Boy, have things changed since this post was originally written. We had the intention of prepping as the outbreak was just started to gain steam. We’ve now added an addendum at the top, followed by the original post.
There are so many wonderful resources being circulated during this time: storytime videos, free access to educational websites, crafts, scavenger hunts, zoo livestreams — awesome!
Since we have a preschooler and a toddler, so we have a little more wiggle room for daily activities (read: no home schooling requirements!) Instead of a daily schedule, I’m using a daily list. These are options, to fit in wherever we can depending on how the day is going.
- Date and weather (white board and weather chart)
- Physical activity/gross motor (yoga or dance party)
- Writing practice (letters or numbers)
- Create something new (craft, bake, art)
- Learning video (pick any topic!)
- Game (memory, Jenga, card game, board game)
- Dramatic play (Lego “assignment,” play prompt for train tracks, dress up, etc.)
- Soul and community care (Connect with Jesus or the community. Do something positive for neighbors (i.e. chalk your walk), reach out to family (i.e. draw pictures to mail), read a Bible story, watch a video from the church app))
These are options, not requirements. Stay home, wash your hands, and give yourself and your family as much grace is required to make it through social distancing.
*Original Post*
A confluence of roles in my career (news curation and safety education messaging, primarily) have driven me in most times of crisis to consume a lot of information, leading to an insatiable need to disseminate anything that could help people. God bless my family and friends for tolerating my enthusiasm.
We wash our hands thoroughly and regularly, but my preschooler insisted on licking the stroller handle this morning, so there’s only so much I can do.
I’m not a scientist, journalist, or government official. I’m a mom with a toddler and a preschooler. Here’s how I stay informed, why we take this seriously, and how I’m managing my household as Covid-19 cases ramp up around us.
“Preparing for the almost inevitable global spread of this virus […] is one of the most pro-social, altruistic things you can do in response to potential disruptions of this kind.”
Scientific American
Stay Informed
This post is accurate at the time of posting. But things can change quickly. Here are my main sources to stay informed with accurate information:
- CDC
- Local board of health (Google your county name, state and “board of health” to find the website)
- WHO (especially for international information)
Concerned about being mis-informed? Have opinions about how the media is covering the pandemic? Just go straight to the sources.
Reputable news organizations with high journalistic standards and credible, trustworthy reporters should also be reliable sources (i.e. the New York Times has some kid-specific coverage). Refresh your skills for assessing credible information, especially if you get most of your news from Facebook, with this handy guide from Harvard.
Side story on measuring your response to crisis: I will never forget commuting home on the metro one evening in DC when the train stopped between stations and the lights flickered out. This was infrequent, but not unheard of. Everyone sat quietly and scrolled through our phones waiting to move again. Everyone, except one tourist lady. You could tell she was a tourist because she immediately started panicking. “Why did we stop? Can we open the doors? Should we pry them open and just get off into the tunnel? I already drank my last water bottle!!!!” (*Digs around in purse frantically*)
We weren’t stopped for 30 seconds before she was to the bottom of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. So my advice in any unfamiliar, seemingly scary situation is to look to the locals. If she had noticed none of us panicking, she could have deduced she wasn’t in danger.
For Covid-19, I’m considering epidemiologists and healthcare providers the “locals.” And I’m seeing some concerning things. So I’m following their lead, and taking this seriously.
The Basics
I’ll let the experts speak here (i.e. wash your hands, don’t go out if you’re sick, etc.), but I will add this video of hand washing was very intriguing for my preschooler. He loved the visual of the paint showing everywhere you have to scrub, and I kid you not– now washes following all the steps she shows.
He also coughs into my mouth, so ya win some ya lose some.
The 15-month-old is enthusiastic yet ineffective with hand washing, as you’d expect. He already had the flu this year, so we continue to be diligent in this practice. I have to wipe down sinks and change out towels at least once a day if not more, with all the splashing and touching shenanigans.
Also, if you want to get suuuuuper nerdy here’s a very science-y explainer for how soap works. Fascinating. And now everything makes sense.
Social Distancing
I’m going to let other people explain why it’s important to not haughtily brush off the virus (or any illness…) like you’re some above-the-fray super human who isn’t worried about getting sick. (Hint: It’s not about you getting sick)
If you’re still being flippant about the risks associated, please move along. This post is not for you.
Stocking Up
All that to say, I’m getting ready for my family to stay inside our house for a bit.
Luckily, as a household with tiny, germ-covered humans and an Amazon Prime subscription, we were already well-stocked on hand sanitizer before The 2020 Great Decimation of Purell and Toilet Paper.
I am solidly in the camp of measured preparedness. Taking things as seriously as they should be taken, but not inciting panic or going overboard. And within preparation, being thoughtful of our actual needs and the needs of those around us.
We purchase what we need and nothing more — no hoarding and no buying beyond the essentials. We know folks with compromised immune systems also need hand sanitizer and disinfectant supplies regularly, and healthcare workers need N-95 masks.
To note, households should always have a supply of food and water in case of an emergency. We had a surprise boil advisory last year, and I was beyond thankful I had my stock of water jugs already in the garage (recommended a gallon per person per day, 3-day supply) so I didn’t have to drag two little kids to the store during the mad rush for water.
We’ve already covered why to stock up, so here’s what I’m doing.
General Protocol:
- Just don’t run low on anything until the virus has peaked and in a downward trend. I’m trying to avoid a situation where things ramp up quickly in my community and I’m critically low on an essential that I was juuuuust about to go buy.
- If you can afford it and have room to store, buy extra of all your essentials, focusing on what would be really sucky to run out of (i.e. laundry detergent, dish detergent, hand soap, trash bags, tissues, paper towels, and yes, toilet paper.
- Here’s how I did it: Take a few minutes to wander around the house, noting anything running low or items you need to function.
- P.S. Read the instructions on cleaning supplies! My Clorox wipes say a surface needs to be visibly wet for FOUR MINUTES to disinfect. (See the CDC’s resource for cleaning your home and approved products)
- Buy extra and then continue regular shopping. Once I have my stash, I’m saving it for when we’re committed to staying home, either for community safety/social distancing or self-quarantine. Until that happends, I’m still buying normal groceries as needed and not making a dent in the extra.
- Based on the toilet paper situation, I’m assuming folks will do other crazy things like make a run on gas. I’m committed to filling up whenever I hit half a tank.
Kid Stuff:
- Extra diapers and wipes. I have at least a month’s supply stashed in the closet that I’m not touching for regular use. And if you’re baby is on the fence size-wise, grab a box one size up.
- Diaper rash cream, acquaphor, anything you use regularly.
- Medicine and sick stuff
- Distilled water for your humidifier.
- Infant/child Tylenol and Ibuprofen.
- Nosefrieda filters.
Food Stuff
The TODAY show has the most comprehensive list I’ve seen, with everything broken down by category and critical information on nutrition and shelf life.
Epicurious has a straightforward informative article of how to stock your pantry for emergencies PLUS a 14-day pantry meal plan.
Here’s what I have tucked away at home and some ideas on stocking up, focusing on the *food we know kids will eat*:
- Shelf-stable milk (i.e. Horizon cartons, if you can find them!)
- Alternative fresh fruit option: I’m buying extra berries and bananas to puree and freeze as oatmeal and yogurt mix-ins, in lieu of our normal fresh berries. Bonus – pre-mooshed bananas can be easily thawed for banana bread!
- Shelf stable meal components like canned vegetables, frozen vegetables, canned fruit. (See the above TODAY show for specific ideas)
- Frozen meat
- I bought pre-cooked meatballs, breaded chicken and fish fillets, and bacon.
- I’m also making double batches of any fresh meat and freezing half of it. Baking chicken breasts? Slice up half and freeze them. Making taco meat? Put half in the freezer. Brown up extra hamburger to add to spaghetti, chili etc. You get it.
- Peanut butter
- Snacks (We can’t live with Lara Bar Minis, Fig Bars, peanut butter filled pretzels, Nutella on naan, and applesauce)
- Breakfast (oatmeal, cereal, pancake mix, cinnamon raisin english muffins and cream cheese)
- Speaking of cheese… (My 15-month-old is obsessed with Gouda slices. So that, plus cheese sticks, cheese slices for grilled cheese, and bags of shredded cheese.)
- Extra of anything you’re low on or would want extra of. I’m throwing an extra loaf of bread in the freezer, grabbing an extra bottle of ketchup, gettting extra coffee beans, half and half/coffee creamer, butter, tortillas, adult snacks like chips and salsa, etc)
Right now it looks like kids are relatively safe from the worst of COVID-19, but keep following the CDC and Healthy Children/AAP for updated guidance. Obviously call your pediatrician if you have questions about your child’s health. Don’t ask me. And especially don’t ask your Facebook moms group.
If you end up with too much of anything, please consider donating diapers to your local diaper bank or food to your local food bank. Low-income folks are going to be hit hard by this. In the same vein, check in your older neighbors or anyone high-risk to see if they need help getting groceries during the pandemic.
What did I miss? Any other useful tips for households with young children? Pop them in the comments!
Comments are moderated. Misinformation (i.e. “It’s just the flu!”) and unhelpful complainers (i.e. “The media is over-hyping this!”) will not be tolerated.
