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Apr 15, 2020

12 Ways to Entertain Your Kids During This Time

Posted by: CENTURY 21 Lighthouse Realty

 

 

 

 

 

 

The last couple of weeks have been beautiful in Jacksonville, however, now the rain has come and we will continue to see rain for a while. 

Since your household is now currently a business, a school, a restaurant, a daycare and being overused daily, here are a few ideas to help you keep the kids busy and hopefully bring a little peace to your day!

COVID-19 has closed schools around the world for weeks already, and with the recent announcement that the isolation period has been extended through April 30, bored children are quickly becoming an epidemic as well.
We are exceptionally lucky to live in the digital age.  It is a wonderful tool that can help keep things calm, but the unexpected isolation period has left many parents worrying about excessive screen time wondering, “What can we do all day while it isn’t safe to leave the house?  How can we keep kids entertained during the coronavirus crisis?”
We’ve rounded up our best kid-tested activities to help break up the screen time and keep your kids active and engaged.  

1. Kitchen Fun!

Most kids love cooking activities, and in addition to bonding time and edible rewards, this activity can be used to reinforce mathematics skills. While trying a new cookie or cake recipe, you could also set up a camera or smartphone and make your own cooking show.
Baking not your forte?  Try this simple to make ice cream in a bag with the recipe found here:  https://www.food.com/recipe/5-min-ice-cream-192039

2. Get Messy
From mud pies to play dough to slime, it seems the messier the activity, the more the kids seem to enjoy it.  Slime, also sometimes referred to as goo, is a fun science experiment you can do at home with your kids.  You can learn how to make your own slime here:  https://www.homedepot.com/c/ah/how-to-make-slime/9ba683603be9fa5395fab901e60f5405

3. Spa Day
Set up an at-home spa complete with a nail salon.  Spoil your kids (and yourself) with relaxing foot soaks, facials, and manicures.  Feeling artistic?  Try some of these nail art techniques:  https://www.diyncrafts.com/8776/beauty/40-diy-nail-art-hacks-borderline-genius
4. Edible Science
Try making rock candy!  It’s fun and easy to make this delicious science experiment.  All you need is water, sugar, popsicle sticks, clothes pins, and food coloring or Kool-aid.  See how it’s done here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvKJz4M585c
5. Decorate Your Concrete 
Kids love making murals and even playing games like hopscotch and tic tac toe outside on driveways and sidewalks.  No chalk?  No problem!  Check out this link and learn how to make your own:  https://www.instructables.com/id/Make-Your-Own-Sidewalk-Chalk/
6. Spy Games
We’re not talking international espionage here, just a few games of “I Spy” which works both indoors and out.  Kick it up a notch with secret messages passed between agents written in invisible ink while giving the kids a little chemistry lesson.  The instructions for lemon juice invisible ink can be found here:  https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/bring-science-home-invisible-ink/
7. Go On A (Virtual) Field Trip
With public places like zoos and museums forced to close their doors to the public, many have made virtual tours available.  Science, history, art, and literacy are all just a click away.  For a great round up of free tours available, check out this link:  https://www.wearethemighty.com/MIGHTY-SURVIVAL/free-virtual-field-trips-quarantine
8. BFFs
You’re going to be spending a lot of time trapped in the house together.  Might as well solidify your newfound status as BFFs with some friendship bracelets.  Learn how to make several different designs here:  https://diyprojectsforteens.com/diy-friendship-bracelets/
9. Find Your Inner Peace
Grab your yoga mats (or your towels) and kick off your shoes.  Cosmic Kids Yoga has a great lineup of yoga videos designed to help with mindfulness and relaxation that they’ve designed specifically for children.  Check them out here:  https://www.youtube.com/user/CosmicKidsYoga
10. Have a Fiesta!
Kids love parties, and one of the easiest ones to throw is a fiesta.  Turn your taco Tuesday into something really special with a few activities and decorations like a pinata.  Click this link to learn how you and your kids can make your own:  https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/how-to-make-a-pinata-1252616
11. Bubbles
Bubbles seem to universally amaze and amuse small children and can keep them occupied for quite some time.  Fancy electronic gadgets and expensive perfumed formulas are available and fun, but if you want to go old school and keep it simple, it’s easy enough to make your own.  Check out this link to get a recipe and learn a little about the science behind the bubbles:  https://www.homesciencetools.com/article/how-to-make-super-bubbles-science-project/
12. Win An Oscar
It may be a little while before your kids get their first Oscar for directing, but you can set them on the path now.  Watch this video with your kids and help them write and direct their very own stop-motion movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ppedXZHhE0
To help combat squabbles among siblings and make this list even more fun, try printing and cutting the suggestions into strips and have your kids take turns pulling ideas from a hat. Have any other ideas that have been successful in your home? Let us know! We’d love to feature them!

Apr 8, 2020

Who's Hiring in Jacksonville During This Time?

Posted by: CENTURY 21 Lighthouse Realty

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Update – 4/15/2020 for Jacksonville Florida Job Seekers – Scroll to bottom for new opportunities in employment!
The worldwide pandemic we’re currently facing has shut down hundreds of businesses and left many unemployed.  There are still available jobs out there with new positions opening up every day.  

Big box stores are being overwhelmed by the demands of the public.  With products flying off of the shelves at grocery stores, positions like stockers and cashiers are in high demand at the moment.  
 
Walmart is hiring nationwide for positions like cashier and front end, distribution centers, stocker, backroom, receiving associates.
https://careers.walmart.com/

Target is looking for new employees for positions in general merchandise, fulfillment, cashier, guest advocate, inbound stocking.
https://jobs.target.com/location/jacksonville-jobs/1118/6252001-4155751-4160021/4

CVS stores are looking for retail associates.
https://jobs.cvshealth.com/ShowJob/JobId/97287/Retail-Store-Associate?prefilters=none&CloudSearchLocation=none&CloudSearchValue=none

Jobs are available at Home Depot.  They are looking for cashiers and warehouse associates.
https://careers.homedepot.com/job/6959945/cashier-jacksonville-fl/
https://careers.homedepot.com/job/9537491/warehouse-associate-jacksonville-fl/

Or you can search their list of available positions in Jacksonville here:
https://careers.homedepot.com/job-search-results/?location=Jacksonville%2C%20Florida%2C%20USA&latitude=30.3321838&longitude=-81.65565099999999&radius=15

Dollar Tree is currently hiring nationwide including Jacksonville, Florida.  Dollar Tree locations are looking to fill positions for cashiers, stockers, warehouse associates, corporate, instore, and logistics.
https://www.dollartree.com/careers

Southeastern Grocers encompass several retailers including Winn-Dixie, BI-LO, Harveys, and Fresco y Más.  They are currently offering opportunities in retail, pharmacy and their support center
https://www.segrocers.com/careers

As one of the fastest-growing retailers in the country, Sprouts offers many opportunities including store and regional team members as well as distribution and quality control.  
https://about.sprouts.com/careers/

Aldi stores are looking for stockers, cashiers, and other store associates.  They are currently offering a $2 premium for all hours in addition to their regular pay.  
https://careers.aldi.us/search-jobs/Jacksonville%2C%20FL/61/4/6252001-4155751-4153840-4160021/30x33218/-81x65565/25/2

Major retailer Dollar General is hiring for positions in retail, distribution, corporate, and fleet. 
https://careers.dollargeneral.com/

Another field that is currently being overwhelmed due to the outbreak is driving and delivery work especially in the food service industry.  

The company Shipt offers same day grocery deliveries, and they are looking to hire people to meet the overwhelming demands of the grocery delivery industry.
https://www.shipt.com/be-a-shopper/

One of Shipt’s major competitors, Instacart is also hiring. You can apply here:
https://shoppers.instacart.com/

Uber Eats is one of many food delivery services hiring. The perks of delivering for Uber Eats in Jacksonville is the fact that they offer same day pay. This can be extremely convenient during these trying times. 
https://www.uber.com/us/en/drive/delivery/

As you may or may not have noticed; alcohol sales are up as people are not allowed to go out for a drink nor visit their favorite restaurant. While grocery shopping apps offer alcohol delivery, it’s more difficult to receive alcohol since they are so bombarded with grocery delivery. Enter Drizly. Drizly is a bit different because the app is run by the company but the liquor stores hire and manage all of their own drivers. If you want to make sure there are stores with openings in Jacksonville, start here:
https://drizly.typeform.com/to/e0iAfd

The US Postal Service has seen an uptick in deliveries.  You can apply and take the exam online.
https://www.postalexam473.com/jobs/index/

In addition, dozens of local driving jobs are available on Craigslist right now.
https://jacksonville.craigslist.org/search/jjj?s=120

Amazon has opportunities locally in Jacksonville, Florida in many fields including warehouse associates and shoppers.  Amazon employees in the Jacksonville area can now earn up to $18.30/hr
http://www.amazondelivers.jobs/warehouse-jobs/jacksonville-jobs

Not only that, Amazon has work from home positions available as well in fields like human resources, sales, operations, IT, and engineering and solutions.  They also hire virtual call center representatives who can work remotely.
https://www.amazon.jobs/en/locations/virtual-locations?offset=0&result_limit=10&sort=recent&cities[]=USA&distanceType=Mi&radius=24km&latitude=&longitude=&loc_group_id=&loc_query=&base_query=&city=&country=&region=&county=&query_options=&

Other remote jobs available include companies like Rosetta Stone. 

They are hiring for positions of English Online Language Tutor, Corporate Account Executive, French Online Language Tutor, German Online Language Tutor, Sr. Marketing Manager of Literacy, Sr. Retail Account Manager, Spanish Online Language Tutor, K-12 Field Marketing Specialist, Manager of North America Enterprise Sales & more.
https://rosettastone.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/Rosetta_Stone

The medical field is being overwhelmed by the Covid 19 pandemic, and many jobs in the medical field are available. 

The company Humana has openings for nurse liaison, RNs, computer specialists, disease case managers, and community health educators.  
https://humana.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/Humana_External_Career_Site/2/refreshFacet/318c8bb6f553100021d223d9780d30be

More local businesses hiring: 

As you know, many companies are delivering and J. William Culinary is no different. They are now offering free shipping for orders over $50 and need drivers! Check them out then if you’re interested in helping deliver their cuisine, reach out by emailling info@jwilliamculinary.com! https://www.jwilliamculinary.com/

Florida Blue is hosting virtual hiring events for 250 member care representatives. The first virtual event was 4/14/2020 but there is another on 4/21/2020! Registration is required through email at www.careers.floridablue.com or by clicking this link. 
You can attend the virtual fair on a smartphone, tablet, computer or audio by phone. 

FIS is still continuing to hire and has 157 jobs listed on Indeed.com with plenty in call-centers starting at $15/hour. You can find out more about their opportunities on Indeed.

If you’ve recently lost employment because of the Coronavirus, Covid-19 outbreak, there is still hope and you can definitely contribute during these trying times! Know of other opportunities? Let us know and we will update the list!