Family & Kids Activities

Dear Parents,

I know I am a bit late on this, however Earth Day was last week.  There are some really cool activities in the following link that take our environment and make it better!  Check it out!

I know how hard this is on all of us and how ready everyone is to get back to “normal”, however I really want to encourage you to stay the course.  We are all in very unique and challenging circumstances and no one should be comparing their own situation to someone else’s. However, what we can do is support one another in whatever circumstance we are in.  Help your neighbor (with appropriate social distancing!), build the bird feeder in this week’s activity and feed a bird, plant flowers and share them with people in your neighborhood. Do something, anything for someone else. It WILL make you feel better.

Remember that Indiana School District is providing lunch for all students every weekday.  TAKE YOUR CHILD and GO GET ONE! If nothing else, it gets you out of the house in a safe way. If you are lucky enough to not need it, share it with a neighbor.  GO! The district is planning to serve these lunches and they are getting additional funds to do so, so you are NOT taking anything away from anyone.  It also helps your food budget. Please do not hesitate to take advantage of this service. We are all hurting. Do not let a sense of pride keep you from getting a lunch.

If you can help:  according to https://www.wccsradio.com/coronaviruscovid-19-information/

A need you can help with is food for the Salvation Army pantry. They need pasta/spaghetti, pasta sauce, mac n cheese, soups and instant potatoes. If you can donate, contact the office first to let them know you will be dropping off at their location of 635 Water Street, Indiana, PA. Call 724-465-2530 to set up a time to donate items!

If you need help: Check out this web site. I do not know which of these sites is still open, so call first!

Please stay the course! Be safe! Stay home if you can!

Blessings,

Becky

Hi Everyone!

I hope everyone is safe at home and well.

I don’t know about you, but I am finding out some interesting and worrisome things about my 7-year-old granddaughter that I think may be universal truths among children and some adults.  She knows the “rules” about washing her hands, but she is forgetting more frequently. She knows about “social distancing” but doesn’t understand why.  She is seeing more and more people wearing masks and she has worn her mask, but she just doesn’t get it.  How can she?  She is so little and has no life experience to base this surreal situation on.  We, as adults, have no life experience to refer to on this one!

So, this really got me to thinking about how I could explain all of this to her without causing any more fear than she already has and calm her anxiety about the masks and social distancing.

My other thought this week has been about what to do with all the toilet paper rolls that we have in our house! I found some fun activities for kids of all ages to do and things to make with all those rolls.  The coolest one I have seen is the marble roll! I can’t wait to try that one with my granddaughter.  Check out the link to find some great activities.

Finally, for all of us, trying to do our best with our kids, watch the following video. It is worth your time!

Be well and be safe!

Becky

We would like to take a moment to introduce you to some of our staff. We’re all in this together. Meet Paula Lieb our Director of Sports. We are so grateful to have Paula on our team and can’t wait for you to meet her in person once we can reopen. If you have any questions or suggestions for Paula please reach out to her at Paula Lieb.

I’m Paula Lieb, Director of Sports at the YMCA of Indiana County. I started at the YMCA as a child, playing sports, being on swim team, a camper in our summer camp, and volunteering. After graduating from IUP with my Master of Education in Health and Physical Education: K-12 teacher certification, it was only natural that the YMCA become a part of my life again. My job helps me grow in many ways including coaching youth and adaptive sports, overseeing adult sports, and allows me to use my various certifications to teach all the things I love including lifeguarding, CPR/First Aid/AED, and swim lessons. Serving my community is my passion, and the Y let’s me do just that. I hope to see you all soon so we can have some fun and play some sports!

On this rainy and dreary day, check out this is a fun activity to do at home.

Foam Bubbles Sensory Play

Check out these soccer skills from our Director of Sports, Paula Lieb.

I’m Paula Lieb, Director of Sports at the YMCA of Indiana County. I started at the YMCA as a child, playing sports, being on swim team, a camper in our summer camp, and volunteering. After graduating from IUP with my Master of Education in Health and Physical Education: K-12 teacher certification, it was only natural that the YMCA become a part of my life again. My job helps me grow in many ways including coaching youth and adaptive sports, overseeing adult sports, and allows me to use my various certifications to teach all the things I love including lifeguarding, CPR/First Aid/AED, and swim lessons. Serving my community is my passion, and the Y let’s me do just that. I hope to see you all soon so we can have some fun and play some sports!

Hi Parents!

I hope this letter finds you all well.  If you are like me, you are running out of ideas to keep your child engaged while staying in.  I thought I would share some ideas that can re-fresh some things that you have in the house already.

I had shared a playdough recipe with you in the first letter I sent (don’t worry, I am attaching it to this one as well!), and I thought I would send some fresh ideas for playing with that.  Kids always love playdough, even the big ones!  When playing with the playdough add some beads, small toys, straws, toothpicks, etc. to the area. Your child can use these things to decorate their creations. There are several bug themed mats attached to this letter.  Each mat can be printed and put in a sleeve protector or, if you have a laminator at home, laminated. The playdough mats are fun because the child can create his/her own “new” bug or create one that they have seen before. It is a great way to build vocabulary and talk about different experiences that you have had with bugs.  You can also go on a bug hunt when you are out for a walk or in the yard (with proper social distancing please!).

Another fun way to play with the bug theme and get some much-needed energy out is to play “Bug Crawl”.  When the name of a bug is called the child tries to “walk” like that bug.  Don’t make yourself crazy with being sure whatever you call out is actually an insect…it’s ok to use spider and worm.  Get creative with your kids and play along! butterfly, legs, play,  snail, web

Looking forward to next week, save your egg cartons!  I have a really neat art project I am going to share with you.

Be on the look out for some announcements about interactive sessions with me over the next few weeks!  I am very excited about what we are going to do!

In the meantime, be safe, stay at home, remain calm, and try to enjoy this time with your child. You will never get it back again.

Becky

Set time aside for reading. You can read the same book together, independently, or with the support of free online storytelling. This website here features celebrity storytellers that are known and loved.

Some great information from our very own Rebecca Chadwick.
Social distancing doesn’t mean that you must cancel your playdates! You can do them virtually! Skype, Zoom, WhatsApp, are at least three free ways that you can set up virtual playdates for your children. The following web address takes you to a site that has a list of ways that kids can play virtually. Find out more

So check it out! It would be great for older kids as well.