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At this age, you know that your child is a sponge and taking in everything around them. What your kids don’t know is that raising a child during a pandemic is a bit overwhelming  – we want you to know that we’re in this together! Check out KidsHealth for tips to talk to your child about this virus and its impact on the world. And don’t forget to use our website as a reliable resource.

Our website offers the opportunity to check on the value of your child’s My Alfond Grant as well as create a monthly MyPlan to DO. SAVE. LEARN for their future.  As we all move forward In this new time, the team at My Alfond Grant is here to support parents. While it may be a difficult time to think about saving for their future right now, we’ve got plenty of other helpful tips and resources to inspire you below.

Financial Tips for Parents

• Setting Goals: Tell your child how you make choices about what you need versus what you want to purchase – and how you set goals for each.
• Want vs. Need. Ask your child to think of an item they would like to start saving for, like a new bike. Ask them: do they need it or want it?
• Money Saving Tips. Talk with your child about how much money they will need to save for the item they choose – and help them make a plan for saving their allowance money towards it.

Health Tips for Parents with Children 5 to 7 Years Old

• Picking Healthy Snacks. Try making this healthy snack with your child: Peel a banana and spread peanut butter over it. Roll in granola or other cereal. Enjoy!
• Let’s Go! Help your child practice “5-2-1-0” daily at home! Eat five fruits and vegetables, no more than two hours of screen time, one hour of physical activity and zero sugary drinks each day.
• Family Mealtime. Do not underestimate the importance of family mealtime; take time to sit down together. Find more tips through Maine Health’s Let Go!

Literacy Tips for Parents with Children 5 to 7 Years Old

• Create a Book Together. Fold pieces of paper in half and staple them to make a book. Ask your child to write sentences on each page and add illustration.
• I Read to You, You Read to Me. Take turns reading aloud at bedtime.
• Once is Not Enough. Encourage your child to re-read favorite books and poems— especially any Raising Readers books you received from your healthcare provider! Rereading helps kids read more quickly and accurately.

Science & Math Tips for Parents with Children 5 to 7 Years Old

• Fresh foods contain many new and exciting smells. And smell is an important tool for science. Spend a few moments exploring fruits and vegetables. Take a deep breath. “Do apples smell the same as melons? Let’s find out.”
• Weighing Produce. Wonder aloud: “I wonder which is heavier, these five apples or these five pears?” Ask your child to help you answer the question using a kitchen scale – this is also a great activity to keep them busy in the supermarket in the future. The scale is a ‘real world’ science tool!
• Comparison Shopping. Ask your child to find something on your list, such as skim milk. Then together compare the nutritional labels of skim milk with whole milk, noting the differences.

Parent Resources have been developed for the Alfond Scholarship Foundation (ASF) by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension and are provided to you by the ASF, which is solely responsible for the Parent Resources content.