Parents + Caregivers
Activities
Educational Television Programming for Kids of All Ages
Cable Compare’s list of the top 15 television shows for children of all ages.
This new website from Cable Compare features articles on a multitude of topics such as how to teach your children to safely navigate and engage with the internet, streaming, and television. Sample article: internetadvisor.com/internet-access-for-kids-parents-guide.
Chicago Public Library’s Learning Journey
Kids and teens are eligible to win a Kindle Fire after completing four CPL activities including Story Time for Kids, Brainfuse Homework Help, or reading one of the Kids Staff Picks!
LawFirm.com Birth Injury Resources
Birth injuries can be caused by a variety of factors, and typically result in traumatic circumstances for families and loved ones of the injured. The folks behind this website work with a national network of licensed birth injury lawyers who fight for justice for families of children experiencing birth injuries.
Mattress Advisor: The Best Bedtime Stories for Kids
A list of 50+ books compiled by Mattress Advisor that make for a great bedtime experience while celebrating diversity and inclusivity.
The University of Chicago "My Very Own Library" Program
The University of Chicago has expanded support for its at-home literacy program by providing online access to virtual libraries and readings. The “My Very Own Library” program will offer online literacy resources in partnership with Scholastic Book Fairs and the NFL Alumni Association. One of the most exciting aspects of virtual read-alongs is that they will be conducted by faculty members, authors, community leaders, and members of the NFL Alumni Association!
Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems!
Weekdays at 10:00pm ET and On Demand
Mo Willems invites YOU into his studio every day for his LUNCH DOODLE. Learners worldwide can draw, doodle and explore new ways of writing by visiting Mo’s studio virtually once a day for the next few weeks. Grab some paper and pencils, pens, or crayons and join Mo to explore ways of writing and making together. If you post your art to social media, be sure to hashtag it with #MoLunchDoodles!
American Writers Museum’s "Little Squirrel Storytime"
Saturdays at 10:30am
Every Saturday at 10:30 am, tune in to the AWM’s popular weekly storytelling program for kids that can be streamed directly from the American Writers Museum’s Facebook page. Previous guest storytellers include author and illustrator Elena Baydina, author and journalist David W. Berner, and musician John Stirratt from the band Wilco.
Delish Free Digital Cooking Classes
Weekdays at 12:00pm
Delish's editorial director Joanna Saltz and her kids will be going live on Instagram every weekday to share cook-along videos for you and your little ones. Click the link above to get a sneak a peek at what they will be cooking, and prepare your shopping list. Don't stress if you can't join in real time; the videos will be saved on Instagram for 24 hours.
Hosted by two LA-based comedy writer/director/actors, "Storytime" is a free, short-form reading show for children, parents, and educators. The site has more than 100 read-aloud videos available, from Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? to The Story of Ferdinand.
PebbleGo is a curricular content hub specifically designed for K to 3rd students. PebbleGo boosts engagement and fosters independent learning in core subject areas. With informational articles and ready-made activities, students of all abilities are supported. Take advantage of the limited-time free access to PebbleGo’s subscription-based hub through June 30, 2020.
How to Keep Your Children Safe When Watching TV
Parenting has always been about striking a balance between protecting children and giving them the freedom to explore the world, find themselves, and establish their independence. While this has never been an easy task, it seems like a much harder one today, with children exposed to so much more much earlier than kids of previous generations. This article outlines some of the main risks involved in watching TV in the modern age, as well as some strategies to help you help your kids as they navigate the information-soaked, media-heavy time in which we now live.
MyKidzCoach | Homeschooling Services for Overworked Parents
MyKidzCoach provides affordable, hourly virtual coaching for elementary school students learning at home. The array of educational services are fully customizable: STEM, storytelling, math, reading comprehension, and beyond. Parents may also provide their child’s daily distance curriculum, and their Coach will work with the child to complete the day’s work. This is a great resource for parents looking for a bit of a break, but also wanting their child to keep busy and learning.
CPS has compiled a collection of resources to assist families with the continuation of learning at home as well as food assistance and healthcare access during these uncertain times. These resources are available in both English and Spanish, and any questions that may arise may be directed to the CPS Command Center at 773-553-KIDS or familyservices@cps.edu .
Chicago Public Schools Virtual Library
Visit the CPS Virtual Library for digital resources to support teaching and learning. Resources are available to all CPS students from home and school. The virtual library includes the catalogs of the print and digital collections of almost 400 CPS schools, CPS Virtual Elementary and High School Libraries of 14,000 eBooks and eAudiobooks, and a CPS Professional Virtual Library. Families can contact their school communities or reach out to libraries@cps.edu for student log-in information.
During these uncertain times, the safety of Chicago students, families, and public school staff is of the utmost importance. As urgent issues continue to arise from the COVID-19 pandemic, Kids First Chicago has curated a Resource Guide including “Food Options and Healthy Meals”, “Medical Care”, “Undocumented Communities”, and more. Visit https://guide.kidsfirstchicago.org/covid_19 for further information.
Resources
VOMO's Be-a-Neighbor Initiative
Volunteers are critical to the COVID-19 response and frontline community organizations are witnessing a tsunami of need. VOMO is a volunteer platform so that anyone, anywhere can find ways to help. Create a free VOMO profile to explore virtual and in-person opportunities in the Chicago area.
Tarjimly - Seeking Volunteer Translators & Interpreters
Refugees and immigrants are some of the hardest hit by this pandemic because there is still a large information gap for non-English speakers. Tarjimly is offering free translation and interpretation in 60+ languages to help with this public health crisis. Volunteers who are multilingual can download the Tarjimly mobile app and sign up to assist as translators based on availability and proficiency.