A Message from your NASA MAF Employee Assistance Program Office and EAP Coordinator Porter Pryor:
Assistance for Parents Who May Need a Little Help Keeping Kids Entertained and Educated at Home
With positive COVID cases rising, it’s possible that parents may find themselves quarantined at home with kids for brief periods. While schools may be providing online assignment for students to complete, finding additional ways to keep kids interested and occupied throughout the day can be challenging. Listed below is a variety of online links from The United States Department of Education website (https://www.ed.gov/) that can assist parents with new ideas to help their kids have fun while learning.
At Home Activities
Department of Defense: Learn about careers in STEM fields
Department of Education National Center for Education Statistics: Kids’ Zone
Department of Energy: Games and Activities; Virtual Field Trips to National Energy Labs
Environmental Protection Agency: Games, Quizzes, and Videos about the Environment
The Library of Congress: Presentations and Activities to Help Students Learn about History
NASA: Interactive Lessons about Space, Earth, Solar System and Universe; Lessons from Astronauts about Living in Space; STEM Activities for Students of All Ages
The Kennedy Center: Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems; Tour the Kennedy Center with The Pigeon
The Smithsonian: Free Smithsonian STEM Games and Simulations; Meet the Animals of the National Zoo; 3D Exhibits and Virtual Tours; Smithsonian Magazine Ten Museums You Can Virtually Visit; The Museum of Natural History Virtual Tour; Digital Smithsonian American Art Museum; Distance Learning Resources
NOAA: Use Real-Time Ocean Data to Explore the Environment
USGS: Learn from Home About Physical science, Geography and Maps
Helping Children Manage Anxiety
In addition, the National Parent/Teacher Association has tips for helping children manage anxiety brought about by the pandemic (6 Ways to Help Your Child Manage Their Anxiety During COVID-19 | Our Children (ptaourchildren.org).
Additional mental health/wellness resources from NASA can be found at Health 4 Life – Home (sharepoint.com)
Published January 2022