My top kid edutainment while working from home; and COVID-19 reflections

This week marks exactly four months since I last set foot in my office and my world, all of our worlds, changed because of COVID-19. I remember that day, Thursday, March 12, vividly and shake my head at how naïve I was when my colleagues and I chatted after we were told that we probably wouldn’t be back in the office for “just a few weeks.” And today, there is no clear idea of when I will return to the office or any sense of normalcy.

At that point, I didn’t understand a lot about COVID-19, and it seemed like a virus that wouldn’t impact my little corner of the world. I was pretty excited to be honest about the thought of working from home for two weeks. I love working from home and was never a fan of my long commute to the office, so I got excited about the possibility of working remotely while this COVID-19 situation got figured out. I came home and with excitement planned all of the daytime dates I could have with my husband and lunchtime Orangetheory classes I could attend while our daughter was at daycare. It all seemed like an opportunity to slow down the pace of the rat race while we figure out what COVID-19 means in our lives. 

Before those two weeks were up, things changed drastically. There was no return to the office for the foreseeable future, and schools, daycares, restaurants, gyms and churches all shut down in a matter of days in DC. This mini-vacation became anything but, and I struggled to find balance between working full-time, taking care of a two-year old full-time and struggling to maintain some ounce of normalcy in my marriage and our overall household. I’ve written about the challenges of being a working mother during COVID-19, and there’s been a lot written about the impossible task parents have taken on to be productive, intelligent, or at a minimum, alert at work, while at the same time being the diaper-changer, snack-maker, booboo-fixer, storyteller, and all around substitute teacher, realizing that no matter how hard we try, these two roles are in constant conflict with one another. 

But here we are doing it, for better or for worse! I can’t say anyone has it all figured out, but I know some of the most creative, inventive and patient moms who have found some cool ways to make these days bearable and even fun. Through them I’ve gotten support when it was needed most and tips on how to educate and entertain my most active toddler in the moments when a break is needed or the conference calls are endless. 

Here are the activities that are helping me get through work days while also providing some edutainment – some of which I can enjoy with my little rae of sunshine or others she can enjoy independently. Even as the return to daycare will happen soonish, these items will still be clutch on the weekends.

PicassoTiles

These magnetic tiles are a fun stacking system that has turned my child into a mini architect, building houses for her baby shark family, and considering where to place the kitchen, bathrooms and doorways. I see her imagination going wild through this stem-learning tool. Stacking the tiles are a bit of a stress-reliever for me too.

Water Painting Mat

The beauty of this is that it looks like kids are painting, but they are only using water to activate the colors. Actual paint is fun, but hugely unrealistic for middle of the day. This is great for toddlers who will just delight in how they are able to create color creations with water-activated color on the mat.

Outdoor Watersplash Table

Now that it’s sunny and hot, I love to take my laptop and work outdoors while letting my Rae go HAM on this water table. It’s more practical than breaking out a pool in the middle of the day, and she gets to play and create her own water environment with boats, bridges and animals as her water floaties, similar to the bath, pool or beach.

Painting Dots

These are actual paint, but with WAY less mess. Paint is dotted out of an encased tube that allows for painting with different colors, without spraying paint all over your house. So fun and easy to use and clean up.

Circle Time with Miss Monica!

Even though Circle Time with Miss Monica is over for the summer (as she’s transitioned to a summer camp-style online lesson), this has been the best replacement for in-person daycare. Miss Monica’s sunny personality and concrete preschool lessons kept the learning going, and her warm spirit makes my day as well. 🙂