First and foremost, here at the archdiocese, we are actively and steadfastly praying for our St. Louis community, the country at large, and those affected by the coronavirus pandemic around the world. While the news is an unsettling constant in our lives right now, we know that prayer and community are invaluable comforts as we manage the anxieties of life amidst COVID-19.
With that in mind, we wanted to pull together some resources to support our parents and families through this rapidly-evolving situation. We’ll continue to share more updates and information as they become available, but in the meantime, use this blog as a hub for helpful links, learning and entertainment suggestions, faith resources, and more.
Education + Entertainment Resources
- Explore a variety of amazing animals with thelive animal cams from the San Diego Zoo, daily animal visits and crafts from the Cincinnati Zoo and livestreams from the brand new St. Louis Aquarium.
- Download a kids coloring book from Lessonly that’s appropriate for many age groups.
- Take a virtual museum tour with Google and explore iconic museums around the world. This is a great chance to do a side-by-side activity if you’re also a parent who’s working from home.
- For kids on the older side, try this free coding for kids website from Code Monster to develop some news skills.
- Tire out the whole gang with some at-home exercise! There are tons of resources across the web, but this list includes simple, inexpensive suggestions to make things fun and challenging.
- Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems at the Kennedy Center
Faith Resources
- The Archdiocese of St. Louis is livestreaming Mass each day at 12:00 p.m. CST. This is a great opportunity to keep the faith at the center of your child’s life during this break!
- Something as simple as printing coloring pages that feature saints or Biblical scenes can spark interest and an educational moment. The Catholic Kid has pages of printable coloring pages to use for free.
- Create Catholic crosswords and word search games online at Word Mint.
- It’s tough to be “on” 24/7, so if you’re in need of a break, use technology to your advantage. The VeggieTales YouTube channel has tons of full-length (25-30 minute) videos for free!
- If you’re wondering how to engage your older children in faith at home, try using a Bible study app. There are lots of great options, as listed here.
Above all, we recommend that everyone adopt this simple mindset: gentle and generous. This sudden change will be a struggle for everyone as we all adjust to our “new normal” at home. Please know that the archdiocese is a resource for you and your family -- don’t hesitate to reach out to us or to your school.
We look forward to the time when our schools reopen!