Thank you to those of you who shared your ideas. It's a great list of Things To Do With Children, Delicious, Comforting, and Tried and True Recipes, Health and Wellness and Entertainment.
Things To Do With Children
Bussy Toddler- https://busytoddler.com/ - Site is full of fun and engaging activities for toddlers to kindergartners that are easy to set up. (Try Sticker Sort-- For more exercise, I like to hold the stickers myself in another room. Then I give my toddler a couple of stickers at a time and she has to run to the other room to sort them.)
Google, PBS, National Geographic, Scholastic and other companies working together to do online schooling. For Pre-K to 12th grade.
Finger Painting (Bc my toddler still puts everything in his mouth, I use plain yogurt with food coloring and "paint" the stove top. You could use other colorful foods like red tomato paste, orange sweet potato/carrot puree, etc. )
Sink Play (For those of us without a back yard or a water table, pull up a stool or a chair to the sink! Add bubbles, cups, kitchen utensils, baby dolls and sponges, etc. )
Hide and Seek (I like to sing, "Where's Mama?" from my hiding spot so my toddler doesn't nervous that they can't see me. This game can last for so long! )
Treasure Hunt (hide toys, Legos, etc.)
Ask Alexa to play animal sounds, and physically act out the animal, and Alexa’s guessing game
Make magic potions in the bath. It's a mess. But fun!
Kinetic sand building or"baking". plastic figurines and tools are great.
Duplos blocks/Lego obstacle course for favorite car, stuff, Toys, etc.
Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt- Make a picture list of things you can see while walking around the neighborhood and check them off as you find them (ex: dog, flowers, insect, bird etc)
Obstacle Course- Make a simple obstacle course out of whatever you have to kick a ball through, or run or scoot around
Get a trampoline (they come in small sizes too). Bounce-bounce-bounce.
Watering Plants, looking at flowers, pointing out insects.
Rabbit Hole Children's Theatre Activity boxes or virtual classes https://the-rabbit-hole-children-s-theater.teachable.com/
The Rabbit Hole in Noe Valley is releasing a weekly activity box that includes a few craft items to spark some imaginative play. For example this week included supplies to make a ship wheel, anchor, and treasure map so you can embark on an ocean adventure.
Body Coach https://www.youtube.com/user/thebodycoach1
PE with Joe- Created for kids and adults. A perfect way for adults and kids to get bodies moving together inside.
Kids yoga videos that have a story that goes along with the movements. Exercise and storytime!!! Created for kids 3+ years, but also good for the whole family to move together at every age.
DIY Toilet Roll Binoculars
Art class with Wendy Macnaughton or Mo Willems on Instagram/Youtube
A local mom developed this free app for age appropriate games to play with your kids.
Charlie’s Corner Storytime https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa2lF38wqshU3qHQaFt-MSQ
Noe Valley Bookstore has storytime videos.
Kids Get Cookin'! book published from the California department of Public Health.
The Wiggles on Hulu. A singing group where kids learn from the songs.
Daniel Tiger. PBS Kids. https://pbskids.org/daniel/videos/
Mr Roger’s puppet character lives on in this tv show focused on dealing with feelings.
Home Safari with the Cincinnati Zoo Home Safari with the Cincinnati Zoo
Each day a zookeeper highlights one of their animals. Approx. 20 min videos available to watch on YouTube. Of particular note is their famous baby hippo Fiona!
Just go with your child's flow and see where their creativity and imagination takes you.
I forgot who had the good advice: When in doubt - add water. Bubble baths, showers, helping with the dishes, cleaning vegetables... anything where they get to be in and around water.
Family Play Plans by TRUCE
Indoor and outdoor play ideas
Wonder Play Book https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/823071.Wonderplay
WONDERPLAY offers interactive and developmental ideas to enrich the time you spend with your child between birth and the preschool years.
Paint with water on newspaper or any paper.
Here are some great interactive performances for kids featuring artists from around the world at Carnegie Hall. Each one is about an hour long.
Delicious, Comforting, Tried and True RECIPES
A delicious congee recipe: https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/pork-and-shiitake-congee
No-Prep Veggie Lasagna Recipe, https://www.cookingwithtraderjoes.com/no-prep-veggie-lasagna/
Mixed rice, roasted chicken, potatoes and veggies with mustard and harissa.
Popcorn with butter and brewers yeast.
Love this recipe! Tried other focaccia recipes but this is the best. It makes a lot, so feel free to halve the recipe
Earl Grey Yogurt Cake https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/earl-grey-yogurt-cake
Everyone asks for this recipe once they’ve tried this.
Cozy Butternut, Sweet Potato, and Red Lentil Stew
I usually omit the tomato paste. It makes it too tomatoey for my liking.
Cheesy Muffins
Roasted Chicken Breasts Ratatouille
Instant Pot Vegetarian Chili
You can swap pistachios for walnuts.
Cottage Cheese Pancakes
Fluffy pancakes with extra protein
Must have the right pot to bake it in, if you do, it’s so easy!. Make sure to let the pot heat for at least 30 minutes.
Carrot Bread with Dates and Olive Oil https://www.occasionallyeggs.com
Vegan, zero added sugar, whole wheat flour subsitute works well.
Glory Bowl
I used cabbage and whatever vegetables I have on hand, and cilantro too. Poke with this works as well.
Health and Wellness
The Happiness Lab https://www.happinesslab.fm/
This started as a class for stressed out Yale students, but now a hugely popular podcast. (This was not recommended by me, Nancy, but I should have listed it earlier. I love it.)
This City Our Gym https://www.thecityisourgym.com/
I've been going to this bootcamp/trainer for years now. He is doing zoom workouts four days a week and they are saving my sanity and body. He is capable of giving individualized workouts as needed in a group setting. I've also done his workouts while pregnant and post-partum with modifications.
Oprah and Deepak's Free 21 day meditation the current topic is hope during uncertain times.
Electrolyte Drink
2 C water + 1/2 C fresh OJ + 1/4 C fresh lemon juice + 1-2 T honey + 1/8 tsp sea salt
This breaks a fever EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.
Elderberry Syrup https://wellnessmama.com/1888/elderberry-syrup/
WAY more delish and cheaper than store bought. Rainbow sells dried elderberries, but I get mine in bulk from Amazon.
Take a daily walk (in nature if possible) with (or without) your child(ren). Challenge yourself to take a new/different path and/or mindfully observe with all your senses as you go along (e.g. notice those purple flowers on that tree outside that may have always been just passed by before).
FaceTime with family and friends to stay connected. Challenge yourself to reach out to someone different each day and/or host a virtual meet-up for a group of family and/or friends to connect all together.
Terrible, Thanks For Asking Podcast. Listening to what others have struggled with or overcome can do wonders for your own mental health. While it might sound depressing, I've loved listening to these stories.
Trainer stand for my bike.
Movewell Pilates with Greta Schoenberg, a mom from our CCSF classes, has pilates videos on how to sit correctly while working at home or driving, standing, and a gentle workout. https://www.movewell-sf.com/video
7 Minute Workout. Do it at a pace that works for you. There are lots of versions of this you can choose from, and I like this one:
Entertainment (Highly Recommended Books, Movies, Series, Music...)
Kim's Convenience, Netflix Series, 4 seasons of 20 minute episodes, always a good laugh.
Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Amazon Prime Video, NYC Jewish banter to the max. Gorgeous costumes. Great acting. Such a fun show.
Sex Education, Netflix, A cute British teen show about a kid who gives sex advice to his classmates.
Fleabag, Netflix, A British woman is a hot mess. Watch her figure it all out.
Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, Netflix, Four episodes each focusing on the categories in title. Amazing cinematography. It will inspire you to cook and bake, especially the focaccia.
Stand up comedy specials.
Book: Queer Eye Love Yourself, Love Your Life
Dutch House, the book by Ann Patchett, was very good. Friends have said the audio read by Tom Hanks is excellent.
Book series: “My brilliant friend” by Elena Ferrante.
Noe Music, has started an online Listening Club and the next one is on Saturday, April 11 at 7pm. It’s a great chance to gather and get inside some incredible music with a super charismatic and knowledgable musical guide. We had 250 people sing into our first one last week so we are planning a bunch more. More info here.
Listen to a new piece of music every day with (or without) your child(ren). Challenge yourself to try new artists and/or genres.
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