COVID-19 Resources for Parents
Parenting during the COVID-19 pandemic is hard. Your children are home, you’re (likely) home. How do you balance work and your children? How do you keep your children safe? How do you keep them entertained? How do you talk to your children about COVID-19? Below are a few tips and resources that we hope will help.
How to talk about COVID-19 with your children
COVID-19 downloadable children’s book - This children’s book is available in several languages and provides a good way to begin talking to your children about COVID-19.
Talking Tips for Parents - The International OCD Foundation has some good tips for talking to children about COVID-19. They also provide specific tips for parents of children who exhibit OCD-related behaviors/symptoms.
How to Talk to your kids about COVID-19 for Christian Parents - The Humanitarian Disaster Institute has prepared this tip-sheet on how to talk to your children about COVID-19.
Creating Structure and Getting Organized - Structure and routine are important for setting you and your child up for success. Structures and routines allow for consistency and help your child to manage expectations. However, keep in mind that all structures and routines will incorporate some level of flexibility as well.
Creating Structures and Rules - The CDC has some helpful tips, fun (albeit cheesy) videos, and articles to help you think through creating structures and rules.
Structured activities for kids at home - This resource includes an activity sheet with great ideas for simple activities you can do at home (and suggestions on how to reward children upon completion of these activities). You can edit it to fit your family’s needs and desires.
Tips for Parents with Children on the Spectrum During the COVID-19 Outbreak - “Guilford author, Raphael Bernier, shares parenting resources and advice on maintaining routines for families with children on the autism spectrum.”
The Guilford Press has made several relevant chapters available for free. These chapters from Richard Gallagher, Elana Spira, and Jennifer Rosenblatt’s book, The Organized Child, may be helpful.
These additional book chapters from Richard Guare, Peg Dawson, and Colin Guare’s book, Smart But Scattered Teens, may also be helpful.
Taking Care of Yourself as a Parent - You’ve heard of the phrase, “put your own oxygen mask on before your assist your child.” This is what it is to be a parent. It is important that you are taking care of yourself during this time; because doing so will help you parent more effectively.
Self-Compassion for Parents - Guilford Press has made several chapters available for free. Four chapters from Susan Pollak’s book Self Compassion for Parents: Nurture your Child by Caring for Yourself may be helpful:
Chapter 1. “Make It Stop—I Can’t Keep Up!”: Parenting Is Overwhelming
Chapter 2. “Why Is This So Hard?”: Using Self-Compassion as a Life Raft
Chapter 5. “What Should I Do?”: Working with the Inevitable Uncertainty of Parenting
Chapter 7. “It’s All Too Much”: Tapping the Power of Compassion When Times Are Particularly Tough
Dr. Polk’s compassion audio tracks are also available for free.
Dr. CBT Mom - Ilyse Dobrow Di Marco discusses “strategies for managing all kinds of motherhood stresses, from how to cope when you feel like a hot mess to how to cope with your neighborhood “hot moms;” from dealing with pressure from overzealous PTA reps to dealing with pressure from meddling in-laws. I talk about my own parenting stresses, too (see my post about my younger son biting me on the a$$, for example). “
Parenting while Human blog by Psychology Today - This blog helps put things in perspective. All parents make mistakes. All parents get frustrated. All parents need help . . . especially now.
Distance Learning - Helping your child with distance learning can be difficult, especially when you’re balancing working from home, COVID-19 anxiety, quarantine-stress, loneliness, etc.
Free Weekly Learning Activities - “In Tinkergarten® classes, trained leaders deliver our expert-designed curriculum of activities that help kids build the skills that matter most. Try them on your own and begin to see the power in outdoor, play-based learning. To a kid, these are just plain fun.” Free weekly activities are available for young children.
Free Scholastic Learning Projects - Free 2-week day-by-day projects for grades pre-K thru 9th grade.
Kera At-Home Learning - Curated educational programming that live-streams from 6 am to 6 pm weekdays.
Education.com - Free online educational games for children preschool aged through 5th grade.
Reading
Helping Your Child Become a Reader - Guilford Press has made several chapters available for free, including this booklet by Donna Scanlon.
Storyline Online - Professional actors read popular children’s books.
Storynory - Free, fun online reading activities for grades 1-8.
Math
Math Learning Center - Free downloadable materials for children from pe-K through 12th grade.
Greg Tang Math - Is now free for everyone during the COVID-19 school closures.
Science
National Geographic Kids - Free videos, games, activities, and online polls.
Visit an online Zoo (see in fun adventures you can take at home)
Art
Lunch Doodles - Mo Willems teaches drawing during lunch every day.
Fun adventures you can take at home
Virtual Disney World Rides: We know, it’s not the same as being there . . . but it can still be fun! Crank up the volume, move your bodies, and don’t forget to raise your hands and scream when you’re going down-hill! Let your children (and yourself) use your imagination to ride these virtual rides at home.
Virtual Zoos: Several zoos are providing fun and informative daily/regular updates and online tours. A few good ones are:
Virtual Sky-Zone Birthday Party - Looking for a way to celebrate your child’s birthday? “Your kids will get to see and interact with their friends through an online network. Plus, our Sky Zone team will guide them through 15-20 minutes of games, active play, and singing “Happy Birthday.”
Throw a Virtual Watch Party - Throw a synchronized movie watching party with an integrated chat box.
Visit a Museum - Google Arts and Culture offers free access to museums around the world and curated art and culture content.
Additional Resources
This Guide to Parenting and Family Health During COVID-19 from Sprout Therapy provides practical guidance for parenting well during a pandemic and includes specific suggestions for families who have special needs.
What resources have you found to be helpful? Please feel free to share them in the comments below.