It's the first weekend of spring in Atlanta and that normally brings inspiration to us here at Mommy Poppins.

Of course, we all know these are not normal times in the Atlanta area. As precautions against the spread of the coronavirus continue,  public events, particularly with kids, remain limited and fluid. 

So many weekend events have been canceled or postponed, but there are some outdoor activities that are continuing with safety precautions in place. Call or research before heading out, however. With a bit of imagination we just might make it through coronavirus lockdown.   

We have already posted several "evergreen" and indoor activities so you can manage your kids' cabin fever this weekend should you choose to avoid public and outdoor events. We've also included a roundup of some of the best virtual storytimes, sing-alongs, STEM activities, and more that you can access here. You also might want to check our rundown of our favorite family films.

School closures and canceled activities have become the norm in Philadelphia and throughout the Delaware Valley. Social distancing is on everyone's mind as parents juggle work from home while homeschooling their children. Many Philly families have turned to virtual options to pass the time. However, with mild temperatures and sunshine in the forecast for the weekend, both kids and grown ups alike could use some vitamin D and fresh air.

We have rounded up some ideas of things to do safely during these unprecedented times due to the COVID-19 situation. While some spots throughout the region are open for passive recreation, please be sure to use observe social distancing recommendations.

Stay well, Philadelphia! And for more ideas on things to do at home, be sure and check out our Coronavirus Guide for Parents.

There's never been a better time for podcasts. Prepare to download.

We've all been stuck somewhere with young children for long stretches of time—road trips, airport layovers, or, more recently, sheltering in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. When all the movies have been watched and all the books have been read (and we still can't leave the house), what are families to do for entertainment?

Enter the podcast. Not just for news updates and politics anymore, many podcasts cater specifically to younger audiences. We've rounded up our favorite kid-friendly podcasts that provide quality content the whole family can appreciate. All of these are easily accessed through smart phone, tablet, or computer, so get ready for hours of entertainment and even some learning opportunities. Most are even free!

For more entertainment ideas during this challenging time, check out our Coronavirus Guide for Parents.

Many parents are scrambling for backup childcare as the coronavirus threat closes schools, but not workplaces. If you're suddenly trying to both host a conference call and homeschool the kids, you might be considering new emergency childcare options.

Some of us are also asking: Is it even safe to hire a babysitter during the COVID-19 outbreak? These are unprecedented times and parents are facing challenges we've never had to consider. Social distancing is ideal, but if your reality requires childcare due to the nature of your job, we rounded up the options for emergency babysitters and other childcare options, and what questions to ask before hiring a sitter in these strange times. Keep in mind that local social distancing rules are in effect in most areas, so follow your locality's guidance. The White House also recently recommended gatherings of no more than 10 people at a time to stem the spread of COVID-19.

Find online homeschool options in our roundup of 20+ (Mostly Free) Online Education Sites, Games, and Apps, and more at-home activities and local resources in our Pandemic Guide for Parents.

Updated Sunday, March 15 at 6pm

Following mounting pressure, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Sunday that the New York City Department of Education—the largest school district in the nation—would close until at least April 20 in an attempt to stem the spread of COVID-19 in the area. The late Sunday announcement may leave parents scrambling to find childcare, figure out what "distance learning" will look like, and what to do with kids at home all day every. 

To help everyone grapple with the new reality, we've put together more details about the NYC school closings, where kids can get free meals while schools are closed, how to get free internet access, as well as other updates about how Coronavirus is impacting NYC, including other closings of NYC institutions.

Continue to check back on our Cornavirus Guide for Parents as we update it daily with any news and Boredom Busters to keep the kids busy. We've got educational science experiments, fun exercise games, remote learning resources like FREE online coding classes for kids, and more.