Centers – Program Activities
Program Activities for Child Care Centers Information to avoid spreading germs during drop-off, pick-up, nap time, and meals. Click on the icons below to jump
Learning Activities for Child Care Centers
It is important to adapt your classroom learning activities and games to meet COVID-19 guidance for social distancing and cleanliness. There are many ways to re-imagine your approaches to promote children’s healthy growth and development while staying safe.
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Activities
Individual Activities
Individual activities can be done with children sitting at different tables or stations. Children can do the same activity at the same time, with individual containers of supplies. Or, children can do different activities, with supplies and toys being cleaned and sanitized in between children. Individualized activities may include:
- Coloring
- Painting
- Putting together puzzles
- Using building blocks
- Crafts
- Making play-doh or slime
- Water and sand play
- Any other toys or activities the children in your program like to do alone
Group Activities
Group activities can be done 6 feet apart. Place children’s chairs, mats, or rugs six feet apart. Group activities may include:
- Clapping games
- Storytelling
- Yoga
- Singing, but only outdoors and wearing masks
- Sprinklers for water play—have children take turns and keep six feet apart
TIP
Use the outdoors! Some activities, like singing, are risky indoors because they can spread droplets that may carry the virus. However, singing and similar activities may be fine outdoors if children stay more than 6 feet apart.
TIP
Provide individual containers for sand and water play for each child. Children should not work together from the same container.
Best Practices
- Distance children naturally, using the environment as your guide.
- Use disposable household items (like q-tips and cotton balls for painting) and natural items from the environment (like stones, sticks, leaves) as materials, so that there is less to clean and sanitize.
- Offer exercises, yoga or dance while practicing six feet of physical distancing.
TIP FOR INFANTS & TODDLERS
Hold and cuddle children. Use your eyes and voice to express emotions. This is critical to working with infants and toddlers.
TIP FOR PRESCHOOLERS
Help children express their feelings in words to foster their literacy development. Create a feeling board where children may add and move around their names.
Ideas for Your Program
Ideas for individuals | click on any photo to enlarge it.
Ideas for groups | click on any photo to enlarge it.
Teaching Children about COVID-19 Health and Safety
All staff and families should be educated about the risk of outbreaks and the importance of maintaining safe practices, including avoiding gatherings outside a single household, outside of work.
Children should receive age-appropriate education about COVID-19 risks. Children should also learn about best practices to avoid risk.
- Teach children about handwashing, mask wearing, and social distancing
TIP
The CDC has resources for teaching children about handwashing that may be appropriate for your program.
TIP
Zero to Three has tips for talking to young children about wearing masks that may be helpful for you or families.
Supporting Children's Mental Health
COVID-19 can affect children’s mental health. Children may feel worried or anxious, or they may miss seeing family or friends. Learning activities can help.
- Model using your eyes, hand signals, and body gestures to express emotions. Encourage children to use their eyes, hand signals, and body gestures to express their emotions.
- Offer exercises, yoga, or dance while practicing six feet of physical distancing for five minutes a day. Movement can soothe children who may feel overwhelmed and anxious.
- Ask questions and encourage children to talk about how they feel
TIP
Ask open-ended questions after story time to allow children to express their thoughts and feelings.
Other Resources to Support Mental Health
Here are many resources that can help you help the children in your program with stress or anxiety they may be feeling.
- Resources to support young children during COVID-19 pandemic, with information on different kinds of stress and trauma
- Tips for helping children cope with changes resulting from COVID-19 from the National Association of School Psychologists
Related Links
Centers – Cleaning and Sanitation
Cleaning and Sanitation for Child Care Centers It is important to keep your center clean and sanitized to prevent the spread of germs. This includes
Centers – Ratios Masks and Set-up
Ratios, Masks, and Space Set-up Information for setting up your center to follow social distancing guidelines Click the icons below to jump to a section