OK, folks, this just got serious. I know we've all been glued to our screens tracking the inconceivable developments of this pandemic situation, watching major events cancel in real time, wondering if our kids are going to be attending school from the sofa next week, canceling trips to Europe, etc... But look out because COVID-19, aka the Coronavirus, just shut down Disneyland.

Updated Monday, March 16, at 5pm.

All of New Jersey's public and private schools—pre-K through 12, as well as colleges—will be ordered closed on Wednesday to help slow the spread of the coronavirus, Gov. Phil Murphy announced at a press conference on Monday. It's one of many increasingly stringent steps being taken in New Jersey, where confirmed cases have risen to 178. 

Murphy also announced that he's mobilizing the National Guard, and he urged all NJ residents to stay home from 8pm to 5am each day. In addition, all New Jersey movie theaters, performing arts centers, gyms, clubs, and casinos will be closed indefinitely as of 8pm Monday.

"We do not take any of these steps lightly," Murphy said. "We know that each comes with its own set of impacts on residents, families, communities, and businesses. But at this moment, our paramount concern must be to flatten the curve of new cases so we do not overload our health care system."

With schools closed and most public places shuttered, parents are finding themselves in the position of teaching their school-age children and trying to keep little ones entertained, many while trying to work from home. Check out our Cornavirus Guide for Parents to find the latest info, including closings of other NJ institutions and venues, as well as plenty of resources to help you cope. We've got Boredom Busters to keep the kids busy, plus educational science experiments, fun exercise games, online learning resources, and more. 

Schools and universities across the greater New York metro area are also closing, including the NYC Department of Education, which announced that it will be closed at least through April 20. See more about New York school closings here.

For families, creating a pantry with enough staples that you can make several meals when you don't have time to hit the store can be a lifesaver. We're big fans of Trader Joe's recipes for easy weeknight cooking, so whenthings get busy, I turn to Trader Joe's to start stocking up. 

Kids may love going to Trader Joe’s for the free stickers, hidden stuffed animals, and lollipops. But, for me, I have always loved the number of convenience foods this specialty food store provides, aka, entire gourmet meals I can microwave or throw into a single pan from frozen—and have ready sometimes in as little as 7 minutes. The packed shelves can seem overwhelming for anyone to navigate, so we’ve created this list of 15 best meals from Trader Joe's recipes, combining veggies, proteins, whole grains, and flavor.

The consensus is in: most parents don’t relish the idea of taking their young children to art museums. Whereas a trip to Kidspace Museum could easily make for a pleasant full-day excursion with little ones, a visit to a gallery like the Norton Simon Museum is a gamble. It could go swimmingly well for the day, or it could end in a meltdown minutes after paying for admission. Recently we took a trip to the Norton Simon Museum and thankfully enjoyed the experience. The kids loved it so much, in fact, they were begging to go back again. Read on to discover how we managed to make it fun, educational, and memorable enough for repeat visits.

Summer break is the perfect opportunity for baseball-loving kids in Houston to learn new skills and develop their gameplay. At these baseball camps, not only will kids learn more about the game and how to play, but they'll get the opportunity to connect with other kids in the sport. For kids who play on a baseball team during the school year, summer camp provides an entirely new set of players to interact with and coaches to learn from. Whether your kid is headed for the big leagues, just starting out, or playing just for the fun of it, these baseball summer camps are perfect for honing in on their love of the game.

And for more summer and vacation camp ideas, check out our comprehensive camp guide and full.