Known for balancing its advanced liberal arts and sciences program with a deeply nurturing community, BASIS Independent Schools has carved out a space for itself in the New York City private school landscape since opening its first East Coast location, BASIS Independent Brooklyn, in Red Hook back in 2014. With the addition of BASIS Independent Manhattan on the Upper West Side in 2017, the PreK-12 schools now bring best practices found in top education systems around the world to students across the five boroughs. And while both locations have transitioned to distance learning as the city addresses the COVID-19 outbreak, they are eagerly preparing for the fall semester—accepting applications to fill the few remaining spots for 2020 and offering virtual admissions events for interested families.

New Jerseyans who are itching to get to the the beach this weekend after months of lockdown have something to look forward to. On Monday, Governor Murphy announced the next reopening stage of the five stage "road back" reopening plan for our state, explaining which restrictions will be lifted and which businesses can reopen, with key safety guidelines. New Jersey has entered Stage 1 (after Stage 0 of maximum restrictions) which allows relaxed restrictions on low-risk activities if appropriately safeguarded. 

Beginning Friday, May 22, New Jersey beaches and lakes can reopen. Plus, outdoor activities like batting cages, golf ranges, and horseback riding facilities are set to remove restrictions. After two months of non-stop Coronavirus news, only seeing each other in car parades and 8pm howls, giving our kids quarantine haircuts and virtual birthday parties, we finally have the beginnings of a plan to get out and enjoy the Garden State's natural beauty.

If coronavirus quarantine has got you down, help is on the way. New York on PAUSE is out; New York Forward is in. Governor Andrew Cuomo let the state-wide stay-at-home order expire last week, but what does that mean, particularly for downstate families who have been living at the center of the nation's coronavirus outbreak, enduring 2+ months of lockdown, only seeing each other in car parades and 8pm howls, giving our kids quarantine haircuts, and trying to find something to celebrate every day? Well, right now, it's more of the status quo, but the end is in sight, and once a region has met seven data-driven metrics, New Yorkers ranging from Manhattan to the Hamptons and Staten Island to Westchester can enter Phase 1 of the four-phase reopening plan.

Read on to find out what that means for families and when your favorite local businesses might fully reopen, plus info on outdoor fun at beaches, parks, and more.

Coronavirus lockdown has touched every aspect of our lives, and after months of living with stay-at-home orders, Pennsylvanians are giddy at the prospect of getting outside again. So while we've had to get creative with homeschooling hacks, virtual birthdays, graduation celebrations, and even at-home haircuts, we can look forward to visiting our favorite parks, restaurants, shops, and museums in the (hopefully near) future as Governor Tom Wolf begins to implement the Pennsylvania reopening plan.

Wolf's plan to reopen Pennsylvania has three phases, and parts of the state, particularly in the west, are already moving into the yellow second phase. With changes regularly occurring as the recorded cases of coronavirus drop, it can be hard to figure out what's open and what's still closed. Read on to find out what Philly-area amenities and attractions are beginning to reopen, including schools and businesses, as well as trails, beaches, farms, and more. With proper adherence to social-distancing protocols, including limiting gatherings and wearing face masks, outside-the-home fun is starting to come back to Pennsylvania!

With social distancing measures in place, most of us are keeping in touch with friends and relatives via virtual hangouts on Zoom, HouseParty, FaceTime, and other video apps. While nothing can replace real face time with friends and family, video conferencing can bring its own unique brand of fun. From virtual backgrounds to interactive games to special guests (who knew goats had such screen presence?), these tips and tricks will add some pizzazz to your next online gathering.

For more creative ways to connect while keeping socially distant, check out our ideas for car parades, neighborhood scavenger hunts, and more.

When it comes to where to buy a face mask or how to make a face mask, we’ve got the whole family covered—literally! Disney, Old Navy, and other retailers are making super-cute kids' face masks that are comfortable, affordable, and now essential for coronavirus protection. Or, with as little as a single sock and a pair of scissors, you can make a mask for kids yourself! The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommend that people ages two and older who don't have cognitive or respiratory impairments wear face coverings when in public, especially in situations where it's hard to stay 6 feet away from other people.

Remember: parents are the most influential people in kids' lives, so grab (or make) a family pack of these stylish face masks and practice wearing them together before you head out. These doctor's tips for social distancing with kids include more helpful ideas for keeping your family and community safe, as many parts of the country begin to reopen.

The arrival of June means it's Pride month, a vibrant, rainbow-filled celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community that is marked by over-the-top parades, jam-packed rallies, and marches in cities across the country.

Whether you're a member of the Queer community or consider yourself an ally, here are 24 ways to celebrate Pride Month this June with your kids. For local parades and rallies, be sure to check your area's calendar of events.

For further reading for kids of all ages, check out our list of the Best LGBTQ Books for Kids To Celebrate Pride Month.

Governor J.B. Pritzker has rolled out the Illinois reopening plan, while Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has announced a separate framework for the Chicago metro area. After two months of lockdown, only seeing each other in car parades and during 8pm howls, giving our kids quarantine haircuts, and throwing virtual birthday parties, we finally have an Illinois reopening plan. We will (eventually!) be able to get out and enjoy some of the long-awaited warm weather.

The Restore Illinois plan divides the state into four regions and includes five phases. May 1 saw the beginning of Phase 2, a mostly stay-home-phase, with the reopening of some state parks. Locally, the Protecting Chicago plan also has five phases and is also currently in Phase 2. In positive news, Illinois regions beyond the metro area continue to flatten the curve and are on track to enter Phase 3 of reopening May 29. Chicago is close behind and expected to start reopening sometime in June. Read on to find out what this means for families, schools, and local businesses, as well as what outdoor spaces we can now visit, those reopening soon, and those that are still closed.

To enter Phase 3, we need to keep meeting certain milestones, which means continuing to socially distance and wear face masks. If you develop symptoms, find out how to get tested, and be sure to steer clear of close contact, particularly with vulnerable populations.