This newsletter connects faculty, staff, students, and retirees to Cornell-sponsored family-friendly events, activities, workshops, and services. It is distributed twice a month. Brought to you by Work/Life in the Division of Human Resources. Banner photo credit Sarah Nickerson
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Cornell Wellbeing Weekly Update
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The update includes information about physical wellbeing, mental wellbeing, volunteerism, financial wellbeing, adult/elder care, remote work, and other topics. We know it can be really hard to care for the other dimensions of your wellbeing when you are caring for children and working at the same time. Check it out and find a few resources or reminders that may help you along the way.
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Parenting Amid COVID - Cornell Community Chat
Tuesday, April 21, 2020, 1:00-2:00 pm
Let's get together in our virtual offices and homes to support one another.
We'll chat about how we’re doing, challenges we’re facing, and creative practices we’ve discovered to support ourselves, our families, and our community. Guest expert Diane Bradac, Cornell Work/Life Consultant, will participate in a facilitated discussion about parenting amid the COVID crisis.
Join via
Zoom.
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Creating Toddler Routines and Rituals
Friday, April 24, 2020,12:00-1:00 pm
There is no shortage of resources on ways to keep children busy at home: homeschooling blogs, virtual classes, Pinterest boards, and activities galore. This webinar is an invitation to step back from
doing
and find ways to create harmony and routine during periods of transition.
Jessica Custer-Bindel, Child Care/ Infant & Toddler Specialist from the Child Development Council,
will focus on how to create routines for toddlers, how to establish secure attachment through play, and how to reassure and support our little ones through connection, emotional regulation, and home rituals.
Meeting ID: 969 4702 5124
Password: 028779
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Toddler Talk
- Wednesday, April 22, 2020, 7:30-8:15 pm (Toilet Training)
- Thursday, April 23, 2020, 7:30-8:15 pm (Mealtime Routines)
Join Cornell Cooperative Extension for open conversations about living with toddlers. These 45-minute talks are
designed
for parents and other caregivers of toddlers (children between 12-36 months of age). Participation is free, but advanced registration is required.
To register, c
ontact Jane Juran at
jsj79@cornell.edu
. Please include your full name, the ages of your children, the session(s) you would like to register for and
your email address. Once your registration is received, a link to the Zoom meeting(s) will be emailed to you.
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Activities for Children & Families
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"Send a Smile" Message to Older Adults
Your child(ren) can help raise the spirits of those who are isolated and lonely. Send artwork, a letter, or a video that can be shared with individuals living alone or facilities who have requested some spirit-lifting content for residents. Send content to
SendASmileTompkins@gmail.com
Examples:
- Card/letter/story/poem: hobbies, school, pets, weather, music, movies, books, sports
- Pictures: flowers or animals in your yard, an inspiring sign, an art project
- Video: play an instrument, sing, dance, show off a magic trick, tell a joke, read a book
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Cornell Kids@Home
Check out
videos and activities
designed for kids! Cornell and community experts are sharing fun and fascinating knowledge tailored just for kids, plus activities to entertain and engage. Watch this
Learn to Juggle
video with Frank Towner of the Ithaca YMCA!
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Workout Wednesday
-
Fit Family
April 22, 2020, 12:00 - 12:30 pm
Tune in with Wellness & Fitness Specialist Keri Johnson and her son Zyphyr on
Cornell Wellness Facebook Live
for an aerobic workout that includes games, challenges and
--
most importantly
–
smiles. Take a break from the day and add a little fitness fun
for
the whole family!
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Earth Day Celebration in Tompkins County
On Wednesday, April 22nd, over
50 local presenters and performers
will be participating in the 50th anniversary celebration of Earth Day in the Tompkins County area. The Earth Day celebration, with the theme of “Connection, Solidarity, & Action,” is an opportunity to share information on activities related to improving the health of our natural environment and our communities; reinforce the feelings and actions of solidarity that have arisen from the COVID-19 response; and make connections to others who may be able to help.
This free program will be streamed live on the
Get Your GreenBack Tompkins
Facebook page from 2:00 - 6:00 pm. One portion of the program--from 4-5 PM--is specially focused on families with children. Attendees may also join via Zoom (a link for this option will be on the Earth Day website).
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History at Home for Kids
The sets contain writing, crafting, coloring, and building activities on topics such as our region’s history as a silent film hotspot in the early 1900's. Certain activities were created in collaboration with the schools and qualify for ELA goals (noted on specific activity pages). Recently completed are
All About Tommy
(5 activities inspired by the Tommy Plane in our Exhibit Hall),
The Ithaca Kitty
(4 activities inspired by the world famous polydactyl
Caesar Grimalkin
),
and
the Tompkins County Coloring Book
(11 images depicting local scenes, public spaces, and historic objects from Tompkins County).
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Read Aloud Sites
Reading aloud to kids has many benefits - including expanding their vocabulary, modeling fluent reading and improving their long-term reading success. We have gathered the following list of read aloud sites that you can watch with your kids.
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Make Your Own Face Mask
New York is now requiring us to wear face masks but finding them in stores is difficult, if not impossible. Luckily, you can make them at home with very few materials. The NY Times has released a
video
on how to make one from a t-shirt and the CDC has a site dedicated to
face mask guidelines
offering
several homemade options - one that requires sewing and two that do not. Get your entire family involved and make customized masks with decorations and designs!
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Get Growing
Earth Day is April 22nd and it's a perfect opportunity to start a garden with the kids. Josh Dolan from Cornell Cooperative Extension has
created a
video
on how to build a raised garden bed. These types of gardens are perfect for smaller areas, easier for children to access, and help keep slugs at bay. Cornell's Home Gardening
website
has links to excellent resources, including Vegetable Varieties for Gardeners, Vegetable Disease Factsheets, and growing guides for more than 50 different vegetables.
Eartheasy offers this great guide to
top ten crops for kids
that
are
relatively easy to grow.
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Chalk it Out
Many of us enjoy creating masterpieces with sidewalk chalk, and the return of spring offers the perfect opportunity to do so. Coloring with chalk is inexpensive, messy enough to keep the kids entertained and easy to clean up. Try your hand at chalk art designed to resemble stained glass. Simply tape out a design on your sidewalk or driveway and then let you kids fill in the spaces.
Your Modern Family
provides some suggestions on how to create your best artwork and even get your neighbors involved -- without getting close! It is a great outdoor quarantine activity that teaches children about shapes, geometry and art.
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Explore Our Beautiful Area
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Parenting teens under normal circumstances can be trying, but being under quarantine heightens stress levels, especially if you have a High School senior or college-age child at home who is used to being independent. The podcast
Dying to Ask
has an
episode
that addresses this very topic!
This
article
by
Grown and Flown
helps reassure high school seniors who won't have a typical
graduation
experience. Below
are
some activities for your teen to check out.
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LinkedIn Learning for Teens
Current Cornell faculty, students, and staff have free, unlimited access to
LinkedIn Learning
(formerly Lynda.com). There are thousands of video tutorials available, featuring training for the latest software, creative, and business skills. You'll need to use your Cornell NetID to
login your teen
.
Here are a few courses that may appeal to older kids:
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Social Media Test Drive
Social Media Test Drive
is a free digital learning resource that was created by researchers in Cornell University's Social Media Lab in collaboration with Common Sense Education. Parents and educators can use this tool to teach pre-teens and teens about how to use social media in a positive and responsible way. Some of the module topics include healthy social media habits, phishing & scams, and shaping a digital footprint. Visit the
website
to learn more and to try out a module.
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Remote Work: Tips for Families
Struggling with Slow Internet or Poor Cell Service?
Many of us live in rural areas where the WiFi and/or cell service is sub par, which makes working remotely a challenge.
IT@Cornell
offers some suggestions to make your remote experience easier.
If you have good cell service but poor WiFi,
PCMag explains how you can turn your cell phone into a WiFi hotspot.
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Interested in more parenting-related community events/activities?
Have a question or a resource to share with others?
Learn more
about the interactive email lists available and join today!
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