We’re all adjusting to this new normal and figuring out new ways of doing things. New ways to connect, new ways to multitask, and new ways to celebrate.

Keeping with our mission to support the healthy development of families through play, community and parent support, we’ve compiled some resources that may come in handy during this unprecedented time. .

PARTY IN PLACE

Are you gearing up to celebrate a birthday? Here are some ideas to make it special (& support local Sunset businesses!) even though you can’t gather with family and friends.

• grab some sweet treats from Butter Love Bakeshop

• order a book box from Black Bird Books

• get a curated toy kit from Recess or let us know if you’d like to rent banners or decor!

• gather loved ones to sing Happy Birthday on a zoom call

• order a Pizza from The Pizza Place on Noriega

• call Boavida for adult snacks and beverages

This will be one to remember. Enjoy!

PLAY IN PLACE

Play is critical to our physical and emotional well-being at any age. In stressful times, play can bring comfort and relieve anxiety. It helps us decompress and stay positive.

• Cardboard boxes can become anything! A blank canvas, a hiding place for a stuffed animal, a doll house, basketball receptacle… anything And if you have a few, tape them together for even more possibilities.

• Chalk fabulous because it is an outside activity, so you get a little fresh air, and it keeps the mess outside. During the COVID pandemic, this is so popular that chalk can be hard to find. An alternative is to make it yourself. There are several recipes out there that take anywhere from a few minutes to a few days. If you need an activity ASAP, check out this recipe for chalk paint.

• Water. If it’s warm enough outside, do this. If not, pop the kids in the bath tub. Water is a wonderful and engaging activity for kids as long as you’re able to supervise. Painting with water, spraying water from a small spray bottle, and “washing” play objects will captivate kids of any age for a surprisingly long time.

• Contact Paper. Tape a piece of contact paper, sticky side out, to a wall or table. You can treat this as an ongoing sensory activity (we just have ours up in the living room, and both kids come and go from it), or use the contact paper as an art project (create a suncatcher, with tissue paper, leaves, flower petals, etc).

SUPPORT IN PLACE

• FREE Baby/Toddler Sleep Support Group, ZOOM: Weekly Thursday's 10-10:30am PT and ongoing, sign up: jocelyn@angeliquemillette.com 

• Simple Parent Strategies for Limit Setting (2-4 yr olds) During Stressful Times, w Dr. Juli Fraga and Dr. Angelique Millette, $15 ZOOM Webinar Support Group for parents- Wednesday's 1:30-2pm PT and ongoing, register here 

• FREE 'ask an expert' Q&As for parents https://inceptive.org/coronavirus

• free webinars about COVID-19 and pregnancy care, sleep and stress during pregnancy, labor and parenthood https://whrcportal.ucsf.edu/whrcmember/WebinarList.aspx

•  Free childbirth classes through Evidence Based Birth during COVID19: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/birthing-in-the-time-of-covid-19/

KIDS IN PLACE

Resources for Talking to Kids about COVID-19

• https://avivaromm.com/covid19-talking-to-kids/

• Dr Laura Markham on Talking with Kids about Corona Virus

  https://www.mindheart.co/descargables  (Printable E-book in multiple languages)

• But Why? Kids podcast episode about Corona Virus

• “Social Distancing: This is Not a Snow Day” from Medium.com

• “How to Talk to Kids About Coronavirus” from the New York Times

• “How we can help kids increase their sense of control as the coronavirus approaches” from the Washington Post

• “Just For Kids: A Comic Exploring The New Coronavirus” from NPR

• “Coronavirus, Wildfires, Oh My: What to Say to a Child Who’s Scared By the News” from Fatherly.com

• Coping for Parents & Kids during COVID-19- child mind institute