COVID-19 and our Lend and Learn Libraries

Finding new ways to support families in a time of uncertainty

At Lend & Learn, I’ve had the honor of meeting and serving over 200 families this 2019-2020 school calendar year. We’ve talked, played, created, learned, and most importantly snacked together. You never know what any given day will bring. I’ve fed bottles to newborns, built towers with toddlers, and play dough’ed with preschoolers. I’ve met and talked with a variety of caregivers from first-time and experienced, stay-at-home and working, local and international, students and grandparents, to nannies and early childhood professionals.

Among so many different types of families, there is a thread that runs through every visit–the need to support and interact with each other. What I am looking to do as we begin to practice “social distancing” to slow the spread of COVID-19 is try to create new ways to stay connected while our normal Lend & Learn activities are closed. We know this is a challenging time for everyone, in so many ways.

We’ve got some great content headed your way, in the meantime, get started with these links:

Taking Care of Your Mental Health in the Face of Uncertainty

A Year of Play: Daily Activities for Babies & Toddlers

Boredom Busters: 110 Fun At-Home Activities for Families

Our team is coming up with ideas like posting daily activity suggestions, self-care inspiration, video and photo sharing, conversation threads, and virtual appointments. The bottom line is we truly care about and want to continue to host a space for every family to connect, play, and grow. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, and our website for frequent posts, send us messages with questions and ideas, and engage with and reach out to one other online. We are in this together!

-Charity