This summer, going outside isn’t always an option for children. The thought of willingly exposing your children to the virus just doesn’t sit well with most parents. Now don’t get me wrong, we so desperately wish camps were operating under normal conditions and frequent trips to the park and pool were safe & viable options!
If you’re a parent like me, chances are it’s becoming extremely difficult to justify the screen time limits that were once so rigidly enforced. I’m not going to lie, on a rainy day (especially), it’s tempting to let the kiddos watch YouTube all day! If it makes you feel any better: you are not the only parents feeling this way! There are tons of articles online about this topic that offer suggestions on how to manage screen time during the Covid-19 pandemic this summer.
According to Angela Nelson of Tufts University, parents shouldn’t be too worried about the increase in screen use and suggests some online activities families can do together. A couple of her suggestions include learning a new dance online and learning to code. Consider TikTok and Scratch Junior, respectively. An article, posted in the New York Times, also suggests that parents who are “agonizing over screen time” should focus on the three Cs: child, content, and context. Dr. Radesky notes, “It’s understandable that parents might want some concrete guidance on how to ensure that their child’s screen exposure is healthy and balanced. But instead of focusing on how much time your child spends in front of a screen, it might be better to approach their media use in terms of who they are, what they’re watching and how you’re interacting with them” (aka the “Three C’s” framework)
Soooooo I’ve been looking for things my kids (ages 8 and 6) can do, online, that are fun, spark creativity, and reinforce literacy when going outside is not an option.
Here’s a list of websites that I’ve found (so far) that are pretty cool & interactive:
Let me know what online resources you use to entertain the kiddos and I’ll update my list with your suggestions!
Discussion Worthy 