Combining dinner and a science experiment; pumping up a Staycation; meatless ideas
|  | Sunday, May 24, 2020 | | | | |
 | | PHOTOGRAPH BY PORTISHEAD1, GETTY IMAGES | | By Rachel Buchholz, KIDS AND FAMILY Editor in Chief
I really feel for them, all these high school seniors. High school means many different things to many different people, but whatever your John Hughes experience was, graduation is supposed to be a collective acknowledgement that you’ve reached a major milestone toward becoming an adult. It’s a shared moment for everyone to say: You did it. We did it.
Give credit to all the school districts trying to keep things special. Northeastern Pennsylvania seniors are planning to watch prerecorded speeches at a local drive-in movie theater, safely distanced in their cars. New Hampshire students will sit isolated in ski lift chairs as they ride up a mountain to get their diplomas. But as many students facing virtual graduations have attested: It’s just not the same.
Younger children are experiencing this profound disappointment as well. Although many adults might not equate a preschool graduation ceremony or an elementary end-of-year concert with high school graduation, to a kid it feels exactly the same. Helping them overcome this disappointment—showing them how to be resilient—is important for both their mental health and later success as adults. “Kids need to have some experience with failing and falling down and learning how to get back up,” resiliency expert Ann Masten tells Michelle Z. Donahue in a Nat Geo article about bouncing back from adversity. “They need to learn they can do things on their own.”
So how do you get there? First, acknowledge your child’s feelings that yeah, this really stinks—and it’s OK for them to feel that way. Avoid the natural urge to fix everything or to auto-express that everything will be OK. And remind them that even though this letdown is hard, they’ve got things to look forward to, even if it’s something simple like family game night.
And maybe it’s all right to let them win—just this once.
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 | | PHOTOGRAPH BY BOONCHAI WEDMAKAWAND, GETTY IMAGES | | Yes, Memorial Day is still happening. In years past, the unofficial start of summer meant plenty of outdoor time for your kid; this year, you’re not so sure. Banish the thought. Studies are starting to show that getting children into nature is good for their brains. “We know now there are very specific ways nature impacts our ability to learn and engage,” says Sarah Milligen-Toffler, executive director of the Children & Nature Network, in this Nat Geo article about using nature to make kids smarter. And don’t stress too much over keeping them safe: We’ve got tips on how to do that, plus outdoor activities for this socially distant world. (Here’s one more idea: stepping stones you can take anywhere for an outdoor obstacle course.)
But wait ... there’s more: We have a bit of a Staycation guide going here, with ideas to forage, explore, and stargaze. If your household is anything like ours, if you do manage to get outside someplace nearby, someone in your family may end up with a tick or two. Here’s a quick guide on checking for ticks.
Our weekly animal webcam pick: Animals editor Rachael Bale is relaxing by looking at sheep, goats, and cattle from these webcams at The Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, New York, but we’ve got our eye on one spirited alpaca. You can stump the kids with the discovery of a new species: It’s a type of pygmy seahorse that is as big as a grain of rice.
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 | | PHOTOGRAPH BY RYANJLANE, GETTY IMAGES | |
School tasting menu: Tired of being a full-time chef and a full-time teacher? Try combining the two. Lots of kid-friendly recipes use techniques that are basically hidden science experiments that will teach children things like osmosis and viscosity. (It’s OK if you don’t want to admit to your kid that you’re learning too!) That’s good for your kids’ health and their brain.
Eating fewer meals with meat? You’re not alone. A third of Americans we polled are making more meatless meals because of concerns over food supply, meat safety, and rising prices. That number rises to 43 percent among adults under 35. So, how to do it, beyond mac and cheese or spaghetti? Here are 25 recipes to get you started, and our readers have started recommending veggie recipe books like Charlie Trotter’s Vegetables and José Andrés’ Vegetables Unleashed.
Family discussion: Have everyone around the dinner table come up with two things they’ve learned in the past few weeks. Or, did one family member do something you thought was great—like calling a relative, sending a card, or making a special effort? For this holiday weekend, maybe it’s also up to you to tell a story about an older relative, either while they were in military service—or not. Let us know how it goes.
At the end of the day: Batteries running low on inspiration? Too many people depending on you? Director Ava DuVernay has this advice: “Start a note in your phone,” she tweeted, “and every night type in 3 good things that happened that day. Anything. Big. Small. Silly. Things no one would notice or feel but you.” She says she’s been doing this for about a decade.
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| TRY THIS: BOREDOM BUSTERS FOR KIDS | |
 | | PHOTOGRAPH BY MARTIN HARVEY, GETTY IMAGES | | Keeping kids’ brains active: You might not be going on a major vacation this summer, but your kids can still feel like they’ve been somewhere. Take them on a safari via our African Animals hub, or show them a video about all the cool coasters awaiting them in more normal times. They can even fill in the blanks of this Funny Fill-In word game to write a silly postcard. Check out more virtual vacation ideas at NatGeoKids.com.
Need more learning resources? Check out NatGeo@Home’s ideas. This week, we’ll have a dance-party video that uses animal sounds as music, Weird But True facts about snacks (strawberries have more vitamin C than oranges!) and fun mapping activities for kids. Plus: Plan the perfect picnic!
This newsletter was edited and curated by David Beard and Rachel Buchholz. Let us know if you have any ideas on helping kids bounce back after a COVID-19 setback. Have a healthy and a sane (as possible) week ahead!
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