Greg Hohenberger built a treehouse for his children, which was a big hit in his neighborhood until it wasn’t.

DETROIT – As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, a new survey finds parents are worried about their children’s ability to cope -- especially with the holidays approaching and a long winter ahead. Huston speaks with countless families about coping with stress and creatively building resilience in their children during this challenging time. A new national survey by Nationwide Children’s Hospital, finds two-thirds of parents are worried the effects the coronavirus pandemic is having on their children’s mental health will be harder to reverse the longer it continues. “They’re constantly changing and adapting to new things and learning new things,” Huston said. More tools to help children stay positive and engaged can be found on its official website here.

DETROIT – Parents know picky eaters can make mealtime a nightmare and it can be even harder to break the habit. Jennifer Anderson, a registered dietician, has come up with a way to help -- and it makes cooking easier too. "I cannot do that and continue to work as much as I’m working way too much. It kind of reduces picky eating behavior.”The idea of using the number 12 is to keep meals off a normalized schedule. “It keeps our family from always eating the same thing on Monday and always Tuesday -- people hate that,” Anderson said.

A Metro Detroit woman is giving parents an option to keep their children off the couch and learn a new skill. Parents are looking for creative ways to add fun back into their children’s day. One way is the new trend of socially distanced sewing camps and classes. “Alongside their friends but in a super safe atmosphere and environment.”Some of Victoria’s popular sewing camps are entirely virtual. “I know some schools are virtual,” Victoria said.

People work much better when they feel energized and the same is true for students -- especially those who are starting the school year learning virtually. Read more: Kids at HomeRemember as a school kid, how great it felt going back to class after recess? You go out to the bus stop, you walk into your school building and now we’re just kind of waking up and we’re going right to the computer," Nakfoor said. They can spend a minute, two minutes jumping, which is such good movement for the body.”She also recommends cup stacking for younger children. It’s really important get your older kids standing up and they can even do some work while they’re standing up.”Nakfoor said her oldest son like to do wall squats while doing school work.

Tips on how to keep kids moving during school days at homePublished: September 16, 2020, 6:33 pmTips on how to keep kids moving during school days at home

When youre working from home and trying to help your children get through virtual learning, things can get overwhelming. Elyssa Katz, a working mother of three, discovered an answer and shes using that to try to help other families. We -- like everybody else -- were having a lot lot of trouble with distance learning, Katz said. Soon her friends and neighbors asked for her help finding teachers too. She uses a teach to screen anyone who applies to find the right fit for families all over the country.

DETROIT – The COVID-19 pandemic has shown everyone how easy it can be to feel overwhelmed, and that is especially true for parents. We hear so much about self care these days, but what do parents really need to get through this back to school season heading into fall? “One of the things I heard this summer again in preparation for fall was to on focus on the next 20 feet,” Hay said. If I’m having a bad day, then only think about that day. “Sometimes people will say pick one or two activities per child, but I’m really following the take one or two activities per family,” Hay said.

DETROIT How do you handle a day-to-day job while having to help teach your children who are remote learning at home? A new study finds that in order to take care of their children during the pandemic, about 65 percent of working parents said they start late or end their work day early. View list: Michigan school district return plans for 2020-21With many parents home with their children, it may have lasting and long term effects on their careers. Experts said its going to require the government and employers working together to try to minimize the lasting effects on working parents as they continue to juggle work and parenting at home. READ: More return to school coverage

Lots of children dream of spending their summer away at camp, having fun with their friends, but with all the restrictions this year -- many children feel isolated. She saw a need for teens to get a mental health check-up and created Therapyology, -- it contains all the usual things one expects with a summer camp and more. And we made a TicToc -- which they all love course.The group of campers is made up of a total of eight children and teens ages 12-14. Sometimes, you know, its scary to go to therapy, Bendix said. Were really trying to break down that stigma because this really isnt therapy.

DEARBORN, Mich. Travis Furlow, a Metro Detroit father of three, wrote a book to help teach his children about whats happening during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ive positioned them as kind of spirit protectors of the planet and Mama is teaching Little One while all the people went inside.Furlow wrote the book in one night. He called it a childrens book for grown-ups. I thought the childrens book format would work really well.The book was inspired by his love for his own children and using words to words to life peoples spirits, both young and old. Proceeds from the book support two Michigan nonprofits that help children and families in need -- the Amity Foundation of Dearborn and Manistee Co. Child Advocacy Center.

DETROIT The Detroit Public Library has come up with a fun way to keep children reading this summer and it can all be done from home at a safe distance. We all agree its a summer unlike any other, so the library came up with a challenge to inspire young readers at home. Read more: Kids at HomeWith library buildings closed due to the pandemic, the traditional summer reading programs for children sadly had to be put on hold this year. This is about gesture to really showcase our love of reading in the city of Detroit, said Atiim Funchess. It opens up your mind to ideas you probably havent thought of before.Until Labor Day, the Detroit Public Library is asking readers to log how many minutes you spend reading and share your log with the library.

And if parents are feeling stressed, the children probably are too. More than half of all parents in a recent survey said their children are feeling anxious or depressed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Trust in the world and trust in our parents,” Rockwell said. “As adults we’re afraid and so how can our children do anything but absorb that feeling and also feel afraid?” Rockwell asked. So we’re exercising this muscle, the brain and we can’t do it without making friends with our brain when we’re very anxious,” Rockwell said.

DETROIT Theyre the words that can drive parents crazy: Im bored. But believe it or not, experts said a little boredom can be good for children. If your children dont have something to do, does that mean they are either fighting, whining or destroying something? But with children home 24/7, boredom isnt necessarily a bad thing. The first two weeks were whining every single day, Jeeyoung, a mother of three, said. Were really doing our children a disservice by doing everything for them and expecting that we should be doing that.Rockwell said parents notice it helps to build independence and sparks creativity.

DETROIT Teaching your children about cleanliness during the COVID-19 pandemic goes beyond proper hand washing. I think its really important for children to have a very organized environment, Weinstein said. Whats really important to you and then help the child learn how to make decisions about whats important to keep and whats important to let go, Weinstein said. RELATED: How to teach your children etiquette, manners while stuck at homeFor teenagers, tweens and even older children who might be home from college, let them take control. You can find more information on Weinsteins business, Ive Gotta Get Organized, Inc., on its official website here.

DETROIT Weve spent months staying home, staying safe and staying indoors. Those are one of the things that theyll go have their own accord, pull them out and its probably at least a good 30 minutes to an hour of imaginative play acting out all sorts of different things, Jeeyoung said. Another easy idea is to turn your kitchen table into a craft station with whatever you already have around the house. Jeeyoung likes to use a roll of paper -- the bigger the better -- and then add to it. Even with gardening and things like that, but it was even with the bigger boxes, my kids have had a blast.

DETROIT With sports on hold, many parents worry about keeping their children active when theyre at home. Local 4 spoke with two teachers who wanted to lend their expertise to all Metro Detroit families. Its creating creating a positive environment for them to still feel safe to be physically active and be goofy and be out of their comfort zone, Hughes said. Thats why they wanted to come up with a way to engage their students and keep them interested in exercise. You can find workout videos, like the ones featured below, on their social media accounts.

DETROIT Many parents have avoided taking their children to the doctor during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, but pediatricians are concerned about the ripple affect of missing those appointments. I think, I believe the date was March 17, declined by nearly 60% nearly overnight, and what were hearing from our patients parents is theyre afraid to come in, Schafer said. They dont know what to expect.The majority of children arent going to the doctor right now because of those concerns. A recent study by the American Academy of Pediatrics estimates children are missing between 70%-80% of their scheduled pediatric appointments. Please do not delay wellness visits out of fear and concern for COVID-19, Schafer said.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. A report from the University of Michigan found one-third of parents surveyed dont plan to send their children back to class in the fall. The survey shed light on how uncomfortable many parents are to send their children back to school due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. I dont think hes going back, Williams said. I think she really wants to go back.U of Ms study found two-thirds of parents will be sending their children back to school. But Black, Hispanic and Asian parents were less likely to say they will send all of their children to school, compared to White and non-Hispanic parents.

DETROIT Even with coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions lifting in Michigan, most of our everyday life has to be conducted from a distance. By nature, children are social. They usually love being with their friends and classmates, so its a challenge to help them be social while everyone is social distancing. We need to help cultivate that for our children when theyre not at school, Rockwell said. Its just really important that we keep the social connection current.Social distancing can be especially hard on children and teenagers who miss their friends.

DETROIT – With many traditional summer camps choosing to stay closed this season, parents have another option to consider, virtual summer camps. She knows there are some great virtual camp offerings but wants to make sure parents are helping their children get enough physical activity. The virtual camps will be two hours a day, giving families flexibility and have the camps be just a part of their summer experience. Registration is already open to the general public for Cranbrook Art Museum camps and the Cranbrook Institute of Science camps. https://members.acacamps.org/Virtual-CampThere are lots of virtual summer camp options, a quick online search shows the school offers programs including creative writing, wilderness survival and even how to debate.

More parents considering virtual summer camps during pandemicPublished: June 14, 2020, 11:39 pmWith school wrapping up, Katey McPherson, an educator who travels the country teaching kids and parents digital dos and don'ts, says now is the time to have children pursue their passions.

DETROIT – As we wrap up another emotional week of angry protests in cities across the country, worried parents are struggling with how to protect their children from seeing the violence and also talk to them about racism. Read more: Kids at Home“My husband had that conversation with him about being a black man in America," High-Van Dyke said. “The preschool and elementary school age kids are beginning to ask questions and a lot of the questions that they are asking is about skin color. She said younger children shouldn’t be exposed to any of this violence, but if your young children have already seen it, how do you explain it to them? "The child needs to see the parent bringing over a black friend to dinner or a playdate of a different race should be able to play with the child.

As the school year wraps up, there’s a different kind of lesson you can pass on to your children -- manners. “A lot of times people think etiquette is about being stuffy, and a lot of rules," said Danielle Kovachevich. “I actually would like to politely disagree and say that it’s actually about an awareness of how we make people feel. "I think that’s really impactful for our children.”Kovachevich runs the Detroit Academy of Etiquette and since her own children have been home from school, she’s been coming up with ways to help them brush up on their manners. Treat it like an actual school day for school," Kovachevich said.

How to teach your children etiquette, manners while stuck at homePublished: June 5, 2020, 6:32 pmLearning from home has been a new and sometimes challenging experience for many families through this pandemic.

Parents are trying to keep their children occupied and one local mother is sharing outdoor boredom busters that her family loves. Read more: Kids at HomeJeeyoung is the mother of three boys -- ages 3, 5 and 7 -- and she works from home. When it comes to keeping her boys at home occupied, she believes keeping it simple works best. Their top favorite for outdoor boredom buster is the obstacle course. She said it instantly zaps boredom and works as a great distraction.

The disappointment children feel because of these cancellations can be tough on them and their parents. “I think the first thing we need to understand is that disappointment is a part of life,” Rockwell said. READ: Ways to stay connected to loved ones during coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis“We used to think it was just normal to have a graduation party or a birthday party,” Rockwell said. “We need to listen and we don’t need to listen with the ears of, ‘How do I fix this.’ We need to listen with the ears of, ‘Is this person feeling heard?' Rockwell also said not to swell on past events that could lead to making your child feel depressed.

Children can be suffering from burnout too. A routine, she said, can be helpful with burnout, but it’s also important for children to know why things are different. "But if we’re able to cope with that stress, then our children will learn how to cope with the stress, they feel our burnout.”The first step to preventing burnout is practicing self-care. That’s how we need to look at self care.”Rockwell said since children learn from their parents, it’s important to be at your best. It’s a wonderful time for us to learn important life lessons.”

How to prevent burnout for you and your childrenPublished: May 27, 2020, 6:02 pmAs adults we might be feeling weary and burned out from all of these weeks doing everything from home -- but experts say we aren’t the only ones.

DETROIT Getting children involved in household chores is more valuable than you might realize. Telling children to do tasks such as putting away their toys, cleaning dishes and vacuuming can teach them responsibility and improve their mental health. Not only do chores keep children busy, but can also help them mentally. Its also really important to help decrease clutter in the childs home because that can actually lower their anxiety levels. They want to be involved.Groebe said its more important now than ever for children to feel like part of the team.

Everything has changed in their life and theyre going to naturally look towards areas where they can control," said Dr. Cara Fenster. "I think kids are trying to combat that with knowing that OK, I can access a snack when I want to. Some that are nutrient dense and others that are sort of fun food," Fenster said. All food is food is food and some foods do more than others, right? Oftentimes, when kids think or adults think of dessert, we think of like this grand thing," Fenster said.

Parents are trying to work from home, while home schooling children, which is why experts claim this is a great time to build their independence. This was day one of quarantine.”The more responsibilities and independence given to children, the more they could make mistakes. For the Dismondy children, that means checking into their Google Classrooms on their own. “And one of them was cooking.”ain things I really wanted to teach the kids while we’re here in this quarantine,” Dismondy said. “I’m sure parents have heard, ‘I’m bored,’ and I want everyone to know that it drives me crazy just as much as it drives you crazy," Dismondy said.

Why now is the perfect time to build up your child’s independencePublished: May 15, 2020, 5:59 pmDoing everything at home means juggling a lot of tasks for both work and the family.

How to help you children feel more comfortable wearing a maskPublished: May 14, 2020, 6:01 pmWearing masks in public is the new normal for all of us and it can take some getting used to.

It’s that element of ‘What am I going to get?’ It makes exercise fun.”She said her family can easily fill 45 minutes of exercise using the dice. “Before you know it, you’ve been exercising for 45 minutes and they don’t even realize it’s true exercise because it’s fun,” Nakfoor said. “Bodyweight exercises are great -- jumping jacks, sit ups, toe touches, arm circles, the plank -- bodyweight exercises are really good because they’re good for little kids," Nakfoor said. She also likes using indoor activity cards. Nakfoor said that’s the key -- if the children are having fun, they’ll stay active longer.

“80% of kids ages six to 17 don’t get enough exercise -- and that’s without a pandemic.”Nakfoor makes sure her children stay active with a homemade obstacle course drawn with chalk on the sidewalk. They get really into this and you combine a bunch of physical fitness activities to make a really long obstacle course down the sidewalk,” Nakfoor said. In addition to the obstacle course, she also gets her children moving by mapping out a scavenger hunt. We do 20 miles in 20 days. They wanted to see if -- as a family -- we can walk 20 miles in 20 days.

Fun ways to keep your kids activePublished: May 6, 2020, 6:07 pmWith no school, no after-school activities and no sports teams to play on, keeping our children active can be a real challenge.