and water. Time after time, I would notice them referencing the sheet I posted on our pantry door as they made their choices. For the most part, they did a tremendous job sticking to the guidelines.
Part way through the year, though, I noticed an occasional reluctance to add a vegetable. I reminded, cajoled, and generally got pretty nag-y about it. Surprise, surprise I made no headway with that approach. So instead we talked about it. I learned that they had grown sick of many of their favorites because they had chosen them over and over again. So we decided that we would generate a list of vegetables they would be open to having in their lunches and would work to do a better job of rotating through them. We also agreed that the first choice was to include a vegetable, but that when there wasn’t a vegetable option that appealed to them, they could have two fruits instead.
This year I will work to have a variety of pre-approved vegetables on hand, so that they don’t go onto a food jag and get sick of a go-to, and will also be more flexible with the fruit.
#2. Pre-prep for easy grabbing.
At the beginning of the year I was gung-ho about pre-chopping veggie sticks and keeping the freezer stocked with quick main dish options such as muffins (to go with cheeses or another protein), English muffin pizzas, and baked chimichangas. As the year went on, though, I started to slip and the supplies weren’t as readily available. This meant that then there’d be a morning scramble to get lunches pulled together and I’d end up in the kitchen chopping up carrots, which then would somehow turn into my packing the whole lunch.
This year, I am going to be more disciplined about stocking up the fridge and freezer each weekend so that we don’t fall back into that pattern.
#3. Leftovers are key.
My eldest is not a big sandwich fan so for years, we have struggled to find good lunch box foods for him. Quesadillas are a staple, as are bread and cheese platters. But this past year we also started doing a lot more leftovers. Some he’d heat up and put in a thermos and others he’d happily eat at room temperature.
This year, I will work to take advantage of this further. I plan to double recipes that I know he’ll want leftovers of when I cook dinner so that there is enough for lunch the next day.
#4. Teach them about leaks.
After a few leakage incidents involving yogurt, I had to make sure to teach my youngest which containers could hold liquids and which might leak. After that, the lunch boxes came home much cleaner, but despite our best efforts there were some further leaking incidents and I am still traumatized by the disgusting mess that was his lunch box.
So this year I am planning on stocking up on more leak-proof containers.
On top of the excitement and gratification I felt when I saw them packing their own lunches, there were two other unexpected benefits that I observed that I think are important to highlight. 1). The lunches came back more completely eaten. I think this was because they felt more ownership (and excitement) about what was in their lunches and because they know their stomachs better and actually packed less than I did. 2). By packing their lunches and repeatedly referring to our healthy lunch cheat sheet, they learned more about eating a balanced meal.
I’m not going to lie, by setting up our lunch packing system like this does not mean I am not completely free of the burden of school lunches. At times it can still feel like a lot of think about. But the benefits are real. They are becoming increasingly independent when it comes to lunch packing, they are learning lessons about healthy eating, and my mornings are a little less miserable. And that makes it 100% worth it.
Jessica Braider is a mother of two playful boys. As the CEO of The Scramble, an online meal planning service committed to helping busy families get easy, and delicious meals on the table, she fulfills her passion for food and her love for working with parents to build happy families.
Top parent level is achieved when your sick kid is ONLY able to sleep in a position that means all sneezes and coughs go directly into your eyeball and you take it knowing full well you will be knocked down by illness very soon.
Sick kid waking up: Achy. Sluggish. Can’t get out of bed. Sick kid 20 minutes after taking ibuprofen: Is competing in cross-country skiing in Pyeongchang
Now you can finally introduce your kiddo to your fave friends from The Office—and no, we don’t mean your co-workers.
Author and illustrator Mark Cloud did something we all should thank him for. The self-publisher created a children’s book called Fun at The Office! The book, like the title implies, features some of your fave moments from the series.
Cloud, who is also a Government Relations Manager, is a mega-fan of the show. On the book’s website he writes, “I’ve watched the full series a number of times, and honestly, I don’t believe I’ll ever get sick of it.” Cloud adds, “There are very few shows in the history of television that make people feel the way they do about The Office.”
So what can you expect from Fun at The Office!? The G-rated humor in the book was created for children and their grown-ups too. You’ll find memorable scenes from the show, such as Jim’s epic stapler-in-the-Jello prank.
The book, which is in its second printing, is currently available for pre-order ($17.95 plus shipping) at chachabacha.com.
You made it––another week in the books! Whether you had an easy week getting everyone back to school after Spring Break or you barely made it through by the skin of your teeth, why not reward yourself with a batch of funny tweets? Keep reading for our roundup of the funniest things parents had to say on Twitter this week.
1. Just prepping for a summer of “look at me!”
Don’t know about y’all but I’m pretty jacked to watch my kids do some shallow end handstands this summer.
Do you have any idea what it’s like to get three kids dressed, fed, and out the door on time for school?
Me either.
— MomTransparenting (@momtransparent1) April 9, 2019
6. WHY!?
Every year I spend the whole morning getting my kids’ hair perfect for picture day, and then I get the proofs back and they look like they were dragged through the mud and electrocuted in the 10 minutes they were at school.
It was around the time my 7yo son told me he was taking a fork to the bathroom to clean his nails that I realized maybe my parenting style isn’t for everyone
Oh, you lost, your tooth? With only five minutes before bedtime? The tooth fairy must be thrilled. Absolutely thrilled. I’m sure she didn’t have anything else to do tonight. This is just so, so great.
For many parents, all they want for Christmas is the gift of health. Or to put it another way, parents are trying to find ways to prevent their family from getting the cold or flu over the holidays. That really would make it ‘the most wonderful time of the year, wouldn’t it?
After all, who wants to spend the holidays in a doctor’s office? For example, did you know that the clipboard pen at a doctor’s office has 46,000 more germs than the inside of a toilet bowl? Not only that, but according to a 2017 survey by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, waiting room surfaces aren’t cleaned 94.2 percent of the time. Do you really want to take a 6.8 percent chance with your health?
If you’re a parent and you want to protect your family from the cold and flu, going to a doctor’s office is the last place you want to go. Even though it might sound counter-intuitive, you run the risk of exposing your children and those with compromised immune systems to more germs and making mild cold symptoms go from from bad to worse.
So as a doctor treating thousands of patients during cold and flu season: what’s my advice? Don’t fret—there is a solution to the threat of the waiting room.
Avoid the waiting room (if you can).
Given all the germs lurking in the furniture, toys and doorknobs of the doctor’s waiting room, the best option for germ prevention this cold and flu season is to avoid the waiting room. Instead, opt for a virtual care visit with a telemedicine provider. Within five minutes, you and your children can be seen by a board-certified physician without even having to leave the comfort of your own home.
Wash your hands and sanitize often.
When it comes to washing your hands, you can never have too much of a good thing. Whether it’s in a waiting room, or at any time when you or your child are sick, it’s a best practice to wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after sneezing, touching your face, or after touching surfaces in communal areas like playgrounds. Parents should also be sure to sanitize their hands after holding their child to prevent the spread of germs from skin on skin contact.
What to do if you STILL get sick?
So let’s say that even after you take all of the proper precautions to keep your kids and your family healthy, you still get sick. What can you do to prevent your family from getting even sicker?
Wear a mask.
It might sound like overkill, but wearing a surgical mask can help prevent the spread of germs, especially when you’re surrounded by other patients who are contagious. If you have to visit a doctor’s office, I recommend bringing your own mask or asking for a mask at the reception desk to help cover your mouth and nose. Without it, it’s easy to inhale the germ droplets around you from other people’s coughs and sneezes.
Keep your kids off the floor.
Even with regular vacuuming and spot cleaning, commercial carpeting in healthcare settings can easily trap allergens, dust, and even germs from the staff, patients, and visitors. If your medical reception area contains carpeting, rugs, or floor mats, be sure that your children are waiting on the chairs or in their stroller versus sitting on the floor with their toys to avoid the germs trapped in the carpet.
Bring your own reading material and toys.
Hard surfaces like tables and chairs in the waiting room are usually wiped down on a regular basis but the magazines, books and toys on those tables tend to be lifted up and not wiped down in the cleaning process. To avoid the dog-eared magazine pages and used toys, we suggest bringing your own reading material and toys for your children to help make the wait go by faster.
This year, the healthcare industry has seen 36,000 people die and more than 200,000 people hospitalized because of the flu. But preventing the cold and flu is totally manageable. Remember that it’s best to avoid waiting rooms, sanitize your hands and surfaces you come into contact with regularly, wear a mask if you can, and avoid touching surfaces and items in communal areas. Thankfully with the advent of health technology and the ability to see your family from home through a virtual care visit, you don’t have to risk picking up germs in the waiting room, and you’re empowered to take your health in your hands.
My name is Dr. Tony Yuan and I am a physician at Doctor On Demand, the nation’s leading virtual care provider. Over the course of my career, I've treated tens of thousands of patients as an emergency physician and have been practicing emergency medicine in California for over 17 years.
January through March marks peak season for respiratory syncytial virus—known more commonly as RSV. So what is RSV? While this virus may seem like the common cold, it isn’t. Back in October 2018, celeb parents Nick and Vanessa Lachey shared their own harrowing experience when their newborn preemie son Phoenix contracted RSV shortly after he was born and had to be hospitalized.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention want to make sure parents understand the signs and symptoms of this potentially dangerous illness as RSVP season ramps up. Read on for the scoop.
RSV is a very common virus that tends to peak in early winter each year. Anyone—including adults and babies—can get the virus. However, it doesn’t always affect everyone in the same way.
A healthy older child, teen or adult may have mild cold-like symptoms. But an infant, the elderly or anyone who has a compromised immune system may experience more serious symptoms. According to the CDC, 57,000 children under five-years-old are hospitalized annually with RSV infections.
Children under one year may develop bronchiolitis (an inflammation of the lungs’ small airways) or even pneumonia. This isn’t to say that RSV will progress into these often-severe illnesses in every infant. But kiddos under age one are more at risk.
Is There an RSV Vaccine?
Vaccination is an easy way to prevent your child from getting any number of dangerous diseases. Unfortunately, there is no vaccine for RSV currently. But you can take steps to protect your child. The CDC recommends washing your hands often—and your child’s too. Also, skip the playdates with kids who might be sick and teach your kids not to touch their face as it spreads germs. For grownups, make sure you disinfect surfaces often.
Another important pro-tip: if you or your child get sick, stay home. This helps your child’s teachers, friends at school, neighbors, the bagger at the grocery store, the attendant at the indoor play-space and everyone else stay healthy.
How Do I Know if My Kid Has RSV?
RSV typically presents with mild cold-like symptoms. These can include:
Runny, stuffy nose
Fever
Wheezing
Coughing and sneezing
Fatigue
Decreased appetite
Your child may have a few or all of the symptoms, but typically not all at the same time. Infants and young children may also seem irritable or particularly fussy.
When Should We See a Doctor?
The best answer: when in doubt, see your healthcare professional, whether you think it’s a cold, RSV or even the flu. There’s really no substitute for qualified medical advice. (Read: Call your actually doc instead of paging Dr. Google.)
If your child is lethargic, wheezing, has a fever, has trouble breathing, won’t eat or drink or just doesn’t seem right, always call your pediatrician immediately.
