Un-Distance yourself with online group classes and events for the whole family
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Hi everyone!
This is guest blogger Lori Fettner. I hope you are all staying safe and sane as we navigate this new (hopefully temporary) world of social distancing. When my self-quarantine first began, I eagerly looked for anything online to fill the many hours at home with my 2 young children. I was thrilled to see virtual museum tours, zoos “going live”, and story times by practically every celebrity and non-celebrity out there (even astronauts in space!) But all these shows would add up to hours of screen time! As fun as it all seemed, it quickly became too much.
I thought more about our needs and realized real-time interactions were the most meaningful to fill the social void in our lives. I needed classes where my daughter and I could chat with her classmates and instructor. I also wanted to seek out local businesses who desperately need our support. Turns out there are local interactive activities you can do to enrich your family’s lives during this isolation. Below are some of the offerings I thought would be the most beneficial to other families.
I’ll start with 2 online events I am hosting:
Online author reading!
An interactive reading of my book Goodbye Bad Dreams at https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLoriFettner/ next Saturday, 3/28, at 10 am. This is a special kind of picture book where your child draws the pictures. The book employs a technique used by therapists to get kids talking (and drawing) about what makes them nervous. In addition to being a fun art project, I hope it can help any kids feeling anxious at this time. The child in the book takes each of her bad dreams and turns them into something silly.
In this interactive reading, I’ll be asking kids for their ideas for each dream before revealing what happens in the book. I hope you’ll join me! Visit the Facebook event page to let me know you’re coming. If you are interested in purchasing the book in advance, copies are available locally at A NU Toy Store in Tarrytown as well as Art XO Studio in Irvington. Both stores are doing curbside pickup and local deliveries. It’s also available online at Amazon. Illustrating your copy of Goodbye Bad Dreams is a great afternoon activity, but you don’t need to buy a copy to enjoy my online reading.
Virtual Book Club!
A PJ Library book club for ages 5 to 8 via Zoom will meet next Wednesday, 3/25. We’ll be reading and discussing the funny Passover picture book, The Best Four Questions by Rachelle Burk. I’ll read the story to the group first, so you don’t need a copy to be part of the club. My daughter and I are looking forward to seeing old and new friends at this event! RSVP on the Facebook event page if you’re interested in attending. The time is not yet confirmed, so watch the Facebook event page for more info.
And now for other local online opportunities:
Long-distance Reiki!
Faryn Sand, Westchester mom and certified Reiki practitioner, is offering free 20-minute distance reiki and womb healing sessions for expectant and postpartum mothers. Email Faryn for more info.
Grab & Go DIY Craft Kits and online art classes!
Art XO Studio in Irvington has been doing Grab and Go art project pick up (or delivery within Irvington), and is working to create new online classes for kids. My daughter and I tried a drawing class via Zoom and it was great! Visit their website for more info.
Virtual speech and language therapy!
Gitty Leiner, pediatric speech language pathologist, is offering speech and language therapy via telepractice (Skype or Facetime). If you’re interested, send her an email or visit her website nyspeechtime.com
Cooking classes on Facebook Live!
No Place Like Home had their first free adult cooking class last Thursday at 8:30 pm live on Facebook, and there is more to come for both kids and adults! They will be posting a schedule on their website or send an email if you’d like the recipe ahead of time so you can cook along.
Online Mind Body Boot Camp!
Meghan Covington at Mind Body Fitness is offering a Mind Body Boot Camp that combines yoga, strength training, and cardio to foster the body and mind. All levels are welcome. Saturday classes meet from 9am to 9:45am. Or choose Wednesday from 8am to 8:45am. The cost is $15 for a single class or $60 for a 5-class pack. Email Meghan for more info and to register.
Virtual children’s music class!
Rhea Sings, a children’s musician in Mt. Kisco, has been doing a daily music class via her personal Facebook page. Check it out here.
Online wellness services!
Willow Wisp Wellness has many sessions available online for breath work, sound bathing, meditation, aromatherapy, flower essence therapy, yoga, herbal and cooking support, as well some deeper healing modalities that include different styles of guided meditation and energy techniques that are similar to reiki as well as distance reiki work. They will be hosting online events, most that will be pay by donation.
Online meditation!
Chryssa Tsakiris is an acupuncturist at the Well Collaborative in Sleepy Hollow. They offer virtual health recommendations and a curated 30-minute meditation session. They’re also running breathwork groups through Zoom.
Interactive Yoga!
Hastings Yoga is now offering online classes. Visit their website to see their weekly classes that take place via Zoom.
Online children’s theater classes!
Theater O in Ossining is in the process of moving all their classes online. Visit their website for more info.
Interactive knitting workshops!
Yummy Mindful Knitting provides free group knitting workshops via video conferencing. The only cost is for materials. Message Jessica Meyrowitz on their Facebook page for more details.
Zoom Shabbat Lunch Bunch!
Woodlands Community Temple has been doing meetups for both adults and kids via Zoom and Facebook live. Shabbat Lunch Bunch meets Saturdays at 11:30 am. Visit their website for more info. Get ready to sing and shimmy! Sing and dance along with our rabbis, our beloved early childhood educator Laurie Leibowitz and our very talented (and silly) song leader Kenny Green for some Shabbat afternoon joy! Or check out their other family and adult online services.
Hopefully this list is enough to keep you and your kids busy, relaxed, and socialized during this crisis. But if you need more ideas, join the Facebook group “Elementary School Parent – at home social distancing activity ideas”. It is there that I saw the idea to do a book shelf scavenger hunt, among so many other simple but great activities. And this group, started by an Armonk mom, introduced me to Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems! This has become my daughter’s daily art class. While it is a video, and not technically interactive, Mr. Willems does a great job of making the kids feel like he can see and interact with them. Check it out here.
I hope this inspires you to make the best of your family time at home.
Till next time,
Lori Fettner
PS: To learn more about the books I have authored and to check out my Kids Book Database that features info on the best titles that address almost every childhood dilemma, head to my website.