Keeping the Kids Entertained and Educated!

This is a stressful time for all of us….and now we’re dealing with the added pressure of keeping the kids entertained - and let’s not forget about the pressure of keeping them EDUCATED! 

GUEST POST BY: Sonia Lagiglia

We’re all looking for ways to incorporate some type of homeschooling, and your approach will vary based on age and requirements, but here are some recommended guidelines for how much time you should have the kids in “school”: 

Elementary school-aged children need 1-2 hours of school per day

Middle school-aged kids need about 2-3 hours per day

High school-aged kids need about  3-4 hours per day

In addition to traditional textbook learning and school projects, here are some additional things we’re doing in our house to keep those young minds growing and active:

As much as I love to follow a schedule and routine, during this crisis I’ve taken that stress away from them and me. I let my kids sleep in because it’s good for their immune system and their brains - no rush to get dressed. We talk about what they want to work on and we let them be part of the planning for the day. We spend at least 1-hour reading, doing chores or cooking something together. A lot of math can be done in the kitchen, and it’s a great opportunity to develop some life skills! In addition to our learning plans, our day generally includes at least an hour of outside time - again, the sun and fresh air is good for the immune system. 

Here are some of the other things we love doing with the kids to sharpen their minds and encourage creativity:

Kids Messenger is an app that most of their friends are using to stay connected with each other. It’s similar to FaceTime and Messenger except you are the only one that can add and approve friend requests. As the parent, you’re also able to see all text conversations and shared videos.

GoNoodle.com is a great website for mindfulness and a variety of physical activities. Kids love it and there’s lots of free content!

Typingclub.com is a really good learn to type program for kids.

Directive Drawing - my kids love going on youtube typing in ‘How to draw…….’ and they follow step by step instructions to draw their favorite characters, animal, place etc….

Coquitlam Public Library - they are currently offering free online picture books, craft tutorials, TV shows and more for young kids and families. Resources can be found on their website www.coqlibrary.ca/the-library-from-home 

Parents vs. Kids challenges - we each write down as many challenges that we can think of (anything from physical challenges such as pushups, brain teasers, trivia, spelling, how many marshmallows can you fit in your mouth etc..) the winning team will get to pick the movie we watch for the evening and losing team has to make the popcorn. There are so many ways you can change this up, be creative!

K-12 Educational Resources - this is a great Facebook group created by a teacher. It is a great platform for parents and teachers to share not only resources but virtual field trips, art projects, family fun etc. And don’t worry if you have a child currently enrolled in French Emersion, this platform also has many French resources for all grade levels.