Hellobee Boards

My 3 year old had Covid over Thanksgiving, and he and I isolated from the rest of the family which made things very hard. If they can at least all be together that helps (though sucks if they are all positive!) Medically we had an ear thermometer and finger oximeter that I used to check him twice a day. He was mainly just congested with a cough. They should also have children’s and adult fever reducing medicine, I can’t remember which is recommended for Covid if there is one!

Logistically lots of paper plates and disposable cutlery was nice so we weren’t doing 1,000 dishes while we felt crappy. And DoorDash gift cards or you offering to drop off takeout would be great, or making food and dropping it off. We especially liked getting breakfast foods dropped off by friends. Groceries I assume they can already get delivered.

Since they’ll be home bound for a while some new activities for the kids would be great. Hits from friends that my kids enjoyed while stuck home were gingerbread houses kits, new puzzles, craft kits, and my 3 year old loved this sensory bin thing someone got him.

Also, just checking in on them via text is great as it is very isolating to truly be trapped in your house!

We all had Covid just before thanksgiving (two vaccinated adults, one half-vaccinated 5 year old, one 2.5 year old). Honestly, the worst part for us — thankfully! — was everyone being stuck at home for two weeks. The kids had very few symptoms. My son (older child) actually had zero symptoms. My daughter was sick to her stomach for a few days, which may or may not have been Covid-related, not sure how to know! We would never have known they had Covid, except we were testing them because my husband tested positive first. My husband and I felt like we had bad colds, so the biggest help for the four or so days we didn’t feel great was any activity the kids could do relatively independently. And...let’s be real, lots of screen time lol. That was pretty much the case for the second week, too, as the kids were still home, feeling fine with lots of energy, while we were trying to work

So overall, I’d say if Covid hits your house, have the typical virus supplies just in case—fever reducing meds, good thermometer, maybe some pedialyte—and plenty to keep your kids entertained in your home. Unless you live somewhere more rural, groceries and meals can always be ordered! If you want to help out friends, I bet gift cards for meal delivery would be much appreciated. Though I did lose smell and taste for about a week.....but still needed sustenance haha. Happy to answer any questions about the experience. I will say, I was very glad to be vaccinated! And wish I’d gotten my booster before, but it was actually scheduled for the day I tested positive.

ETA: just thought of another—if you can, you may want to have some at-home tests on hand. My husband took one because we were supposed to babysit my niece and we happened to have one. The rest of us tested after his positive and were still negative, which meant we could keep the kids home before any of their classmates were exposed. No one else had to quarantine because of us.