How to support a friend isolating with COVID and kids

[Anonymous]

It sounds miserable and she and her spouse have to work (from home). Anything I can do to support? I feel a bit helpless. Money is not an issue for them.

[Anonymous]

How old are the kids? When a friend was sick with a toddler, we read stories to him via FaceTime in the evening so they could catch a break. You could also drop off a basket of new board books or inexpensive puzzles etc.

[Anonymous]

Definitely depends on the age of the kids. Also, who has covid exactly?
If i was your friend i would appreciate anything at all that would occupy the kids for a bit, that did not require adult help. So a very age appropriate game or quiet toy or book or something. Or, if the adults are sick but the kids can still go to school - lunches! Snacks! An offer to take the kids to xyz sports practice or whatever if their parents can't take them.

[Anonymous]

Kids are 1 and 3 and are subject to quarantine requirements so they have to stay home 😔

[Anonymous]

(and my friend is the one with COVID)

[Anonymous]

Zoom happy hour.

[Anonymous]

This is silly. Her employer should not be making her work, even from home, while she is sick with covid and has very small children who cannot access their childcare. The only thing anyone can do to really help is give her sick days.

[Anonymous]

I took a meal to each of my friends who have had covid. It is really appreciated if you include dessert that kids will like and a beverage (wine or other) that the parents will like.

[Anonymous]

We are 2+ years into this.

I currently have Covid. Rest of family does not. A few friends offered help. I just ordered some DoorDash and Instacart groceries.

If kids are that young, you could get them a new toy to occupy them. Maybe even a bag of your kids toys that you are done with.

[Anonymous]

So both parents are working from home trying to quarantine kids without childcare?

If parents have Covid and kids do not, those kids are going to be quarantining for a long time. Their quarantine starts from last exposure so Day 10 of parents having Covid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So both parents are working from home trying to quarantine kids without childcare?

If parents have Covid and kids do not, those kids are going to be quarantining for a long time. Their quarantine starts from last exposure so Day 10 of parents having Covid.

This is not accurate if the kids are over 5 years old and vaccinated. The CDC has been revising the guidelines over the past 6-8 months. The showing symptoms is the key factor. We had Omicron in our house in January and then 6 weeks later. We kept testing and 2 consistently tested negative and were allowed to go to school since the showed no symptoms 5 days after exposure plus tested negative.

[Anonymous]

If there is a 1 and a 3 year old -
a great activity is to drop off a few helium balloons. They can occupy them for a bit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kids are 1 and 3 and are subject to quarantine requirements so they have to stay home 😔

Oh, geez. That’s terrible, do both parents have covid? Can they not use sick leave? I mean… they are sick. I would 100% use sick or vacation leave.
What you could do:
+1 to helium balloons!
Drop off easy premade stuff… mac and cheese? Applesauce packets? Paper plates?
Color wonder stuff
Kinetic sand (i find it’s less messy vs playdo)
A new (car, doll, etc) depending on the kids’ interests?
This is very weather and space dependent, but a bubble maker and a huge container of bubble solution?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So both parents are working from home trying to quarantine kids without childcare?

If parents have Covid and kids do not, those kids are going to be quarantining for a long time. Their quarantine starts from last exposure so Day 10 of parents having Covid.

This is not accurate if the kids are over 5 years old and vaccinated. The CDC has been revising the guidelines over the past 6-8 months. The showing symptoms is the key factor. We had Omicron in our house in January and then 6 weeks later. We kept testing and 2 consistently tested negative and were allowed to go to school since the showed no symptoms 5 days after exposure plus tested negative.

Are you saying your family members had covid twice in 6 weeks or some had it in January and others had it 6 weeks later?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So both parents are working from home trying to quarantine kids without childcare?

If parents have Covid and kids do not, those kids are going to be quarantining for a long time. Their quarantine starts from last exposure so Day 10 of parents having Covid.

This is not accurate if the kids are over 5 years old and vaccinated. The CDC has been revising the guidelines over the past 6-8 months. The showing symptoms is the key factor. We had Omicron in our house in January and then 6 weeks later. We kept testing and 2 consistently tested negative and were allowed to go to school since the showed no symptoms 5 days after exposure plus tested negative.

I believe the kids are 1 and 3.