In many parts of the country and world, even on military installations, school is closed and likely to be closed for the rest of the school year. Parents and teachers are rightfully concerned that this will lead to a significant regression in learning, resulting in lowered scores on state standardized tests.

However, having kids at home, and for many of you that are now homebound as well, “no school” creates opportunities for enhanced learning, teaching kids things that are not typically taught in school, lifetime lessons and values that will endure long after memorizing multiplication tables.

Now is a good time to teach kids how to set a table. In fact, it is a good time to use the table for family meals and conversation (half of all American families don’t eat meals together).