The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has made it harder for kids and families to maintain healthy habits. Here are some tips and ideas to help you get back on track.
Hygiene
A hand-washing guide from the CDC for families to prevent the spread of germs and disease.
Help young children learn effective hand-washing strategies with this fun video from PBS featuring Daniel Tiger.
A toolkit for parents of young children that provides strategies to foster learning, physical health, and emotional wellbeing during the COVID-19 crisis.
From the Cincinnati Children's blog, learn how one family with immunocompromised members is handling the pandemic.
Physical Activity
The Division of Sports Medicine at Cincinnati Children's offers tips for encouraging exercise at home.
Engage your toddler in active play, indoors and out, with these tips from the ZERO TO THREE website.
Help your child stay active and develop skills with these fun ideas from Active for Life.
Enjoy fresh air, sunshine, and the beauty of nature while you explore the Great Parks of Hamilton County. Trails welcome people of all ages, and you may be eligible for free entry. Hike seven trails to become a Master Hiker!
Cincinnati Nature Center: At Home with Nature
Enjoy nature in your own back yard with these outdoor activities for all ages.
Get moving with these engaging videos and games designed for kids, families, and schools. GoNoodle provides a wide variety of activities for different ages, interests, skills, and abilities.
Learn to play fun recess games like Popcorn, Beans on Toast, and I See I See. Playworks has created this Play at Home Playbook so that you can stay active from anywhere.
Improve balance, endurance, and strength with this 25-minute exercise routine for kids. Games such as Red Light, Green Light keep the routine engaging and fun.
The YMCA provides videos of fitness activities that the family can do together from home.
To help you stay healthy and active, the Fit Kids Foundation has provided free access to its home fitness movements for kids. Videos demonstrate the movements in the routines.
Access a collection of videos and resources that support physical education.
The Child Development Institute explains ways parents can promote physical development in children and adolescents. Find a list of developmental milestones at the end of the article.
Nutrition and Eating
From our blog: immunity-boosting food ideas.
Breakfast ideas from the Cincinnati Children's blog to start the day right.
Since lunch is often eaten outside the home at work or school, families spending more time at home may be struggling with meal ideas. Check out these simple, healthy meals.
A toolkit for food planning during the COVID-19 crisis.
Tips for saving time, money, and making healthy choices from the Cincinnati Children's blog.
Healthy eating guidelines for children from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Center for Better Health and Nutrition at Cincinnati Children's presents a series of videos on how families can maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle.
Sleep
Cincinnati Children's pediatrician Jill Klein, MD, shares six tips for encourage kids to sleep better and longer at night.
The Pediatric Sleep Council provides advice on a wide variety of sleep questions relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Healthy sleep recommendations for children from the National Sleep Foundation.
Watch a video from Boys Town about creating healthy bedtime habits for children.
Learn how a bedtime pass could help reduce instances of children crying or leaving their room at bedtime.
Many parents find their toddler's bedtime to be the hardest part of the day. This quick guide provides tips for parents on tackling common toddler sleep problems.
Teach your child strategies for healthy sleep with this kid-friendly website from the National Sleep Foundation.
A guide from Cincinnati Children's on how to improve sleep for teenagers with ADHD.
Find children books, lesson plans, apps and more to help children and adolescents learn healthy sleep practices.
In this article from the American Sleep Association, learn the effects of sleep deprivation on the physical health and wellbeing of adolescents.
Screen Time
Help for establishing technology rules in your home.
Print these conversation cards from PBS to promote positive interactions between you and your child during their favorite television shows.
Tips from the Child Mind Institute for healthy screen time.