Ideas to keep parents, children busy during coronavirus pandemic

RI Kids Count is providing some ideas to keep parents and children busy during this coronavirus pandemic.

"We know how perceptive children are and how naturally curious they are. Kids really feel empowered when they know what to do to keep themselves safe," said Katy Chu, with RI Kids Count.

Kids Count is circulating an illustrated guide on its Facebook page because it's a good explainer of what COVID-19 is about and how to stop its spread.

"What we're trying to do is share either educational or fun activities for families and kids to do to keep them occupied and also we care about parents and families too and we know that everybody's routine is disrupted," said Chu.

Getting creative, she says, is the name of the game. Take, for instance, a "field trip" her four-year-old daughter, Vivian, took Tuesday.

"My husband is taking Vivian -- driving down to Newport. My daughter loves princesses and the Newport mansions are beautiful, so we told her we were going to go look at princess castles," said Chu.

During this time, she says there are plenty of activities even virtual zoo visits online.

"The Cincinnati zoo actually has this absolutely adorable hippopotamus named Fiona and so Fiona went Facebook live yesterday," said Chu.