By Beth S. Pollak
Feeling the election jitters? Excited to vote? Anxious about the results? Election Day finally has arrived, and if the stress around candidates, issues, and outcomes has emotions running high in your family, it might be time to take a break from political news and connect in other ways.
Caribu’s books and activities offer a magical mix to inspire imagination, laughter, and calm. Schedule a Caribu Call with your grandchildren to share in their smiles and enthusiasm! Enjoy reading, playing, and drawing together in a virtual playdate. Here are our Top Picks to stay calm this election week.
Escape From Earth
Blast-off to outer space with three new books by SpaceX Aerospace Engineer Andrew Rader. Each book is an alphabet adventure that tells a space story from A to Z! Join fun and friendly animal astronauts to learn astronomy concepts and vocabulary. Kids will love the bright, out-of-this-world illustrations by Galen Frazer that capture the fascinating colors and textures of our galaxy.
In McLongneck’s Epic Space Adventure, journey with a giraffe to explore the solar system! Practice your ABC’s with a loved one as you visit the sun, the moon, and the planets. Next, meet a panda-astronaut in Europa Excursion. Go on an expedition to rescue animal colleagues from an accident site on Jupiter’s moon! Explore the possibility of extraterrestrial life in Europa’s undersea canyons and icy oceans.
If you’d like to visit the red planet, try Mars Rover Rescue. Join the whole animal-astronaut gang on a repair mission! See what it’s like to live aboard a spaceship, and venture through Mars’s cliffs, dunes, and volcanoes. You can find these and all of Caribu’s space books in the ‘Space’ category of the Caribu app.
Play A Mindful Memory Game
Challenge your favorite little ones to a Memory Match Game! Slow things down with this mindful game that encourages players to concentrate in order to find pairs of images. Be present with your loved ones as you flip and turn the cards to match the squares! Who will find the most pairs? Try your best, or let the kiddies win!
Choose from a variety of themes with images like wacky wildlife, friendly monsters, ice creams and rainbows, ‘pirate invasion’, and more. You can find Memory and all of Caribu’s new games in the ‘Play’ category of the Caribu Library. Make sure you update and install the latest version of the Caribu App so you can join in the fun on your next video-call.
Stretch Time With The Little Ones
Join Harriet the Hippoyogamus to learn yoga stretches with her sweet animal friends! Take a deep breath as you settle into calming movements that will help you and your kids relax and reinvigorate. Start from a standing Mountain Pose, and work on easy bends and basic yoga positions. Learn Downward Dog, Cat Pose, and Cow Pose along with the actual animals! Read along with Harriet’s mindful words to focus on being present in the moment. Take time to reflect on your journey, and to celebrate freedom and good health. Enjoy this book in a Caribu Call to reset with your loved ones, especially in the midst of election anxiety. You can also view a Video Read-Aloud of the book with NFL star Andre Fluellen in the ‘Watch’ section of the Caribu app.
Choose Mindful Coloring
If you enjoy mindful coloring, Caribu’s got your covered with hundreds of coloring pages, featuring designs both simple and complex. Draw together in a video-call with your loved ones, and relax as you fill in the blanks together. Choose from animal images, seasonal symbols, trucks and trains, inspirational messages, unicorns and magical creatures, and many more. Take your time as you pick your favorite shades, and switch off with the little ones as you decorate. You can also try color-by-number pages, connect-the-dots, mazes, Surprise Eggs and other entertaining activities together.
Run Off With A Band Of Pirates
For anyone who’s wanted to voyage across the seas, read the book On A Pirate Ship to explore life with some jolly sailors. All hands on deck as the crew faces the challenges of pirate life, from scary storms to maritime battles! Join the pirates as they take down a treasure ship and try to escape with the gold. Are you brave enough for the journey? Enjoy this colorful pirate’s quest with your loved ones in your next Caribu Call. For even more fun, try the pirate maze in Caribu’s coloring pages! See if the kids can find their way through the high seas to capture the hidden treasure.
Read A Bedtime Story
Don’t let the evening news keep you up at night; calm down with your loved ones by reading a bedtime story together. Pick from classic tales or modern lullabies as the kids get ready for bed. Enjoy favorites like Hey Diddle Diddle, The Little Mermaid, and Star Light, Star Bright, or try new tales like Dear Pillow, The Moon Is Having a Party, and The Tooth Fairy’s Tummy Ache.
You can find all of the books and activities in the Caribu Library! Sign up to get started, and connect with your loved ones in a magical Caribu Call.
Beth S. Pollak is a writer and educator based in California. In addition to working with Caribu, she consults with educational organizations and EdTech companies. Beth has worked as a teacher and journalist in Chicago, New York, and San Francisco. She holds degrees in journalism, bilingual education, and educational leadership. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, biking, picnics, and dance.