Life in quarantine has forced families to think of creative ways we can get together during the novel coronavirus outbreak. And if you need a break from playing board games with whomever you share a home, a virtual game night makes for an excellent (and refreshing) alternative. Whether you choose Zoom, Hangouts, FaceTime, or Skype, there is virtually no end to the technological tools that keep us connected. 

Group games are so important to kids for so many reasons. You can still sing your heart out with friends, challenge grandparents to a round of Pictionary, or ask your cousin to play a game of Battleship. Despite the circumstances, kids just want to have fun. So, let the games begin! 

For more ideas on pandemic parenting, visit our Coronavirus Guide for Parents with hundreds of activities and things to do with kids of all ages.

Almost overnight, many parents have begun working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Juggling the challenges of keeping our families’ homeschool education on track while maintaining our work schedule from home is not an easy task. 

The Mommy Poppins team are seasoned WFH pros. With a handy set of noise-canceling headphones, we can work in almost any situation. When the sign on the door that states “Working:Do Not Enter” stops ...well... working, this list of independent play activities should keep everyone engaged and entertained. Some of these activities require a little bit of set-up depending on your child’s age. Take one tip from this pro: save screen time for the end of the day. It’s the perfect activity to wrap up your workday or respond to a few last emails. 

For families, creating a pandemic pantry might mean ensuring you have enough to cook three meals a day for multiple people. We're big fans of Trader Joe's recipes for easy weeknight cooking, so when the coronavirus crisis hit, I turned 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 (once) 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.

Find hundreds of indoor activities, games, and more COVID-19 information, see our Coronavirus Pandemic Guide for Parents.