Offering virtual care

As schools and daycares remain closed, many parents are struggling to find reliable childcare while working from home full time.  In addition to this balancing act, is an added concern for health and social distance.

Luckily, in today’s tech-driven world, these things no longer have to be mutually exclusive.  Caregivers can still provide engaging, entertaining, and much needed care virtually.  

While schools are closed, helping children continue to learn is a no-brainer!

• Class materials: Many parents need assistance with the school work their children have been given from teachers and a tutor can be a great resource for them!
• Supplemental class work: Depending on the age of the child, there are a lot of online resources to help with general math and reading skills.
  
• Extra-curricular activities: Sometimes it’s fun to branch out and learn new things.  A tutor can help with new skills such as learning a new language, providing music instructions, or singing lessons.

There are a variety of free workouts that match the needs/physicality of different ages that can be found on YouTube and other sites (just make sure the sitter watches it first!). 

• Yoga: This can either be guided by the sitter or they can both follow along to a video.
• Dancing: No video needed!  Just turn on some of the children’s favorite jams and start moving!
• Cardio: Play 60 has videos put on by the pros.

Even though you may not be able to leave the house, that doesn’t mean you can’t go to new places.  Virtual field trips are a great way to ‘get out’ and see new things.

• We are teachers: Check out their list of top virtual field trips.
• Discovery Education: Each field trip also has supplemental activities that the sitter and child can go through together.
• Many local museums and zoos are also providing virtual content if you want to ‘stay closer to home’ 🙂

It’s a tale as old as time, but reading is a fabulous way to support learning while also entertaining children of all ages. 

• Sitter led: For the youngins’, story time is a great way to keep them engaged and entertained.
• Child led: For the new readers, they can read to the sitter who can assist if they run into any words they may not know. 
• Book discussions: For older children, the sitter can read the same book they are reading and do discussions after every few chapters.

Every kid knows the best part of having a babysitter is getting to play fun games with them! And that can still happen even when they’re farther away.

• Virtual games: There are a variety of free online games that can be played between friends.  Just make sure each household’s computer/tablet is compatible with the game and the video conferencing at the same time. 
• Interactive: Even though you’re on a computer, it doesn’t mean that’s the only thing you can use.  Try some classics such as charades, pictionary, or trivia!

With virtual babysitting, it’s still important to remember that the parents should always remain at home in case the child needs any in-person support.  But this will still give parents the time they need to focus on work, homeschool another child, or take a minute for themselves.