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.

COVID-19: Prevention and Planning

Dear Recess Collective Community,

As you are no doubt aware, cases of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID‐19) have been diagnosed in the Bay Area.  Global circumstances suggest and experts recommend preparing for more widespread transmission.

Our goal is to support our community in efforts toward prevention, preparation and resources to support you and your family’s wellbeing. As always, the health and safety of your family is our primary concern.

What We Are Doing To Keep Recess a Safe & Healthy Space

We are closely monitoring the evolving COVID-19 situation and we will continue to follow the guidance of public health authorities. As of March 6, the San Francisco Department of Public Health is recommending that vulnerable populations limit outings. For details on the latest public health guidelines, please see here.

As a community organization dedicated to serving local families, we are committed to providing a welcoming, safe space as long as we are safely able to do so. At the same time, we recognize that this situation is evolving rapidly, and we will continue to keep you informed should public health guidelines require future changes to our hours and programming.

We’d also like to share the extra measures we’re taking:

• Increased routine cleaning and disinfecting of high-touch spaces and surfaces, including restrooms, tabletops, light switches, door knobs and fixed toys

• Provide additional hand sanitizer dispensers throughout the space

• Continuing to sanitize all toys every day and ask caregivers to place mouthed toys in designated bins during play

• Encouraging all visitors and staff to practice healthy habits, including frequent and thorough hand washing for 20 seconds with soap and water, covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue, and staying home if you are sick or not feeling well

The best way for all San Franciscans to reduce their risk of getting sick, as with seasonal colds or the flu, still applies to prevent COVID-19. Of course, it goes without saying, but if you have a fever, cough, or cold, or cold like symptoms, please do not come to Recess.

What you can do to protect yourself and others:

• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.  

• Ensure your children wash before and after play and when changing activities (before/after eating, etc).

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or an elbow when you cough or sneeze. Throw any used tissues in the trash. Then wash your hands with soap and water.

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

• Try alternatives to shaking hands, like an elbow bump or wave;

• Use your knuckles if you need to press elevator buttons; and

• Stay home and do not travel or go to work, Recess, or public spaces when you are sick.

• There is no recommendation from the Department of Public Health to wear masks at this time to prevent yourself from getting sick.

Disease Control and Prevention information for the Coronavirus #COVID

Great information from the Center of Disease Control and Prevention on how to protect yourself from viruses including Coronavirus Disease #COVID.

For more information on COVID19: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Keeping Calm & Talking with Children about Coronavirus

Importantly, while this situation may be cause for alarm given the potential to spread widely, a public health emergency like this calls for calm and clarity. Panic can be counterproductive. Rather than panicking, stay informed, practice good hygiene, maintain communication with each other, and know that we are keeping a close eye, together, on this situation.  

You may find:

• this article helpful in managing stress,

• this one  and this one for guidance around discussions with your children,

• and this comic with slightly older children.

You can also prepare for the possible disruption caused by an outbreak:

• Make sure you have a supply of all essential medications for your family;

• Make a child care plan if you or a caregiver are sick;

• Make arrangements about how your family will manage a school closure; and

• Make a plan for how you can care for a sick family member without getting sick yourself.

The status of COVID-19 in San Francisco and the region is rapidly evolving and we will be closely following recommendations and guidance from the CDC and the SF Departments of Public Health and Emergency Management and encourage everyone to stay updated and informed as well.

We will provide updates as they come. But for now, be well and wash those hands!

Take good care