As we have done from the beginning of the Pandemic, we continue to recommend follow the guidelines of the CDC.​  You can find links to  our current transmission level, and other important information and recommendations below: You can always find additional information and the most up to date recommendations on the websites below.  We, of course, will reach out directly, if anything changes.  If you have questions or want additional information regarding how best to stay safe, testing or vaccinations, please do not hesitate to reach out to us so that we can connect you to the appropriate resources.

Center for Disease Control
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Washtenaw County Health Department

As a reminder,  those with symptoms, or that have tested positive test should not be meeting in person.  And all matches should review the Health Questions below before all in-person outings.

Does the Big/Little have:
  • a fever of 100.4 or above?
  • cough (not due to known medical reason, i.e. allergies)?
  • shortness of breath?
  • loss of taste or smell?
  • two of more of the following: chills; muscle aches; headaches; sore throat; fatigue (not otherwise explained by another known cause); diarrhea (excluding diarrhea due to a known medical reason); nausea or vomiting; congestion or runny nose?
  1. STAY CONSISTENT! However you choose to connect, your consistency is more important to your Little now more than ever.  Find days, times, and methods that work best for both of you, create a plan, set a schedule, and stick to it!  This will make it easier on you both, while giving you each something to look forward to and depend on.  
  2. ASK QUESTIONS! It's no surprise that everyone's day-to-day schedule is experiencing incredible upheaval.  Reaching out and chatting with your Little and their parent/guardian about when is best to reach out, what days and time are easiest, and how you can help are questions that will be enormously helpful for you (and your Little!) in staying connected. 
  3. There are a few resources from Greater Good Magazine that we absolutely adore, especially this article on Active Listening and this article detailing the 36 questions you need to increase closeness! 
  4. We absolutely love this quick one-pager from our friends at The Search Institute that outline the keys to building a supportive relationship during crisis. Sneak peek: focus on expressing care, challenging growth, and providing support! 
COMMUNICATION METHODS
Rely on regular phone calls and text messages, or video chats to stay connected with your Little. 
  • Discord - Made for gaming communities, allows you to communicate via video and audio, but video calls are only via 1 to 1 messaging. Also has live streaming capabilities. 
  • FaceTime - An Apple app that lets you use video communication over the phone. 
  • Google Hangouts - Easy to learn and has video and audio capabilities, has screen share, and works well with groups. 
  • Messenger Kids (Facebook) - A simple and safe communication method that keeps parents in the loop. A parent/guardian would have to set-up the account with the child and be present when the child is using it. 
  • Skype - Video and audio communication are free for 1 to 1 calls. 
  • Snail mail - still a thing!  Write letters to your Little (become pen pals!), send postcards, a homemade card, pass along some print-at-home games (like these puzzles or these coloring pages), or send them a homemade craft (like these bracelets, or one of these quick/easy kids crafts)
  • twoseven - Auto Syncs Movies and Videos, but you and your Little must have the same apps installed. 
  • WhatsApp - A messaging service app that is great for local communication whether 1 to 1 or groups.  
  • Zoom - A professional video and audio communication service. Calls are free for 40 minutes. Allows you to schedule meeting times. 
​Develop a talent, skill, or passion together!  There are a ton of experts creating exceptional online content right now that can help you and your Little learn to draw or doodle, perfect an in-home workout, practice ballet, become a scientist, explore the world, become a great cook, learn a second (or third!) language, become a yogi, or learn how to dance! ​

Recreation
  • Schedule game time! Using app-based games like Words with Friends, Draw Something, Chess (click here for the web version), Checkers, Battleship, or Bowling can be great ways to engage and connect with your Little, while enjoying some down time.  Check out this website (and this one too!) for great games you and your Little can play on laptops or desktops. ​​              
    • 21 Questions - A vocal guessing game! Get to know your Little, let your Little get to know you. See website for the rules. 
    • Mad:)Takes -  A Mad:)Take is a goofy word game where you provide several words by type (e.g. a verb, noun, place ...) and then the words get inserted into a brief story.
  • Have a Virtual Movie Night and discuss via phone or text message either during or after. Make sure to get movie selection approved by parent/guardian and here are some great questions (though you'll have to swap the word 'book' for 'movie) to get you going. 
    • Looking for an educational movie or documentary?  There are thousands available on Kanopy or Hoopla that are free with a library card! 
    • Netflix Party is a new way to watch Netflix with your friends online by synchronizing video playback and adding group chat to your favorite Netflix shows!​
  • Does your Little like to build? Purchase duplicate Lego sets or jigsaw puzzles and send one to both you and your Little.  Share your progress by sending photos via text message and see who can complete their project first! 
  • Start a cooperative journal by using a platform like Story Bird or Google Docs to document the day-to-day.  This example provides a great format for this.  
  • Have a virtual book club!  You can read to your Little via FaceTime, WhatsApp, Skype, or Zoom, or plan to read the same book and discuss with each other.  Here are some great book ideas to get started and here's some tips on how to get the conversation going.
    • Have a library card?  Libby is a great resource for accessing downloadable free e-books! 
  •  Looking for indoor activities that share over video chat, or just want to lend a helping hand to a parent looking for the same?  Here are 50 easy/cheap indoor activities to keep kids busy. 
  •   Playworks have created a Play at Home Guide that includes a variety of different games that kids and families can play while home. This Play at Home guide is accompanied by resources available online which includes interactive games with video.
  •  Oxford Owl provides free e-books for children age 3-11! You can use these to read to your Little, or start a book club! ​
  • 826michigan Writing Challenge: Join 826michigan for a weekly writing challenge, presented in short online videos or through downloadable PDF writing exercises. Each week students can write along with our prompts and submit writing for review from Dr. Blotch, 826michigan's infamous, irritating, and oftentimes irrational and entertaining editor. 
  • NEW! BoardGameArena - Play the largest board game in the world! No download required! 
  • NEW! A List of Hands on Crafts to do at Home
 
Education
Arts and Culture
Community Service
Health and Fitness
With school's closed across the area, we know many Bigs will be focused on helping stem the tide of learning loss while their Littles are spending time at home.  Check out the resources below to help your Little stay sharp and continue to focus on their academics from home. 
  • Khan Academy offers a FREE library of trusted, standards-aligned practice and lessons covers math K-12 through early college, grammar, science, history, AP, SAT, and more. They are also offering daily learning schedules for kids throughout the crisis. 
  • Common Sense has a bunch of great (and free!) education websites and apps that kids can access (with parent permission!) to help stem the tide of learning loss.  Check them out here for more info and find what resource might be best for your Little! 
  • Check out Class Central for a free list of online classes that range from computer science and business, to arts/deigns and engineering. This is best for middle/high-school age Littles. 
    • Feeling ambitious and want to turn this into a Match Activity? Take the class alongside your Little! 
  • Is your Little interested in coding? Scratch was designed for children ages 8-16 and uses easy-to-use programming language to let kids build almost anything they can dream. There are no obscure lines of code here. Instead, arrange and snap together Scratch blocks as if they are virtual.
  • NEW! Our friends at Girl Scouts USA developed a new virtual resource - Girl Scouts at Home. Bigs, you can use Girl Scouts USA’s online portal for free access to a wide variety of activities - from STEM experiments and cyber scavenger hunts to drawing lessons and building projects – each broken down by age groups from kindergarten through 12th grade.  Simply share your screen so you can watch the instructional video together and use items that you both have at home.
  • NEW! YpsiWrites is a nonprofit community writing center with trained writing tutors and workshop leaders virtually available to help teen and adult writers with any and all types of writing, including resumes, grants, essays, stories, business plans, poetry, memoirs, and more!  ​
  • Has there ever been a better time for podcasts? Check out this website to access funny, smart, and scientific podcasts that keep kids engaged.  
    • Want to turn this into a Match Activity?  Pick a podcast you both enjoy and listen along together! Then, after each episode, connect and discuss using slightly revised, book-club style questions. 
  • Do you have a teenager interested in public health or psychology?  Here is a laundry list of resources that they can explore! 
    • Want to turn this into a Match Activity?  Pick a resource and explore it together.  Or, have your Little review a specific resource they might be excited about and teach you about what they learned! 
  • Looking for a virtual lesson your Little (and your!) might find interesting?  Check out the TakeLessons YouTube channel for lessons on singing, learning Spanish, learning sign language, playing piano, and much more!
    • Want to turn this into a Match Activity? Take the lesson right alongside your Little and learn together! 
  • Our friends at Scholastic offer day-by-day projects to keep kids in grades K-9 reading, thinking, and growing. These are updated each day and present four separate learning experiences, each built around a thrilling, meaningful story or video. Kids can do them on their own, with their families, or with their teachers. Just find your grade level and let the learning begin!
  • Is your Little interested in writing?  BoomWriter inspires children to write and develop important literacy skills, and our parent app will keep you ‘In the loop’ with your child’s progress.
  • Can't find something you like on the list above?  Check out this website for a full list of educational companies offering free subscriptions. 
  • Looking for content-specific activity ideas? Check out the following

Connection in a Time of Social Distancing: Mentoring Resources and Tips
​Social Distancing Does Not Mean Emotional Distancing: Providing Comfort During These Trying Times
Taking Care of Your Behavioral Health 
NEW! Building Developmental Relationships During the COVID-19 Crisis

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