The Covid 19 pandemic is problematic enough, but combining it with caring for a child makes things downright daunting. Worrying about your child’s health, your own health, and dealing with social distancing adds layers to the already formidable task of caring for a young child. Fortunately, technology is on every mom’s side. On-line resources can help you navigate these unprecedented times and keep you and your baby smiling.
Many places that are great resources for young families such as the library, community center, and local hospital have adapted their programs to be accessed digitally. Most libraries are offering on-line story times and some have even created digital “rooms” where moms and their children can interact with others. These on-line activities include play times and structured programs for children of all ages and reflect the traditional library programs that you are already familiar with. Community centers and hospitals that typically offer health and wellness classes have switched to digital formats. Check with the ones in your community to see if you can attend an on-line class or access a digital information packet. Be sure to follow your local library, community center, or hospital on Facebook to stay current with all that is available.
Covid 19 has spurred many companies to offer several free resources. Is there reading material that you really want but haven’t been able to afford? Amazon is offering a selection of free or discounted audio books, as well as “Saturday Morning Cartoons” which can help break up quiet times with your little one. If you like a company and you don’t see something on their website, make sure you sign up for social media posts and emails–you just might be able to access resources normally out of reach. There are also other traditionally free ebook resources like Project Gutenberg https://www.gutenberg.org/> or Librivox https://librivox.org/that you can tap into.
In addition to well-known companies, there are many other places to connect for entertainment for you and your little one. YouTube has videos that can teach you how to do a mother and child workout. There are also popular parent magazines that have similar offerings. https://www.parents.com/parenting/moms/healthy-mom/mommy-and-me-workout/. These workouts not only help you, they can also stimulate your child’s growth and interest in the world. If you are looking for quiet time, YouTube is a great source of relaxing music. Not every song works for every child so be sure to check different channels as you find what is best for yours.
And always remember that if being alone with your child becomes too overwhelming, help is just a phone call away. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your doctor, lactation consultant, or the hospital you delivered at for support. If you want to ensure that homeless pregnant mothers are able to receive this same type of support, please visit our website at stgiannasplace.org.