All parents know that daycares are the most germ-ridden places on Earth, and every daycare parent knows about “Daycare Syndrome,” the catchphrase for frequent upper respiratory infections common in group childcare. Yet centers servicing essential workers’ children have largely remained open without contributing to the spread of COVID-19, which gives us insight into how schools, camps and nonessential childcare spots can re-open and remain safe.
Scientists have advice about how to hug during the COVID-19 outbreak. According to the New York Times, “Not only do we miss hugs, we need them. Physical affection reduces stress by calming our sympathetic nervous system, which, during times of worry, releases damaging stress hormones into our bodies.”
On Memorial Day, we honor the courage and sacrifices of American soldiers who gave their lives to serve. Many families also gather to spend time together during the long weekend. While you might be distant from your family this year, you can still connect on a Caribu Call for a virtual picnic or reunion! Choose some books and activities to try together, and share memories from years past. Here are some of our favorite Caribu picks for the long weekend.
The expectations for being “perfect” during quarantine can add up. The best thing we can do right now is give ourselves what our friends offer us so willingly — the reminder that we are enough.
Saturday, May 16th is National Love A Tree Day, and it’s a great time to think about how to protect our leafy friends. Most of the world’s paper comes from trees, and the more paper we consume, the more we deplete the world’s forests. Deforestation is a major concern on planet Earth, since it can result in habitat loss, wildlife extinction, and climate changes. Since trees help filter pollutants in our atmosphere, fewer trees means more air pollution.
Today is International Day of Families, and it’s an excellent opportunity to celebrate your family and others across the globe. In 1993, the United Nations General Assembly created this annual day “to promote awareness of issues relating to families and to increase the knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting families.”
Sheltering in place with your family means more opportunities to share meals, play games, and possibly drive each other a little batty. The extra hours of togetherness are also a good opportunity to collect oral histories. Whether you want to dive into family lore or record a snapshot of life in the era of COVID-19, there are several ways to set yourself up for sympathetic listening and enthusiastic sharing on all sides.
Ironically, even though media and technology seem to be the cause of our collective pessimism, they’re also essential for overcoming it, either by using them wisely or knowing when to put them away. Here are six ways to find the silver lining in every cloud.
Whether you had a big party planned or not, being forced to stay in the house for your birthday is a bummer, especially if you’re a kid. Social distancing has made just about everything more complicated, but with the right kid’s birthday party ideas you can still celebrate your little one’s big day at home. All you need is some imagination (and a little sugar wouldn’t hurt).
To help keep families connected during this uncertain time, AT&T is funding 60 days of free access and unlimited usage of Caribu, a video-calling application that allows family members to read, draw, and play games with one another while in distant locations.