Hello sweet community,
What a strange time we are in. First and foremost, I hope this message finds you hanging in there. Because, we're all doing some really hard juggling and working to navigate this new, sloppy normal. The scale of this crisis, the scope of what it means for our families, our children, our health and our jobs is incomprehensible. We're adjusting the best we can, grieving how our lives were, and trying to being open to what is coming next.
Recess may need to look different after this is all over, but there is no question that we will need the opportunity to connect more than ever.
Whether you're parenting young children now, are a partner of ours, or a Recess Alum, you likely recognize the importance of Recess for future families. If you can, please support us. You can join our High 5 campaign, grab an activity kit, join an upcoming workshop or spread the word that Recess is in need of support. We are working feverishly behind the scenes to secure government funding to cover overhead and take care of our staff. But with all of the uncertainty, we're needing to pull together as a community to ensure that we have spaces to gather and support healthy development for all families once it is safe to do so.
If 100% of you participate and help us out with just $5, we'll make it. But it really is going to take a village to keep our little village afloat. To our current members who are sticking with us through this challenging time: THANK YOU. We're going to have an amazing party when this is all over. Get ready :)
Sending so much respect and gratitude to those who are risking their lives to help us stay quarantined ... not only the doctors, technicians, nurses and hospital support staff on the front lines, but also the retail workers, delivery drivers and multitude of municipal workers.
I don't know about you, but the inability to connect in person is really rocking me to the core of my being. Even my completely introverted self misses the face-to-face interactions. Getting to see that I'm not alone, getting to feel the community, and having the experience of providing a space for kids and caregivers to connect who wouldn't otherwise cross paths.
Zoom surprisingly offers some really nice connection during shelter in place. Just seeing other people's faces and getting to share experiences has been an unexpected treat. This month, we have a selection of really great workshops offered online. They are designed to provide some support for you during this time.
- Intro to Mindfulness for Parents and teachers - cultivating calm, clarity and compassion
- Estate Planning Fundamentals for Parents
- Infant Sleep Solutions
- Saturday Support
I especially want to call your attention to the "Introduction to Mindfulness for Parents" workshop that starts Monday. It's being offered for free to folks on the frontline and their partners. If you're looking for tools to quiet the inner chaos and find the calm, please join us. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
During this crisis we are committed to continuing to share resources and information that will hopefully help us get through it together. Read on for some kids activities and diversions as you make it through this trying time. We miss you all so much.
Recess was founded on the fact that community is essential. Now more than ever that is true. Thank you all for being here.
Much love,
Lisa & the Recess Collective Team
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Supporting our kids
some great resources we're using
Activity Kits from Recess. This week, we have a few more easter kits getting prepped to go out. Grab yours, or a Toy Bundle while they last. Next week, we'll have some spring themed kits. Contactless delivery for all.
Our favorite music, art & story time activities:
7am - Laurie Berkner Musictime
8:30 a.m. (Tues. and Thurs.) -- Drawing with Toddlers, a short drawing lesson from E. B. Goodale (Under the Lilacs) (Instagram Live @ebgoodale)
10:00 a.m. (Mon.-Fri.) -- Drawing lessons with Wendy Macnaughton (NYT bestselling illustrator) (Instagram Live @wendymac)
11:00 a.m. (Mon.-Fri.) -- Stay at Home Story Time, a ~20 min. picture book read-aloud with Oliver Jeffers (Lost and Found author) (Instagram Live @oliverjeffers, uploaded to YouTube after)
a few more
Daily—Live learning events from various Smithsonian experts including meditation, sci-fi talks, and art lectures. (Smithsonian)
DIY STEM lessons from the Exploratorium in San Francisco
YouTube Kids has a playlist of videos for families with preschoolers. It's much easier than searching!
Check out Red Tricycle's listings for additional updated listings.
If you're attempting home school of any kind, you'll want to take a look at this phenomenal resource for families from Wide Open School. It's a new, free platform with resources for families & educators arranged in grade-level blocks with online content & offline resources covering academic subjects, emotional well-being, exercise, life skills, special needs & more.
Are there other resources you've been enjoying? Please drop us a line!
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Community Support
After every storm comes a rainbow
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Give us Five!
When this storm is over, we'll need Recess as a place for connection and healthy child development more than we ever though possible.
To ensure Recess is here for us when this crisis is over, please give 5! Either share with 5 friends or give $5 as a one time gift via venmo, or hop over to Donorbox and choose a $5+ regular donation. Either way, every penny will go toward keeping our mission alive. Set up a recurring donation.
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YOU are doing some insanely hard things right now. Those kids keep growing and will benefit from your ability to connect with them, bring calm and perspective, and stay healthy. Join us for support and an opportunity to connect virtually with other families. Remember, we're all in this together.
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April online classes
- Introduction to Mindfulness for Parents 5-week class begins (pay what you can) 4/13
- Infant Sleep (0-12mo) - online 4/18
- Emotionally Intelligent Discipline - online 4/21
- Estate Planning Fundamentals for Parents- online 4/24
SATURDAYS:
- 10am Expecting Parent Groups
- 11am Not-so-new Parent Groups (ages 0-3yrs)
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Private offerings
* Breastfeeding support
* Newborn Care
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Activity Kits and Toy Bundles
are available for contactless delivery
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How to Wash Your Hands—and Other Gentle Lessons from TV Friends.
In stressful times, calming messages are the best medicine for preschoolers. The disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic can be especially confusing and scary to little ones. In these times, beloved characters from well-crafted TV shows can provide the reassurance, the skills, and even the vocabulary for kids to make sense of their new reality. The episodes linked below—all from shows vetted by child development experts—offer simple, age-appropriate explanations that provide gentle-but-factual info from TV friends kids love and trust. Whether your kids are at home or school these days, you can use these resources to help start conversations about how to stay safe, minimize anxiety, and even have a little fun in the process.
Yo Gabba Gabba, ages 3+
A magical DJ and his life-size puppet friends teach preschool lessons through song. This colorful psychedelic series is high-energy and full of celebrity cameos. Watch the episode "Clean," where DJ Lance Rock and the gang learn about germs, how to stay clean, and the best way to cover your mouth when you cough.
Ask the Storybots, 3+, Netflix. Families love this science-based series where real-life kids ask the animated Storybots questions about how things work.
Watch "How Do People Catch a Cold?" (Season 2 Episode 8), to hear the bots answer questions about how viruses travel, helped out by guest star Wanda Sykes.
Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, 3+, PBS Kids. This gently paced preschool show stars a little tiger who learns new lessons every day, helped by his kind family and community.
Watch: "Daniel Gets a Cold/Mom Tiger Is Sick." Daniel learns the importance of rest when people are trying to recover from an illness. Kids also get glimpses of real-life kids resting when they don't feel good.
- "Daniel Gets Frustrated." Lots of kids might be feeling frustrated about changes in routine due to the coronavirus. This episode shares Daniel's experience with frustration and how he deals with it.
- "Germs Germs Go Away." A fun video with a catchy tune about handwashing.
Doc McStuffins, 4+, Disney Junior/Hulu/Disney+
Kids love to watch Doc (who wants to become a pediatrician like her mom when she grows up) help her toy friends learn about staying healthy and happy.
Watch "A Day Without Cuddles" where stuffed-animal friend Lambie has a sneezing fit on International Cuddle Day and must be washed before she can be cuddled again.
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