Tips for keeping children busy while staying at home

Schools out… for the summer?

Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom said most schools will not return to class this spring due to the school closures associated with the coronavirus pandemic.

The closures have caused teachers and parents to quickly put together resources, schedules and plans to keep students on track with learning goals. In San Diego, the San Diego Unified School District announced a partnership with KPBS and the San Diego County Office of Education to continue to provide learning resources for its students. The partnership will include a TV broadcast and an online component.

The TV programming will air on KPBS 2 from 6 a.m.-6 p.m. The content will be aired according to grade levels (6-8 a.m., grades TK through 3; 8 a.m.-1 p.m., grades 4 through 8; 1-6 p.m., grades 9 through 12). The digital component will provide access to a library of free educational videos, lesson plans and training sessions. Schools are also continuing to provide food for students in need.

Having students and young children at home provides time to bond as a family, but it also means parents and caregivers are responsible for keeping everyone busy and engaged. Below are some resources to help better structure the time without it turning into a movie marathon day after day.

VIRTUAL TOURS

Consider taking a virtual tour. While you may not be able to physically go to a museum or theme park right now, some are offering virtual tours at https://bit.ly/2JbidYw. Try checking out of these national parks in California virtually: Death Valley, Channel Islands, Joshua Tree, Redwood, Sequoia, Yosemite.

The San Diego Zoo has a full webpage dedicated to children that include facts and videos about different animals, activities, and games. The Women’s Museum of California has digital exhibits available where students can learn about notable women of California, women in the military and more.

MOVIES AND SHOWS

Universal Pictures is releasing some of its movies early on digital platforms, including “Trolls World Tour,” which will be available Friday. Disney+ released “Frozen 2” earlier than planned on its streaming platform earlier this month.

In addition to movies, you can watch Broadway musicals,educational shows on Netflix, and live cameras from aquariums.

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

Some educational companies are offering free subscriptions during the school closures and Scholastic is releasing free courses daily through its “Learn from Home” website. The site offers projects for students related to reading, history and more. Its projects are divided by grade-level.

You can also take advantage of digital access to San Diego County libraries, which provides access to e-books and audiobooks.

ARTS

NASA is providing access to its digital images through this website. Paris museums have put images from their collections online. The Metropolitan Opera in New York is streaming live performances nightly.

Consider turning to Instagram accounts for arts and craft projects. These teachers and parents share ideas on making things and fun activities that can provide a break from a screen.

For a full list of resources, click https://bit.ly/2UcAWZP.

Lynn Walshis a freelance journalist and an Obecian. She works to promote trust between journalists and the public through the Trusting News projectand teaches at Point Loma Nazarene University. Originally from Ohio, Lynn has grown to love living at the beach and posts way too many San Diego sunset photos on Instagram.