Virtual Mentoring Toolkit

Hi Big Sister, 

We hope you and your family are staying healthy and connected. 

As our nation continues to respond to the public health crisis posed by COVID-19 (Coronavirus) we are continuing with virtual mentoring opportunities for our Big Sisters, Little Sisters, Families, and Program Staff.  We will continue virtual mentoring until physical distancing requirements are relaxed or ended and are monitoring the situation closely. Currently, in-person contact continues to be suspended, however, we are still actively building and strengthening connections during this time through mentor relationships. During this time of change and uncertainty, our agency’s commitment to the youth and families we serve remains the same: To collaborate with you in meeting the unmet needs of the girls and families we serve. 

However, how we do know this will look significantly different in the days, weeks, and months to come.  What follows is our Virtual Mentoring Toolkit, which will provide you a wide range of ways you can engage your Little Sister, even though you will be meeting virtually rather than in-person.

We encourage you to review these resources and chat with your Match Support Specialist to help develop a plan on how best to approach your relationship with your Little Sister!

As we said above, our approach to supporting you, your Little Sister and her family will not change. However, as we move forward together, that will look different. 
With face-to-face contacts suspended, here is how we anticipate the program will be shifting:  

• All mentoring will be done virtually via telephone, smartphone, social platforms, and/or video conferencing solutions. We ask that you try to prioritize video calls for virtual visits when possible.  
• Our Match Support Staff will be providing on-going case management support just as they always have, but in addition, will also be focused on providing  a  bevy of digital resources to help all Big Sisters continue to have fun supporting the needs of their Little Sister.  Please continue to rely on their guidance around our safety policies during this time. 
• You are still expected to continue to have scheduled check-ins with your Match Support Specialist! 

Amidst so much turmoil and disruption, one thing is clear: Our Little Sisters need us now more than ever. We here at Big Sister Boston are ready and willing to provide you with the tools and resources you’ll need to continue to provide that love, support, and guidance.   

Not being able to see your Little Sister face-to-face will present some new challenges to your relationship; however, following the tips below will help you navigate through these difficulties while continuing to help your Little Sister reach their highest potential. Please remember to check-in with your Little Sister’s caregiver about communicating with your Little Sister via social media or technology platforms prior to arranging with your Little Sister. 

• Rely on regular phone calls and text messages, or video chats via FaceTime or WhatsApp to stay connected with your Little Sister.  Use this resource or this resource for great conversation starters for kids and check out this resource or this resource to get chatting with teens!  
• Messenger Kids (from Facebook) is a great way to safely connect with your Little Sister via social media while keeping their caregiver looped in. Here's more on how it works.  
• Snail mail - still a thing!  Write letters to your Little Sister (become pen pals!), send postcards, a homemade card, pass along some print-at-home games (like these puzzles or these coloring pages), or send them a homemade craft (like these bracelets, or one of these quick/easy kids crafts) 
• STAY CONSISTENT!  However, you choose to connect, your consistency is more important to your Little Sister.  Find days, times, and methods that work best for both of you, create a plan, set a schedule, and stick to it!  This will make it easier on you both, while giving you each something to look forward to and depend on.   
• ASK QUESTIONS!  It's no surprise that everyone's day-to-day schedule is experiencing incredible upheaval.  Reaching out and chatting with your Little Sister and their caregiver about when is best to reach out, what days and time are easiest, and how you can help are questions that will be enormously helpful for you (and your Little Sister!) in staying connected.  

There will be many more of these to come over the coming days and weeks, but we wanted to get you started with a few Match Activity ideas that you can dive into this weekend with your Little Sister! 

• Develop a talent, skill, or passion together!  There is a ton of experts creating exceptional online content right now that can help you and your Little Sister learn to draw or doodle, perfect an in-home workout, practice ballet, become a scientist, explore the world, become a great cook, learn a second (or third!) language, become a yogi, or learn how to dance!  
• Have a Movie night! Plan to watch the same movie (here are some ideas and here are some more) and discuss via phone either during or after. Make sure to get movie selection approved by caregiver and here are some great questions (though you'll have to swap the word 'book' for 'movie) to get you going.  
• Looking for an educational movie or documentary?  There are thousands available on Kanopy or Hoopla that are free with a library card!  
• Watch a virtual concert together!  There are a ton of artists who are hopping on the bandwagon and hosting virtual and free concerts for their fans!  Here's a list from NPR that might be helpful. 
• Start a cooperative journal by using a platform like Story Bird or Google Docs to document the day-to-day.  This example provides a great format for this.   
• Have a virtual book club!  You can read to your Little Sister via FaceTime, WhatsApp Skype, or Zoom, or plan to read the same book and discuss it with each other.  Here are some great book ideas to get started and  here are some tips on how to get the conversation going. 
• Have a library card? Hoopla is a great resource for accessing downloadable free e-books!  
• Check out the Boston Public Library website www.bpl.org.  From here, you can get an e-card for access to a wealth of free e-books, audiobooks, television programs, music, and movies for people of all ages.  In addition, we offer support on everything from Literacy and English as a Second Language Services, Family History Research, Reference Assistance for students of all ages (including those in college), lots of book and activity recommendations children, help for job seekers,  how to stay safe during this time, and much more! 
• Schedule an activity to virtually check out a museum, or visit a zoo (or two!) or see Museum of Science- Museum at Home!  Check out Zoom for an easy way to share your screen and explore it together. 
• Does your Little Sister like to build? Purchase duplicate Lego sets or jigsaw puzzles and send one to both you and your Little Sister. Share your progress by sending photos via text message and see who can complete their project first!  
• Schedule game time! Using app-based games like Words with Friends, Draw Something, Chess (click here for the web version), Checkers, or Bowling can be great ways to engage and connect with your Little Sister while enjoying some downtime.  Check out this website (and this one too!) for great games you and your Little Sister can play on laptops or desktops.  
• You can also check out our Virtual Activity Calendar for more ideas!

With schools closed across the area, we know many Big Sisters will be focused on helping stem the tide of learning loss while their Little Sisters are spending time at home.  Check out the resources below to help your Little Sister stay sharp and continue to focus on their academics from home.  

• Khan Academy offers a FREE library of trusted, standards-aligned practice and lessons that cover math K-12 through early college, grammar, science, history, AP, SAT, and more. They are also offering daily learning schedules for kids throughout the crisis.  
• Common Sense has a bunch of great (and free!) education websites and apps that kids can access (with caregiver permission!) to help stem the tide of learning loss.  Check them out here for more info and find what resource might be best for your Little Sister!  
• Check out Class Central for a free list of online classes that range from computer science and business to arts/designs and engineering. This is best for middle/high-school age Little Sisters.  
• Feeling ambitious and want to turn this into a Match Activity? Take the class alongside your Little Sister!  
• Is your Little Sister interested in coding? Scratch was designed for children ages 8-16 and uses an easy-to-use programming language to let kids build almost anything they can dream. There are no obscure lines of code here. Instead, arrange and snap together Scratch blocks as if they are virtual Legos! There is also Girls Who Code: Code at Home or Girls Who Code: Code at Home and Live digital game design 
• Want to turn this into a Match Activity? Use Scratch right alongside your Little Sister and venture through their online lessons together!  
• Has there ever been a better time for podcasts? Check out this website to access funny, smart, and scientific podcasts that keep kids engaged.   
• Want to turn this into a Match Activity?  Pick a podcast you both enjoy and listen along together! Then, after each episode, connect and discuss using slightly revised, book-club style questions.  
• Do you have a teenager interested in public health or psychology?  Here is a laundry list of resources that they can explore!  
• Want to turn this into a Match Activity?  Pick a resource and explore it together.  Or, have your Little Sister review a specific resource they might be excited about and teach you about what they learned!  
• Looking for a virtual lesson your Little Sister (and you!) might find interesting?  Check out the Take Lessons YouTube channel for lessons on singing, learning Spanish, learning sign language, playing piano, and much more! 
• Want to turn this into a Match Activity? Take the lesson right alongside your Little Sister and learn together!  
• Looking for online lessons that mirror what your Little Sister might be missing in school?  PBS SoCal has prepared broadcast programming and online lessons that adhere to California's K12 state curriculum, which - though definitely not Connecticut - still might be helpful, informative, and fun!  
• Want to turn this into a Match Activity? Take the lesson right alongside your Little Sister and learn together!  
• The Gilder Lehrman Institute has created a free family website that provides resources and guidance for remote learning
• Our friends at Scholastic offer day-by-day projects to keep kids in grades K-9 reading, thinking, and growing. These are updated each day and present four separate learning experiences, each built around a thrilling, meaningful story or video. Kids can do them on their own, with their families, or with their teachers. Just find your grade level and let the learning begin! 
• Is your Little Sister interested in writing?  BoomWriter inspires children to write and develop important literacy skills.
• Take a peek at Tech Boston Academy educational resources  
• Can't find something you like on the list above?  Check out this website for a full list of educational companies offering free subscriptions.  

Practicing self care in times like these is important! Understanding the impact that stressful situations can have is a great step to finding out what you can do to cope and take care of yourself.  

• The Center for Disease and Control and Prevention has a comprehensive website full of resources for COVID-19. This page specifically gives insight into what these stressful situations can mean for mental health and offers tools and support.  
• Take a look at this toolkit for daily mantras and meditations, articles and expert advice on Coronavirus related anxiety.   
• This article and this article give recommendations on how to navigate any feelings or stress that you may be feeling right now, including five concrete tools you can use if you are feeling overwhelmed.  
• Stuck at Home (together) organized through the Foundation for Art & Healing provides resources and tools to encourage creative expression and enable social connection including playlists, films, story sharing, and more!  

We know many of our caregivers will be feeling the stress of supporting and providing for their children over the weeks and months to come.  We wanted to be sure every Big Sister had specific resources that might be helpful to pass along to caregivers who may turn to you for support: 

• NPR coming through in the clutch (as always!) with this helpful, interactive guide for how to chat with kids about COVID-19.  
• Comcast is offering two free months of their Internet Essentials Plan (typically $9.95/month) to support vulnerable families.  This can be a great way for families to stay connected with loved ones (including you!). 
• Spectrum has a similar offer for students as well.  
• You can checkout Boston Office of Housing Stability for resources and programs 
• You can checkout Boston Office of Housing Stability for resources and programs 
• If  looking for food resources, Current map of meal sites 
• Check out this link for multiple resources from emergency child care, recovery support services and State and Federal information: https://www.boston.gov/news/coronavirus-disease-covid-19-boston 
• For resource regarding Employment/Unemployment  and Government Support  
• Our friends over at Common Sense have some great videos and other resources that can help families to better understand what's going in the news and how to react to it, as well as stay calm and learn at home.  
• Harvard Health put together a great article on how to talk to teenagers about COVID-19. 
• The Child Mind Institute outline some great resources and approaches on how to talk with younger kids about COVID-19. Here's another great article too from PBS.  
• Need some family mindfulness amidst all the disruption?  Ten Percent Happier has a bevy of resources and daily updates for families struggling to cope.  
• Looking for activities?  Here are 50 easy/cheap indoor activities to keep kids busy.  
• National Child Traumatic Stress Network offers an incredible COVID-19 Coping Guide with specific strategies and recommendations for each age group.  

We hope that you find this list of resources helpful. You can find this resource and more updates on our website here.

Remember that we at Big Sister Boston are here to support you. Stay in touch. Share your stories with us and keep up to date on the latest Big Sister news by following us on social media!  @BigSisterBoston on all platforms.  

Together, we are the bridge to the future.