03 Apr Keeping Your Kids Learning During the Pandemic

The Coronavirus Pandemic has pushed many parents into dual full-time roles — teachers and caregivers. It’s a challenging endeavor to keep your kids occupied in a positive way while also working from home. For most of us, this is an undertaking made even more difficult because you might not have the resources or formal education. However, give yourself a break. There are many ways for your children to learn, even if they don’t feel like they are learning.

Infant Activities

From our earliest ages, we are taking in the sights and sounds around us — while trying to make sense of it all. Infants have the ability to see faces, different shapes, colors, and sizes. These are the bedrock from which learning is established. Here are a few infant activities that you can do with your little one:

Tummy Time Paint Bag

Put different colors of paint in a zip lock bag and tape the bag to the floor and let your baby play with the paint to promote tummy time.

Frozen Teether Toys

These are great for babies when they are teething. Put some teether toys in the freezer till they are nice and cold for your baby.

Sensory Bottles

These are fun for all ages! Fill an empty plastic water bottle filled with beans, different kinds of pasta, coins, pom poms, popcorn, water and glitter, and water beads. You can also use liquids like water (put some drops of food coloring), baby oil, corn syrup, and any tape of small objects. Hot glue the lids on and let your child explore!

Toddler Activities

Now we’re walking and talking! During this stage, children are introduced to skills that help them gain independence. They seek to understand the world around them, so they are listening to conversations and observing everything you do. Toddlers have little to no fear because they don’t know what fear is, so they are willing to try new things. By practicing these skills, they will eventually perfect them!

Practical Life

• Window Washing
• Laundry
• Dishes

Tummy Time Paint Bag

• Pouring
• Open & Close
• Transferring

Math

• Counting
• Matching Numbers
• Tracing Numbers with Stickers

Language

• Nightly Recap
• Read Books
• Simon Says

Sensory

• Color Hunt
• Color Matching
• Big & Small

Science

• Land, Air, Water
• Animal Coverings
• Five Senses

Music

• Musical Instruments
• Dance Party
• Songs From the Classroom

Gross Motor Skills

• Gross Motor
• Balance
• Ninja Warrior Game

Activities for Children Ages 3-6

During the preschool and kindergarten ages, children continue building on the skills they learned in their toddler years. During these phases, children learn best by performing hands-on activities, using trial and error, sensory exploration, and yes, they’re still modeling their behavior after their environment. Counting, handwriting, and literacy are becoming bigger factors during this age group.

AGE 3

Practical Life

• Spoon Transfer
• Pouring
• Chores

Language

• Reading

Sensory

• Geometric Solids

Science

• Grow a Plant
• Bird Watching

Art

• Inside the Lines

Gross Motor

• Yoga
• Children, Children Quietly Sleeping

AGE 4

Practical Life

• Tong Transfer

Language

• Reading

Math

• Guess How Many?

Science

• Parts of a Plant
• How Do Plants Grow?
• Vegetable Sorting
• Rainbow Experiment

Art

• Plant Art
• Draw a Bird

Gross Motor

• Yoga
• Simple Exercise

AGE 5

Practical Life

• Fine Motor
• Straw Transfer

Science

• Bean Sprout
• Parts of a Plant

Art

• Bird’s Nest

Keeping a Schedule

One of the essential parts of working from home is keeping a schedule. For kids during this time, it’s all about creating a new norm for them. Breaking up their days into four main categories will help them adjust much easier.

• Work time
• Playtime
• Mealtime
• Reading time

We know this can be challenging, but have fun and enjoy this time you have with your children!

Free Learning Sites

If you want even more ideas or want to switch things up, please visit the free learning sites below. There’s a wealth of information for both your child and yourself contained on these sites.

Ted Ed
Brain Pop
Quizlet
Scholastic Learn At Home
Khan Academy
PBS Learning Media

From our family at Meadow Montessori to yours, we want to make sure you’re safe and that you have the tools and resources to help your child continue growing. We’re all living in unprecedented times right now, but we’ll get through this together. Using even a small portion of the activities noted above, you and your child will have fun and learn — that’s a winning combination! Contact Meadow Montessori today to learn more about how we’re helping families during this time.