As many of people continue to work from home or stay closer to home during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, they may be looking for new activities to do with their children. The American Red Cross has some ideas on how to keep children engaged while teaching them something valuable, according to a news release.
No formal instruction is needed. These free activities can be downloaded and used in the comfort of one’s home.
THE PILLOWCASE PROJECT (8 to 12 years old)
Developed for third- to fifth-grade students, The Pillowcase Project aims to increase children’s understanding of natural hazards and empower them to prepare for emergencies. Download resources like My Preparedness Workbook, posters and activity sheets (available in English and Spanish) for kids to learn about home fire prevention and safety and other emergencies, such as tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and more.
Work with children to create a household emergency plan and personal emergency supplies kit.
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If available, encourage children to be creative and decorate a spare pillowcase to hold their own emergency supplies.
PREPARE WITH PEDRO (4 to 8 years old)
A complement to The Pillowcase Project, Prepare with Pedro is designed for kindergarten to second-grade students. Children can follow Pedro the Penguin as he learns how to be prepared for and take action during home fires or other emergencies through a fun and educational story.
Download storybooks in English and Spanish for emergencies, including home fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods and tsunamis.
A disaster preparedness activity book is also available in English and Spanish.
MONSTER GUARD: PREPARE FOR EMERGENCIES APP (7 to 11 years old)
Monster Guard is the first mobile app created by the Red Cross that’s designed specifically for kids to learn how to prepare for emergencies.
Follow Maya, Chad, Olivia and all the monsters as they teach kids how to prepare for emergencies in a fun and engaging game. Users earn points and medals as they role-play as different monsters to identify household hazards, locate safe spaces and practice protective actions for different natural hazards, such as earthquakes, floods, tornadoes and thunderstorms.
Download the free app on iOS and Android mobile and tablet devices by searching “Monster Guard” in an app store or texting ‘MONSTER’ to 90999 to receive a link to download. Children should ask a parent or guardian for permission before downloading the app.
PREPARE AS A FAMILY (entire household)
While people are all at home, they can spend time together preparing for emergencies.
Create a home fire escape plan and practice it until everyone in the household can escape in less than two minutes — the amount of time that fire experts say a person has to escape a burning home before it’s too late. Find more tips and free resources at redcross.org/fire.
Make an emergency plan. With household members, discuss how to prepare and respond to the types of emergencies that are most likely to happen where the family lives, learns, works and plays. Identify responsibilities for each member of the household and how the family will work together as a team. Practice as many elements of the plan as possible.
FIND COVID-19 SAFETY UPDATES
Visit redcross.org/coronavirus for more information on COVID-19 safety. For the latest information, please visit the CDC website at cdc.gov/covid19. Outside the United States, health and safety tips can be found through the World Health Organization and by following a local Red Cross or Red Crescent society’s social media channels (directory.)
Details: redcross.org.