SPECIAL: Coronavirus family guide: Keeping kids healthy now

This weekend I went bear hunting.

Not for real bears, of course. That’s just not something we animal lovers at National Geographic would advocate. But more and more communities are holding “bear hunts,” in which residents place teddy bears and other stuffed creatures in their windows. The idea: While parents take children out to get some much-needed fresh air during these stay-at-home days, children looking out for their “new neighbors” get a surprising—and fun—activity.

A similar idea: a bio blitz—identifying as many living species as you can in a backyard or a block.

These types of activities are becoming more and more important in these increasingly scary times. Parents may be mastering the wash hands, eat right, sleep, and wash hands part, but addressing a child’s mental health is something entirely different. “We’re only starting to understand what the pandemic might mean for children’s mental health and emotional well-being,” writes Jenny Marder for Nat Geo. Her article has insights into what the experts are seeing, as well as tips on how to keep your children mentally healthy.

That means maintaining a flexible schedule and being open and honest about what’s going on. (Here’s an article about talking to kids about coronavirus.) Getting outside is also an important mental health booster.

The hardest one? Exuding a sense of calm yourself—even if you have to fake it.

Maybe a few random teddy bear sightings can help.

What kinds of fun activities are you doing with your children to maintain positive mental health? We want to hear from you!

Does that mean I still have to eat my vegetables? Experts say yes, kids. Keeping immune systems at their highest levels is more important than ever, writes Nat Geo’s Christine Dell’Amore. Thankfully, “kids already tend to have healthier routines than their parents do,” says Laura Gray, a clinical psychologist at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. So, parents, no peanut butter breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the kids—or for you!

If animals can do it, you can: Social distancing, that is. Some animals stay more than six feet away from perceived health threats precisely to keep sickness at bay, Nat Geo’s Sydney Combs reports. Some species, like chimps and honeybees, get aggressive to keep away intruders seen as health risks.

Family discussion (or not): 1. Is it time for a pet? Shelter adoptions are off the charts as we hunker down for the long haul. … 2. Is it time for an animal webcam? Here’s what Animals editor Rachael Bale recommends right now: “If it's the middle of the workday, and I need a moment to clear my head—Monterey Bay Aquarium's jelly cam, for sure,” Rachael says. “If I could use a smile, I'd go to the feed of senior dogs at Old Friends sanctuary.” Here are more ideas.

We asked, you answered: Last week we asked you to tell us about activities you were doing with your kids to keep them occupied during the day. Two of your suggestions: 1) drawing simple maps of the neighborhood and asking youngsters to navigate on bike rides; and 2) playing indoor volleyball with balloons. Read the full list here, then give us more ideas!

One last thing: How does your kid channel wanderlust after the family spring vacation was canceled? Here's a list of 20 recommended children’s books by Nat Geo Travel’s Amy Alipio that transport readers to places like Paris, Nigeria, and Scotland. If you’ve got a more just-the-facts kind of kid, check out geographical knowledge, science discoveries, and animal stories in Nat Geo Kids Almanac 2020.

This newsletter was edited and curated by David Beard. If you want to receive this newsletter regularly, sign up here — or pass this along to a friend. We all need a little help these days. Have a safe and sane week ahead.

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