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Archives for 2020

Archives for 2020

Sesame Street Hosts a Covid-19 Town Hall for Kids

April 27, 2020 By Michelle Yannaco

When it comes to explaining tough situations to kids, Sesame Street corners the market. In bad times and good, Big Bird, Elmo and pals have always been there to help children understand and work through their questions and emotions.

For the coronavirus pandemic, Sesame Street went a step further and teamed up with CNN.

“The ABC’s of Covid 19: A CNN/Sesame Street Town Hall for Kids and Parents” tackles issues like education, anxiety, screen time and play dates.

The 90-minute program features experts and Sesame Street characters discussing a variety of topics.

• Big Bird wonders if Covid-19 is just a bunch of letters and numbers
• Kids ask if they can get the virus from swimming
• Abby’s friend wants to know what coronavirus looks like
• Kids want to know if eating soap helps
• Grover’s buddy wants to know if coronavirus can live in space
• Elmo asks why people are wearing masks if it’s not Halloween
• Abby talks about big feelings and the importance of self hugs

The event is moderated by CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN anchor and national correspondent Erica Hill, and, of course, Big Bird.

It aired on Saturday, April 25 but you can catch watch the full Town Hall here.

And for those feeling a little overwhelmed, Elmo’s dad aired a PSA reminding parents to take some time for themselves.

Filed Under: Coronavirus, Featured Articles

Lincoln Center to air performance for children with autism and other developmental disabilities

April 23, 2020 By Michelle Yannaco

Lincoln Center at Home is set to air a bubbly performance specifically for kids with autism and other developmental disabilities.

SUDS, by the Bluelaces Theater Company, premieres Wednesday, April 29 at 4pm as part of Lincoln Center’s #ConcertsForKids series. 

SUDS is an immersive, multisensory theatrical experience that takes the seemingly mundane task of going to the laundromat and transforms it into an exhilarating adventure filled with water, soap, and bubbles. At-home audiences will meet SUDS’ Composer, Props Designer, and two cast members (Fill & Bubbles) who will guide children and families on their very own mini-laundry exploration, complete with multiple songs and many suds!

The performance premieres Wednesday, April 26 at 4pm, but will remain on demand at LincolnCenter.org for families to enjoy whenever is convenient. View the trailer HERE. You can also check it out at Lincoln Center’s YouTube Page, and Lincoln Center’s Facebook Page

Filed Under: Coronavirus, Featured Articles

The New Normal – Issue 2

April 23, 2020 By Michelle Yannaco

The New Normal: A Guide to Family Life at Home is an interactive, virtual magazine featuring topics that Staten Island parents and families need while living in quarantine during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Family Education Issue includes help for homeschooling parents and their remote learning students. You will learn how to get free children’s stories and books online for kids from popular e-readers and reading websites. You’ll also get tips on keeping your kids engaged in reading during quarantine.

Are you searching for ways to keep kids busy at home this summer while learning? The mini-mag also offers fun education activities for kids at home like science experiments, creative writing ideas, virtual classes, virtual field trips, art projects for kids and more.

For those wondering when will schools reopen after the corona pandemic is over, we have some information on what to expect when school opens back up. Read the article featuring CDC guidelines for reopening schools, UFT demands from teachers on reopening schools in the fall, and other changes to expect when quarantine is over.

Three Easy Ways To View:
• Scroll through the issue within the box below, or
• Click the arrow in the upper right corner below, or
• Download our Second Edition here

Enjoy!

The New Normal: Second Edition-May 2020

Click here to read the first edition

Filed Under: Positive Parenting, Coronavirus, Featured Articles Tagged With: educational, home, homeschooling

4 Ways to Help Nurses During the Coronavirus Pandemic

April 23, 2020 By Michelle Yannaco

America’s nurses are on the front lines of the fight against coronavirus, providing safe, quality, compassionate and nondiscriminatory care to those they serve, many of whom are doing so at significant risk to their own well-being.

The American Nurses Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the American Nurses Association, created the Coronavirus Response Fund for Nurses to provide direct financial assistance, mental health support and science- and data-based information to nurses serving on the front lines.

“Nurses always answer the call to serve their patients, communities and country during times of crisis,” said American Nurses Foundation Chair Tim Porter-O’Grady. “As we confront the new and emerging challenges of this pandemic, nurses are and will continue serving on the front lines in extraordinary ways.”

To show your support during this uncertain time, consider taking part in these four key actions:

  1. Text THANKS to 20222 to donate $10. One of the easiest ways to directly support nurses is to donate $10 to the Coronavirus Response Fund for Nurses, spread the word to others using the hashtag #ThanksNurses, and visit ThanksNurses.org.
  2. Stay home. Only leave home for essentials and maintain a safe distance from other people.
  3. Wash your hands. Frequently wash your hands for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating and after blowing your nose, sneezing or coughing. It is also important to wash your hands after going out in public and touching items that others may have come in contact with such as doors, shopping carts or credit card readers.
  4. Follow local guidelines. Seek guidance from local public health officials.

ways to help nurses

Nurses are reliable and proven responders during infectious disease emergencies, providing essential care where it is needed most. Following simple steps like these can go a long way toward keeping people healthy.

Donations will help provide direct financial assistance, mental health support and science- and data-based information to benefit nurses. Visit ThanksNurses.org to learn more.

The American Nurses Foundation’s Coronavirus Response Fund for Nurses is a nationwide effort to provide direct financial assistance, mental health support and science- and data-based resources to benefit nurses. The Johnson & Johnson company and its TYLENOL brand made a $1.5 million commitment to launch this fund.

A portion of the donations will help support Nurses House, Inc., a national fund for registered nurses in need. The American Nurses Foundation is partnering with this organization to help nurses affected by COVID-19. Nurses who are unable to work due to COVID-19 infection, are caring for a family member with COVID-19 or are under mandatory quarantine can submit an application for assistance.

 

Source:
American Nurses Foundation (via Family Features)
Photo courtesy of Getty Images (Nurse and child)

pediatrician with child
Read Next | Health and Wellness Resources for Your Staten Island Child

Filed Under: Coronavirus, Featured Articles

10 Awesome Things About Quarantine

April 30, 2020 By Jeannine Cintron

We’ve all done our share of complaining about being stuck at home since this whole coronavirus nightmare began. As a single parent homeschooling two kids while working from home, even the smallest silver linings are my salvation. Aside from the obvious “spending time with family” and “saving money” (or so the husbands think) factors, here are a few more reasons a little lockdown doesn’t hurt.

1. I haven’t had to change into my “good sweats” in over a month! My favorite pair of yoga pants have at least three holes and that’s nobody’s business but my own.

2. I’ve forgotten what my alarm sounds like. Seriously. I can’t remember the sound of the ringtone. I’m sure the first time I hear it after this is over, I’ll break out in a cold sweat. Until then, the alarm has been replaced by the whiny sounds of my kids begging for  breakfast from the kitchen. There’s no snooze button but the trick is to threaten to take away YouTube if you want a few extra minutes of sleep.

3. The Zoom meetings are HILARIOUS. Or Google Meet, or whatever they’re calling these chaotic “virtual classrooms.” This morning, my daughter’s teacher had to remind the class that she can, in fact, see what they write in the chat, and that whispering into the microphone doesn’t allow for discretion either. It’s basically 30 kids talking over each other all at once, calling out random statements that have nothing to do with anything.  I have no idea how her teachers keep their composure watching me wrestle our pet guinea pigs from my daughter’s grasp onscreen every morning while they attempt to discuss the day’s assignments.  I feel for these teachers, I really do. But, man, I wish I had a mute button for my kids too.

4. Since pants have become optional, I’ve become more involved than ever. I haven’t missed a single parent meeting yet. I could be the head of the PTA at this point! Just don’t ask me what’s in the glass at our “meetings.”

5. I miss my family and friends like crazy, but keeping at least six feet away from the Karens of the world doesn’t bother me too much. I don’t even have to interact with delivery people anymore. They just leave my stuff by the door and hightail it outta there. Small talk is a thing of the past, as is dodging people you have no desire to run into publicly. You only see the crazies on Facebook these days, where you can scroll past their nonsense and move on.

6. So. Much. Netflix. Busy as I am, I still had the time to find out who Carole Baskin is and why she fed her husband to a tiger (she totally did, btw). If I found the time, you can too. It’s not quaranTINE – it’s quaranTIME. See what I did there?

7. When I’m too lazy to cook, I’m “supporting local restaurants.” Also commendable? Keeping local liquor stores and wine retailers in business. We’re all in this together, folks. I’m just doing my part.

8. Children’s birthday parties have gone from two-hour cake and pizza-filled booger-fests to LITERALLY DRIVING BY AND WAVING. Holding up a birthday sign is basically the same as walking in with the biggest gift. I think I’m going to start a petition that we continue this type of celebration after quarantine is over. Who’s with me?

9. Every day we get closer to the summer, the chances of wearing a bathing suit in public get smaller and smaller. I mean, I had cheesecake for breakfast twice this week. I’m not exactly striving for a beach body.

10. The amount of laundry to ignore has reduced by at least half. Admittedly, my kids frequently wear the same pajamas three days in a row and  somehow still manage to produce a comically large amount of dirty clothes. However, it’s less than it was before quarantine. So there’s that.

By Jeannine Cintron, a Staten Island mom of two who wore her fanciest sweatpants while writing this article. 

Filed Under: Coronavirus, Featured Articles

Simple Ways to Go Green

April 21, 2020 By Michelle Yannaco

Earth Day is upon us again. Are you looking for ways to “green up” your life? Perhaps you want to save money? Maybe you have read about chemicals in processed food and want to do better for your children? Green living can enhance the quality of life for your entire family. And it’s not difficult to do.

Going “green” not only makes a positive impact on the environment, but can also have a positive impact on your wallet, and your health. Amy Landisman, former editor of the e-magazine Peachy Green says even a small change such as washing your clothes in cold water rather than hot can save you $60 a year. Landisman further notes: “Of chemicals commonly found in homes, 150 have been linked to allergies, birth defects and cancer… For example, Tide contains formaldehyde; bleach is a migraine trigger and has been linked to other neurological problems.” Excellent reasons to consider making the home “greener.”

Here are some simple ways to implement a “greener” lifestyle with very little effort.

Recycle. Recycling is the easiest place to get started if you are looking for ways to reduce your footprint on the planet. Most cities and counties provide recycle bins making it as easy to recycle as it is to throw out trash. Recycling is also an easy habit to teach our children.

Go Paperless. Choosing to receive magazines, bills, statements, and other notifications electronically saves an incredible amount of paper. Since communicating electronically cuts costs on the person sending the product, many times companies will offer an incentive to go paperless.

Use cloth napkins.  They are fairly inexpensive and very easy to keep up with. I place a stack of them in a basket on our table and we use them each night. If they do not get dirty, re-use the same one several times and toss them in the wash each week. As an added bonus, cloth napkins look fancier than paper when you have guests.

Start a compost pile. Especially if you plant a garden, this is a great way to replenish your soil. You don’t have to spend any money on a fancy bin, just find a corner in your backyard, dig a hole, dump your compost, and shovel dirt over it. The food biodegrades quickly, leaving rich soil for your garden.

Change out your light bulbs.  Get rid of traditional light bulbs and use eco-friendly bulbs. Some of the benefits to eco-friendly light bulbs are that they last longer than traditional bulbs, they use 75% less energy, and they produce less heat than traditional bulbs.

Use RecycleBank.com or TerraCycle.  RecycleBank and TerraCycle provide incentives and usually free postage to mail in hard to recycle items, like the plastic from diaper packages, Capri Sun wrappers, and other items. Recyclebank.com recently even started accepting toothbrushes and toothpaste tubes for recycling.

Recycle non-ordinary items  such as batteries, light bulbs, printer cartridges, etc. Batteries and light bulbs contain very dangerous elements that leak into the soil and the water supply when they are thrown in the regular garbage, but are not usually accepted by the city or county recycling trucks. However, these items can be recycled and stores such as Best Buy usually have receptacles right at the inside of their stores. Collect up all of these types of items over time and quickly drop them off when you are out running errands.

As “green living” becomes a more popular concept, it is becoming easier to make lifestyle changes and to teach your children how to live in a more eco-friendly fashion. My children take the recyclables out to the bin each evening, and at 5 and 3 they already know how to do it and it will forever be a part of their life.

Alexa Bigwarfe is the mother to three small children. She enjoys finding creative ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle, while teaching her children to do the same.

Filed Under: Spring

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