Tips for Helping Children Adjust to Face Masks
Message for Early Childhood Families with Resources
Letter from the Early Childhood Team
Ideas for Montessori in the Home_ Primary Age
Ideas for Montessori at Home_ Toddlers
Activities
- 100 Ideas for Montessori Early Childhood Students at Home (courtesy of St. Joseph Montessori School faculty and AMS).
- 100 Ideas for Montessori Elementary Students at Home (courtesy of teacher Michelle Jacob and AMS).
- Audible Stories. Free audiobooks for small children and teens for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Environmental Education Program. Visit the Environmental Education playlist featuring 5 videos co-produced by AMS and Nature’s Classroom Montessori School in Mukwonago, WI. These lessons are built around the Early Childhood curriculum but will delight all ages. (Added April 8, 2020)
- Find Your ‘Virtual Park’ with the National Park Service. An online platform with digital opportunities to engage with the parks through multimedia galleries, web cams, virtual tours, and more.
- Indoor Activities from Motherly.com. Montessori-inspired ideas to keep children entertained while inside.
- The Learning Network. Free resources for bringing the world into your classroom, from The New York Times. Includes daily writing prompts using Times journalism.
- National Emergency Library. Over 1.4 million books are now available through this digital library. Sign up for a free account (from anywhere in the world) and get reading! (Added March 31, 2020)
- National Geographic Kids. Games, puzzles, books, videos, crafts and more to engage children around science and adventure.
- Virtual Museum and Art Gallery Tours. The Guardian shares breathtaking and interactive tours for cultural experiences from around the world. (Added March 31, 2020)
Virtual Field Trips for Families
San Diego Zoo / The Louvre in France – Egyptian Antiquities / The Great Wall of China / Boston Children’s Museum / Canadian Egg Farm / Guggenheim Museum, New York / Live Webcams from the Georgia Aquarium / Mars (Google) / Mars (NASA) / Yellowstone National Park – visit several locations in the park. / Hubble Control Center – Lobby Hubble Control Center / Operations Room (NASA)
CLICK HERE for the 30 day LEGO challenge from Free Home School Deals
Weekday Activity
Josh Gad (Olaf from Frozen) reads books every weeknight (times vary but you can also watch the recorded videos) on Twitter -#GadBookClub
Drawing with Michael Woodside – learn to draw Disney Characters live-streamed on YouTube and Instagram daily at 10:00 am -#drawingwithwoodsy (videos are also recorded).
Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems – draw with author and illustrator Mo Willems daily on YouTube at 12:00 pm #MOlunchdoodles. (videos are also recorded). For more information go to https://www.kennedycenter.org/mowillems
Resources for Helping Children
Talking with Children about Corona Virus from the Fred Rogers Center
PBS has some great resources available for children
PBS info for parents on talking to children
PBS Meet The helpers Virus explained for children
We Wear Masks a short book for children
Inspiring Song: “You Are Beautiful” By Robbie Schaefer
E-Book: Montessori Parent Coronavirus Survival Guide by Trillium Montessori
Television Show for younger children: DANIEL TIGER Daniel Tiger – Season 11, Episode 3 – “Daniel Finds Something To Do/Daniel’s Royal Good Time” – Could be helpful in showing children that Daniel has to occupy himself so mom can get something done.
Inspiring Video: Children sing “Heal the World”
Message from Dr. Sara Knickerbocker
Move your bodies! Go Noodle
Age Appropriate Chores for Children
Folktales from around the world
Audible Audio Books, currently offering free e-books for children
How to Emotionally Prepare for Quarantine, Guardian Article.
We want to acknowledge the likelihood of an emotional impact on both children and adults stemming from the Coronavirus. I am of the belief that if we listen carefully to what our children are asking, and not provide more information than necessary, we can help calm fears and redirect their energy in a positive way. We see the following resources as good starting points for approaching these conversations, at an age-appropriate level, if needed.
NYT Children’s Health: How to Talk to Kids about Coronavirus
Psychology Today: How to Talk to Your Child About the Coronavirus
Common Sense Media: Explaining the News to Our Kids
Talking to Children about Covid 19 Bright Horizons
Proper Handwashing for Children Video
Talking to Children about Covid 19 a Parent Resouce: National Assoc. of School Psychologists