{"id":7089,"date":"2020-03-23T08:00:24","date_gmt":"2020-03-23T13:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/intersections\/?p=7089"},"modified":"2020-04-14T11:39:29","modified_gmt":"2020-04-14T16:39:29","slug":"working-and-caring-for-kids-while-social-distancing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/intersections\/2020\/03\/23\/working-and-caring-for-kids-while-social-distancing\/","title":{"rendered":"Working and Caring for Kids While Social Distancing"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Source: Pixabay<\/a><\/p>\n

Over the past few weeks, COVID-19 and calls for social distancing have rapidly changed the way we work. Many of us have gone from commuting to a busy office or campus every morning, to rolling out of bed and telecommuting in our pajamas. Your home might even feel crowded as you attempt to make space for your work life and your children\u2019s education. To help with this transition, The Family Care Office has compiled a list of resources for parents who are adapting to working and studying from home while also caring for their children.<\/p>\n

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES<\/strong><\/p>\n

With most schools being closed for the next few weeks, many parents are worried about their kids missing out on class. But just because your kids aren\u2019t in school doesn\u2019t mean the learning has to stop! The CBC has lifted their subscription to make Curio.ca<\/a>, an education resource for teachers, available for families in both English and French. Premier Doug Ford has also launched the first phase of the Learn at Home<\/a> portal, which offers a number of resources for elementary and secondary students to practice math and literacy skills. The portal also offers guides for parents who may be struggling to teach these subjects to their children at home. In addition to these resources, it is important to remember that one of the simplest ways to facilitate effective learning at home is to stick to a routine. While your own schedule will be unique to suit your family\u2019s needs, CBC Parents offers a great example<\/a> for setting realistic schedules for kids while spending long stretches of time indoors.<\/p>\n

This may also be a good time to talk to your kids about the current global health crisis. Explaining the COVID-19 outbreak to your children can be difficult, but U of T\u2019s Rachel Mitchell and Gili Adler Nevo say that talking about it honestly and calmly can foster resilience in children. You can find more of their tips on how to talk about the pandemic to children here<\/a>. It may also be helpful to remind your kids what they can do to keep themselves and others healthy and safe during this time, such as hanging up this colourful handwashing poster<\/a> in your bathroom. For older kids, CBC Kids News<\/a> is a great way to keep kids engaged as well as teach them about what\u2019s going on in the world in a safe and trustworthy environment. For instance, they have a great series of short, informative, and accessible videos explaining the importance of social distancing<\/a> and flattening the curve<\/a> in the wake of COVID-19. Not only is this educational, but it can be comforting for children to understand why the precautions we are taking are necessary.<\/p>\n

For student families that are struggling financially in the midst of this global pandemic, make sure to check if you qualify for U of T\u2019s emergency grant<\/a> for students affected by COVID-19.<\/p>\n

HOW TO KEEP YOUR KIDS BUSY WHILE SOCIAL DISTANCING<\/strong><\/p>\n

As most parents know, one of the worst things a kid can be is bored. Luckily, there are lots of online resources available to help you combat cabin fever over the next few weeks!<\/p>\n