Resources from Our OST Community to Help Parents During the COVID-19 Outbreak

March 19, 2020

During the uncertain days of social distancing ahead, families may find it challenging to offer learning and social opportunities for their children. Here are some ideas from our own out-of-school-time (OST) toolbox along with some additional resources that may help alleviate some of the stress.

General Tips

All youth benefit from the structure of a routine. Create one that works for the family; allow time for physical breaks, quiet time, reading, life-skill learning such as folding laundry and making beds, and family fun. Set clear expectations, provide choices, and don’t forget adult self-care.  Allow for flexibility in schedule, expectations, and choices that are age-appropriate and select activities that engage youth to ask questions, reflect, and provide opportunities for new experiences, even if they are virtual. Once your school offers online learning, revisit your schedule to ensure a balance of online and offline activities.

If you want some ideas for explaining the Coronavirus (COVID-19) to children, see “How to talk to Kids About Coronavirus,” by Kamilah Drummond-Forrester, Director of Open Circle, a social-emotional learning and professional development program at the Wellesley Centers for Women at Wellesley College.

Technology Support

Technology provides plenty of options for virtual connections through email, text messaging and apps such as FaceTime, Google Hangouts,  and Zoom. Many school districts are loaning devices to families in need. Need Internet? Here are two options:

• Comcast Internet Essentials: “Effective Monday, March 16, 2020, Comcast is offering 2 months free to new Internet Essentials customers in response to recent and anticipated emergency measures associated with the Coronavirus (COVID-19).”

• Charter Spectrum Broadband: “Charter will offer free Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi access for 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students who do not already have a Spectrum broadband subscription and at any service level up to 100 Mbps. To enroll, call 1-844-488-8395. Installation fees will be waived for new student households.”

Educational Ideas 

Many organizations are providing free educational content and learning opportunities daily.

• Scholastic has curated a free digital learning hub designed to support virtual learning plans: Scholastic Learn At Home allows open access to daily learning journeys divided into four grade spans: Pre-K–K, Grades 1–2, Grades 3–5, and Grades 6–9+, covering ELA, STEM, Science, Social Studies, and Social-Emotional Learning.
• Khan Academy remains a key site for online K-12 educational materials on a wide variety of subjects, along with tools for parents and teachers to help them better understand what their children or students are up to and how best to help them.
• PBS Kids Daily sends tips and activities each day to help kids learn or download PBS Kids Video for on-demand educational video and PBS Kids Games to access over 200 educational games.
• Math Games offers free games by grade level or math skill. Downloadable worksheets are also available.
• For the budding scientists, Club SciKidz posts do-at-home science experiments daily. 
• Mango Math is posting free math activities at 10 a.m. PT on their  social media channels.
• Kids Activities has created a list of education companies offering free subscriptions during school closing as well as activities families can do at home. Check local museums and learning organizations websites for additional offerings.
• You can virtually tour museums around the world via Google Arts & Culture.
• Museums around the world are offering beautiful, educational, and free coloring pages at Color Our Collections.
• The New England Aquarium is offering virtual tours on their website and daily presentations at 11 a.m. ET.
• Listen to Story Time from Space, a project of the Global Space Education Foundation, in which actual astronauts videotape themselves in space reading a variety of children's books. They also offer several videos on space-related science topics.
• NIOST's new, free, and downloadable "Coaching for Quality in Out-of-School Time: A How To Guide,” while intended for OST professionals, may also be useful for at-home parents supporting their children's learning. Learn how to tailor your approaches and strategies in order to have the biggest impact.

Staying Active

• BOKS (Build Our Kids’ Success) is sharing many games and activities to keep kids active and happy during this time. They will be hosting at-home BOKS classes through Facebook Live, each weekday at 12 pm EST. Recordings will then be listed on their website. They have also compiled free, downloadable activity packs with a variety of physical activities that can be done at home with just one or a few kids and minimal equipment. 
• Choosy Kids is offering free access through March to their entire digital library of music and movement videos for kids.
• The National Recreation and Park Association has some useful tips on the safe use of parks and open spaces during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Be safe, stay healthy, and make the best of your time together.

References are provided for information purposes only. Mention here does not constitute or imply an endorsement by NIOST or Wellesley College.