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Ashley Jones's (Bridget, B&B) Tips For Staying At Home With Kids

“It seems in this ever changing world, the most important thing we can do as parents is try to fill the home with as much stability and love as we know how,” says Ashley Jones (Bridget, B&B). “As a working mom, I know it’s not easy. So, whatever your day to day life looks like, know you’re doing a great job. People keep asking if I’m picking up a new hobby right now…No!!! I’m just picking up after a toddler! Lol. Visit me to share your stories: AshleyAJones.com.” 

Jones

HOMESCHOOLING:

I’ve been told  pre-K through 2nd grade are the hardest to fully access the online homeschooling techniques schools are offering.

So happy to with these workbooks I’ve had great success with in the past. TInkerActive workbooks proved to be very helpful 

for my stepson Huck in the past and engaging for Hayden. They are offering free downloads to print (check out the letter writing downloads!)

and I highly recommend their books that you will find on the site, too.

[exact link is https://bit.ly/3anWmZH}

Jones

DISCIPLINE

I’m trying to “earn the screen time” including movies, video games, HouseParty (a video chatting app for kids and adults), Zoom calls, etc. 

For younger kids:

Help pick up toys, go to bed on time and eat your vegetables each equal a point/ sticker on our chart.

5 stickers equal a movie. 

For older kids:

Completing homeschool, making beds, clearing the dinner table and even doing their laundry (if they are old enough).

And for teens, they can earn screen time, but also an allowance to help out more than usual during this time.

My friends with tweens and teens are doing well with this method. They can save for something special when this is all over.

This sounds like a simple method that takes minimal time to implement, but not gonna lie, sometimes it’s easier to just give in- so it’s up to us to 

keep some structure!

(Do I hear my single parents out there doing this alone? I AM WITH YOU!)

One note: during this time, please take a moment to set parental controls on your devices.

I found a good resource here

ADD A LITTLE CULTURE TO YOUR DAY:

[exact link for offering virtual tours: https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/museums-galleries/museums-with-virtual-tours]

Top museums around the world offering virtual tours. For older kids, this is awesome to sit down and do with them them. Hayden loves it in shorter spurts. These were our favorites so far:

SMITHSONIAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

BRITISH MUSEUM 

LOUVRE

BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE DALLAS ZOO! ON INSTAGRAM. 

CELEBRITY BOOK READING

(OLAF FROM FROZEN’S JOSH GAD)

@JOSHGAD on twitter reads books to kids. (Voice of Olaf) I believe he is pledging to do it everyday. (thx, Josh!)

check #savewithstories to see some of your favorite celebrities reading children’s books (working with No Kid Hungry during this time to feed children).

All of these things are fun to airplay to the computer to the tv and do this with the kids.

STAY HEALTHY

Sanitize!! Make sure you are sanitizing high traffic surfaces: doorknobs, sink faucets, stroller handles, scooter handles, kitchen counters, keyboards and cell phones!

Keep hands moisturized during this time, especially yours. If you’re like me, you’re washing your hands and your child’s hands more often than usual. 

(I love baeo bare butter for all ages from infant onward. baeo.com)

Stay on track with meals so there’s not snacking all day long (talking to myself here).

Keep the water intake up. 

Add a good probiotic (so important).

Keeps your kids (and you) as healthy as possible right now. 

Keep up their immunity. If you’re running low on immunity-boosting foods (markets seem to be currently limited), don’t skip the vitamins.

We’re taking a potent Multi-vitamin liquid one now from ChildLifeEssentials (yummy orange flavor Hayden loves). 

It’s in stock at iherb.com and get 10% of for readers with code AshleyJones. We’ve been fans for a long time over here and I asked them for a little discount for y’all.

If you’re making a pharmacy run, make sure you are stocked up on basic medications for the household.

I also like to keep organic Lolleez on hand for Hayden (and let’s be honest- me, too- see photo of me sneaking in a corner to have a watermelon pop! lol It keeps me from snacking all day long). 

Jones

They soothe the throat and 

are flat in shape (so less worry of choking). Tumeez soothe the tummy and have calcium.

Pharmacies have them and amazon is back in stock on April 3rd.

[exact link https://bit.ly/momeezajones]

STAY ACTIVE

Amazon Prime has some great options like kids yoga, we like COSMIC KIDS’ ADVENTURES

Dance Parties!!!

We’re taking turns picking a song and having a full on dance party. 

Hayden loves it, it gets us moving (in between dog walks) and lifts the spirits. I promise you’ll smile!!

STAY SANE

I’ve been Zooming calls with girlfriends (and even B&B cast and writers!). Make sure you get enough adult connection. It isn’t easy to carve it out with toddlers, but important. 

Download the Zoom app to see what all the hype is about.

Jones

Jones

Courtesy of Ashley Jones

Busy Toddler is an excellent resource. There’s a downloadable link for 35 things to do right now at home.

I’m adding new ideas to the blog as often as possible, with links to things that are helping me.  Would love to see you there:

www.AshleyAJones.com

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