The COVID-19 health emergency is impacting all our lives, especially those families with young children. In this weekly newsletter we will connect you with the most recent information about child care options, learning at home activities for children, emotional support resources for you and your children and more. In addition, we hope you also get some ideas of how you and your children can reduce stress and have some some fun together in these days of social distancing! Here is our newsletter from April 14, 2020.
Parenting Supports
Connecting Families of Essential Workers With Child Care
4C for Children specialists are available to help families of workers providing health, safety and essential services in your child care search. Click here to see an interactive map of licensed Pandemic Child Care Programs in Southwest Ohio and the Miami Valley. Need help with your search? Call us at 800-256-1296 x1330, or email us.
Family Resources
Learn-At-Home Activities
This week, April 11-17, is Week of the Young Child. Each day has a theme: Music Monday, Tasty Tuesday, Work Together Wednesday, Artsy Thursday, and Family Friday which can inspire learning opportunities for your children (this week, or any week!). Check out these resources:
- Week of the Young Child resources from NAEYC – click on each day for blog posts around the daily theme
- Week of the Young Child-inspired Vroom activities
Helping Your Family Cope
Creating virtual connections with other families can be a way to help ease your stress and anxiety during this time. You are not alone. Learn more about these free opportunities to connect with others:
- April 15 at 1 p.m., Support Group for Families in the the Miami Valley, from the Family Engagement Collaborative
- Starting April 16, Family ECHO sessions for families of children with developmental disabilities including autism, presented by Nationwide Children’s Hospital
- April 18 at 10:45 a.m., A Virtual Gathering of Ohio Dads: Fathering in the Pandemic, presented by The Ohio Practitioners’ Network for Fathers and Families
Emergency Meals for Children
USDA Food and Nutrition Service is granting waivers that allow states greater flexibility in allowing parents and/or guardians to pick up meals for children without the student needing to be present. Parents with children and teens 18 years old and under can use the USDA’s Meals 4 Kids mapping tool to find sites to pick up free nutritious meals and snacks. Simply type in your address and find results.
You already have what it takes!
Tap into Vroom resources and check out the tips and activities tailored to your 0-5 year old child. You’ll not only learn to turn everyday activities into brain building opportunities, but you and your child will have lots of fun along the way!
