disabilities or other special needs.
Talking to Children About COVID-19 (Coronavirus): A Parent Resource: Provides insight and guidelines for parents and caregivers to provide guidance and reassurance to children who can feel anxious about this new type of virus. The National Association of School Psychologists advises that acknowledging a level of concern without panicking is appropriate, and can generate actions that reduce the risk of illness. Helping children cope with anxiety requires providing accurate prevention information and facts without causing undue alarm. This website provides extensive tip sheets and other resources in numerous languages.
Talking to Children About Coronavirus (COVID19): Suggests ways to talk with young children about the evolving coronavirus outbreak, from the perspective of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. This two-page tip sheet concludes, “Most children, even those exposed to loss or illness, are quite resilient. However, by creating an open environment where they feel free to ask questions, we can help them cope with stressful events and experiences and reduce the risk of lasting emotional difficulties.”
The Pandemic Toolkit Parents Need: Introduces eight tips for parents from child psychologist and trauma expert Bruce Perry MD, PhD, offering guidance to anticipate stress related to COVID-19 pandemic and school closures; and how to manage it through self-regulation to increase one’s own resilience and support growth of resilience in one’s children, too.
Meaningful Online Education for Our Youngest Learners: Tips to Reconcile the Need for E-Learning with How Young Children Learn Best: Highlights how early childhood and early elementary school teachers can feel more confident about providing technology-mediated learning experiences that are developmentally appropriate for young learners when used in regulated amounts.
Ways to Promote Children’s Resilience to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Considers five recognized protective best practices long established in the literature that can shield children from harm and increase the chances they adapt positively to adversities like the coronavirus pandemic. For each protective factor listed, Child Trends’ experts offer numerous suggestions at both the parent/ caregiver and the community/systems levels to support and strengthen that protective factor in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated social and economic stressors.
GoNoodle: Engages children with movement and mindfulness videos created by child development experts. Children’s physical and psychological wellness are closely interconnected. Games and activities supported through this resource are designed to support a Whole Child approach. Portions of this website are tailored to the respective needs of families and of educators.
Helping Your Teen Find Purpose During the Pandemic: Provides clear clinical guidance to parents in a short (less than 3 minutes) video from the JED Foundation.
What to Do if You're Concerned about Your Teen's Mental Health: A Conversation Guide: Offers guidance to help parents and families who are concerned about their teen’s mental health and emotional well-being have important conversations with their child. Although parents often pick up on concerning signs that their teen is struggling, not everyone feels well-equipped to approach their child to have a conversation about how they are feeling. Knowing what to do after the conversation, especially if the child has expressed something concerning, is not always obvious. This guide from the JED Foundation discusses signs that your teen may be struggling; preparing yourself for (and what to do and say during) the conversation; and how to follow up after the conversation.
Helping Homebound Children During the COVID-19 Outbreak: Establishes positive measures families can utilize to include children in planning for the family, and proactive behaviors to help support their sense of agency and control.
Strategies for Parents on Supporting Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Offers tips t