Hello friends!

I hope this finds you well and safe in this historical time in which we find ourselves.

There is already plenty of information floating around in the form of mask-making tutorials, homeschooling schedules, and home workout videos.  I’ve compiled some information to keep my people safe and sane in other ways. 

Create a Schedule (if that works for you)

• Make it realistic and forgiving: this is a time of uncertainty.  If having a schedule is helpful to keep your household peaceful, make one - but forgive yourself and your family members if it is not strictly adhered to. Suggestions to a balanced, happy schedule include: 

  • Homework

  • Chores

  • Exercise

  • Eating

  • Cooking

  • Cleaning

  • meditating/reading/journaling

Insert plug for my newest book on Amazon: The Gift of Gravity.  This is a thought-provoking workbook I started many months ago, but was inspired to finish for this time.  It is part gratitude journal, part creative outlet. Made for kids and adults alike, it makes a great way to get your kids off of screens and draw/doodle/write. 

Sleep!

• I’m so into sleep - for adults and kids alike - it’s when our body can rest and repair. I’ve kept my kids’ bedtimes the same and they are sleeping in over an hour each morning from the time I used to wake them up.  So am I. That means our bodies’ needed seven more hours of sleep a week - that’s a lot.

• There are plenty of links to the importance of sleep on the links page of this site.

Screen Time: It’s Unavoidable, Time to Mitigate Damage

• The blue light from screens is damaging to eyes and sleep.  

• To lessen the effects of blue light, wearing cheap blue light blocking glasses are helpful. These are my favorites so far:

More Time on Screens = Pay Attention to Posture!

• Hunched shoulders with forward heads are plaguing our society. While this is not ideal for adults, it is horrific for kids. Unless we correct and monitor body position, we are handing our kids a lifetime of suboptimal posture which translates into a lifetime of pain and restricted mobility.  Please be mindful of your family’s posture while we are on screens all day!

• Best Video to Correct Posture: Click Here.
  *** Also, consider a standing desk from time to time. Even sitting with perfect posture is not ideal for hours at a time. 

  Keep Kids Learning

  • Assuming your family is safe, it’s a great opportunity to let kids explore on-line opportunities to pursue alternative learning avenues. Some resources I love: 

    • Khan Academy

    • Brilliant.org

    • TedEd

    • Free Ivy League College Courses you can Take Online

  • Don’t let this be a time to extend the “summer slide”

    • https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/28/opinion/28smink.html

  Use this Opportunity to Foster Independence and Responsibility 

  • Chores: Right now chores aren’t made up things kids do as punishment or in exchange for money.  They can see that the dishes need washing, the dog needs walking and the trash needs emptying. Foster their sense of agency and independence by allowing them to help keep their home clean and organized. (Or as close to that as you can get, in my case) 

  Model Expressing Thoughts/Emotions

  • Even though we think we can hide things from our kids, we can’t. The best we can do is express our feeling the best we know how.

  Examples include: 

  • “I’m concerned about grandma’s health right now.”

  • “I don’t know when things will get back to normal, but I feel that we can handle it.”

  • “I’m sorry for losing my temper. I should not have yelled at you and I apologize.”

  • “I feel grateful for our dogs today.”

  Reclaim Your Time

  • There is a point that you need to draw a line from being available to your family ALL THE TIME.

  • “I am currently: working out/reading/lying down, and I’ll help you in 30 minutes.”  Repeat this to all members of your family until you are done. Not only does this model self-care and focus, it also helps foster independence and self-reliance (see above).

  Test Prep 

  • While test dates are uncertain, your personal test prep should continue.  Why not?

  Test Updates: 

  • June SAT Cancelled: September test date added  ]

  • Next ACT is June 13 (for now)

  • ISEE might be available at home on-line

  Remember: We’re here for you!  My team and I have gotten pretty good at remote tutoring using technology.  We are officially living in the future. 

  Need Inspiration?  Let kids be kids! Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbX6aMfPtEw

  Need a laugh?  Take a look: 18 Parents Who Are Having A Way Worse Quarantine Than You Are