Busy Bear brings joy and gives ideas for fun activities to Mid-Prairie families during school shut down

WELLMAN - Whether he's sledding, helping out with chores, playing Connect Four or working on school work, Busy Bear does it all.

The model 'student” is displayed doing a new activity each day on the Mid-Prairie Community School District's social media pages, not only to lift the spirits of students but to give parents some extra ideas on what they can be doing with their children.

Mid-Prairie CSD Superintendent Mark Schneider, who is the brain behind Busy Bear, said the idea came about after a parent of the district organized a teddy bear hunt following the initial school closings in mid-March.

Schneider said when he made up a 'goofy story” about how the bear eventually ended up inside his garage and on top of his wife's car, it made him realize he could be using the stuffed toy as 'a diversion for families.”

'Especially for elementary age students, Busy Bear shows what a model student would be doing during the closures,” Schneider said. This has included activities such as exercise and listening to music as well as playing games or watching some television.

As much as the toy is meant to bring joy to families in the district, Schneider added he hopes the posts will be as helpful to parents as it is to students.

'Parents are being asked to do something they're not used to doing. We're trying to give as many resources, direction and support as we can. Teachers and guidance counselors are reaching out but still, with all the support, parents are in a position they don't understand very well,” Schneider said about the switch to home schooling following Gov. Kim Reynold's decision to close schools for the rest of the academic year.

Schneider added that Mid-Prairie CSD has decided to provide voluntary enrichment activities for grades K-8 and required education services for their high school students. The superintendent said the district plans to send out a survey to parents in the next several weeks asking about what other supports they would like to have access to and how else the schools could be supporting distance learning moving forward.

'It's tough being a parent and a child's teacher. I hope Busy Bear gives them a little support too and I can give them ideas on what kids can do. Sometimes parents may feel some frustration and just need ideas,” Schneider said.