Phone a Friend

It’s important we do what we can to limit the effects of social isolation.

For seniors, the new parents in our community and those who live alone.

Obviously social isolation is crucial to slowing the spread of the virus. It’s something we know we need to do at this time. AND research shows a consistent relationship between social isolation and depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation.

So let’s take this opportunity to check in on our neighbors (by phone/text/etc), share photos with relatives, or even help grandma and grandpa learn FaceTime.

Maybe this pandemic will help is all rethink how we move through our lives and re-prioritize social connection.

“... There’s going to be a level of social suffering related to isolation and the cost of social distancing that very few people are discussing yet.”

Humans are social animals, and the ability to make connections right now is vastly limited.

Many businesses are moving to online offerings during this pandemic to stay afloat and to provide social connection

These will help to take the edge off the sometimes pervasive anxiety and loneliness.

Recess is offering Baby Sign Language online 3/20 at 10am and a six week playgroup series starting 3/27. We will also be bringing our expecting parent circles and new parent circles online in the coming days. Check out our workshops page

Practice SF has created a series of new online programs: Parenting in Stressful Times. This is such a stressful and anxiety-provoking time for everyone, everywhere.  The mission at Practice revolves around supporting kids, teens, and parents in managing stress, anxiety, and big emotions effectively– and in creating community. https://practicesanfrancisco.com/online-programs/

Infectious disease outbreaks can lead to strong feelings of distress, including among people considered at higher risk, healthcare workers, and their loved ones. You're not alone: the national @Distressline 1-800-985-5990 offers 24/7 emotional support http://bit.ly/2xrmxQM #COVID19

Parentline is available to support you as well. Parenting can be exciting and challenging even in the best of times. With the added layer of stress during this pandemic, please reach out if you’re struggling. Contact Parentline for free support and resources from a team that specializes in the birth to three period. Toll-free: 1-844- 415-BABY (2229) Email: parentline@usfca.edu

Are there other resources we should include? Please drop us a line!

They Need their Cups Filled Too

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.  

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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.  

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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.

Preorder yours today

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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.

If you can...

This is a pretty terrifying time for a lot of reasons. There’s palpable anxiety around sickness, discomfort associated with isolation, and fear of the unknown.

For small business owners, there’s an added layer of panic around whether or not we’ll be able to ride out this storm and stay open once the COVID-19 pandemic subsides.

Some incredible people have asked how they can support us right now

Here’s a quick and dirty guide to keeping Recess afloat right now:

- grab a gift card (to give or keep)

- book your next celebration

- book the space for a mini party

- sign up for our NEW community supporter membership

- enroll in an upcoming workshop

- share this post

- write a review

- set up a one time or monthly tax-deductible donation

- send us love notes

If there’s anything we can do for you, your family, or your small business, please don’t hesitate to let us know. We are here for you. Please stay in touch! We’ll get through this.

See you soon

Wow. What a week. Recess will be closed for open play, effective Friday, March 13. We will continue to monitor the situation, share updates & re-open once it is safe to so

It matters that we each do everything we can, now, to stop the spread of the virus for the good of the community.

Limiting social contact is fundamentally difficult. We need community & we need it exponentially more in times of stress. So the recommendations to steer clear of friends and loved ones is particularly challenging. But the better we can help protect the most vulnerable amongst us the sooner this will all be behind us (hopefully).

The physical, emotional and financial impact of this is not going to be easy for most. And for a lot of us, small business owners and working parents especially, it's going to be unthinkably hard. I think all we can do is navigate this uncharted territory, with patience, compassion and calm to the extent possible.

Huge thanks to those of you who have reached out over the past few days to offer your support and assurances that you’ll maintain your support through the (somewhat inevitable) closure. We truly appreciate all of you who will do the same. Supporting our staff (many of whom are students that have not only had classes canceled, but have been sent home from student housing) and keeping this little nonprofit alive will be a challenge. But I’m going to do everything I can to keep this organization available as a resource for all of us once this craziness is over. We can’t do it without your support.

If there is anything we can do at recess to help your family, please don’t hesitate to let us know! We are always open to creative solutions to unique problems.

I’ll send out updates, as well as some ideas for how to keep the kiddos busy, and details about the activity kits we're putting together for you during this difficult time.

Until then, eat those fruits and veggies, get outside, take breaks from the news and b r e a t h e.