Staying home with kids, figuring out how to entertain them and how to stay sane is a legit challenge. Especially when the number of days/weeks we’ll be doing this is unknown.
But staying home withOUT kids, just because you’re one of “the vulnerable,” feels like a twisted form of torture for the grandparents, aunties and neighbors who rely on those weekly visits with our young children.
So many of the caregivers in our community are in the ‘over 60’ club. And every week, the highlight of their day is spending time taking care of our kids. They thrive on that connection and, for many, it gives them purpose.
When I told my mom, who helps with the kids 2-3 times a week, that she probably should steer clear for a few weeks due to the coronavirus, she was gutted. There was lots of “Are you sure? None of you are sick. That doesn’t seem necessary.” I sent her a recommendation from the CDC and suggested calling her doctor.
The doctors response was essentially that a few weeks may not be enough. To that, she just had a big sad faced emoji.
So how do we stay knit together in social solidarity through this time of physical distancing?
Recess Collective’s mission is to harness the power of community to promote healthy development through education, childhood play & connection.
Almost overnight, it was recommended we shift away from our normal rhythms and practice social distancing. And because there isn’t a fix for the virus, and the implications for seniors could be fatal, the recommendation for staying home is not optional for a large segment of the population. In line with our mission and core values, we are mobilizing to do our part to take the edge off the sudden loneliness the older population is experiencing.
Isolation goes hand in hand with increased rates of depression and sends loneliness through the roof. Imagine being told, not only are you now considered vulnerable and need to shelter in place, but you must also avoid the grandchildren you take care of every week, your bridge group, your book club, etc.
You’re stripped away of the social networks you’ve worked to build and those that keep you ticking on a day-to-day basis. And you don’t have the know-how to connect using technology.
Togetherness eases anxiety, laughter releases stress, and connection helps us feel safe. Without a connected village, we panic. So now, more than ever, it’s crucial that we truly harness the power of community, especially for the most vulnerable.
Who needs support? We’re taking names!
Recess Collective’s team is organizing to check on neighbors, ready to deliver activity kits, go to the big box stores (throwing elbows if necessary) to pick up supplies, and help get people set up with technology to stay in touch (in a no-touch way) and maintain connections.
Do you have an old smart phone collecting dust? We can bring it to a senior and get them set up.
we are creating activity kits for the young and the old.
These will help parents of young kids stay sane. But one for a senior in your life to gift them a much needed fun diversion too. And what a great conversation piece to chat about later over FaceTime! Our goal is that these will be an awesome way to bridge the child- caregiver gap and keep the commitment to our mission while our doors are closed.
By building a small, connected village, we can lighten the load. That’s what we strive to do every day. Recess creates a space to come together.
By creating a prototype of truly supportive and multigenerational community center, our vision is that every community will have a Recess Collective space to come together, share resources and live playful, healthy lives.
