Families
Table of Contents
The Pandemic Toolkit Parents Need
This brief, useful document is a great resource for parents.
Each week we'll be releasing resources to help you continue to facilitate social emotional learning during this time of uncertainty, whether you're at home or in your classroom. Check out the new resources from this week below. We hope you'll be able to include these in next weeks instruction.
Non-Corona Conversation Starters. View Resource
My Current Challenges. View Resource
Draw Your Superhero. View Resource
This Week's Wins. View Resource
Parent Resources
Education Development Center: Resources for the COVID-19 Crisis
How You and Your Kids Can Destress During Coronavirus
How to Talk to Your Kids About the Coronavirus
Working at Home with Kids during COVID-19
10 Tips for talking about COVID-19 with your kids
Wellness Resources from Breathe for Change
WHO Mental Health Considerations (updated)
Meta Moments Video & Worksheet
Coping During Coronavirus: Practices for Well-Being
Behavior 101 for Families and Caregivers
Whole Child Counseling: Great Free Resources
Daily Mindfulness Videos with Kristin Page
Your Complete Guide to School at Home
Special Needs for Special Kids Free Resource Library
Password is freelibrary
Free Resources from Second Step for Families
There are a number of Second Step activities freely available online for children ages 5–13. Many of these are adaptable for remote learning or for families to do at home with their children.
The Imagine Neighborhood: This new podcast for families is designed to help children and grown-ups practice their social-emotional skills. Each episode tells a story that’s amazing, fantastical, and maybe a little bananas, while it tackles the big feelings that come with growing up.
Mind Yeti®: Fifteen of our mindfulness program sessions are now available for anyone to use, no experience necessary! Designed for educators and families to do alongside children, or for older children to do on their own, Mind Yeti provides a great way for everyone to practice mindfulness during this difficult time.
Mind Yeti on Vimeo: English | Spanish
Mind Yeti on YouTube: English | Spanish
Mind Yeti Podcast: RSS Feed | Spotify | Stitcher
Little Children, Big Challenges: Committee for Children and Sesame Street have partnered to create a collection of resources for young children facing significant challenges. These materials, aimed at building children’s resilience, may be useful for educators and families.
Captain Compassion®: Here, children can find games, comics, and activities they can do on their own, or with their families, to learn about how they can help stop bullying.
Hot Chocolate Talk: A resource to help families talk with their children about child sexual abuse. Families may be spending a lot more time together during school closures, which makes this an opportune time to have these difficult but very important conversations.
ParenTeen Connect: For families with older children, this resource provides an online experience they can share together. It’s loaded with videos, resources, and useful advice to help teens and the adults in their lives address hot-button topics.
Tips For You and Your Community
If you’re noticing anxiety in yourself or those around you these days, you’re not alone. With mention of COVID-19 (commonly known as coronavirus) filling radio and television news, social media feeds, and our email inboxes, it’s no wonder we’re all anxious. Between the uncertainty, the real health risks, and the hype, fear and anxiety are feelings that are both valid and common. We wanted to provide you with a few ideas for managing those feelings.
Start with yourself. Before you help others with their feelings, make sure you are okay—that you are calm enough to validate, reassure, and support others. Practice your calming strategies. Practice self-care. Talk to others. Breathe.
Be aware of your own emotions and accept how you feel. With widespread illness, real uncertainty exists. We may be worried about our own health and safety, the well-being of our family members, or even childcare or workplace issues. Remind yourself that a certain level of anxiety is grounded and normal. Seek professional help if you feel your anxiety or fear is getting in the way.
Focus on the facts. Consult reliable and up-to-date sources of information such as the Center for Disease Control website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/summary.html and your local news source for updates on closings, procedures, and guidelines.
Control the amount of information you take in. In times like these, we may feel like we have no control. One thing we can control is how much information we seek out and how often we tune in. Take breaks as needed from the news, social media, and conversations that make you feel anxious.
Don’t be afraid to say no. If someone asks you to attend a social event or goes to hug you or shake your hand and you are not interested, this is not a time to push yourself past your comfort zone. Give yourself permission to say no, as your physical and mental health is the most important thing. At a loss for words? Try something like, “With all the germs going around, I’ll take a raincheck.”
Respect others’ decisions but know what’s right for you. We all handle the news differently. You may know someone stocking up on masks and paper goods; others may be continuing to host parties. Let them go about their business, and think about what you need to do for you and your own physical and emotional well-being.
Be your best self when dealing with stigma and fears. If you hear rumors or notice suspicion around certain groups of people being sick, question ungrounded assumptions and do your best to protect those who are stigmatized or judged. Have compassion for those who are ill and those whose lives have been disrupted by the virus or society’s response to it, including having compassion for yourself.
Support others who are dealing with anxiety and uncertainty. When helping others with their anxiety, particularly your colleagues, students, or children, we suggest you:
Manage your own anxiety first.
Don’t be afraid to discuss the situation—open communication sometimes is the best way to allay unpleasant emotions.
Don’t assume you know how others, and particularly children, are feeling or why they’re feeling that way. Ask.
Consider the age and developmental level of those with whom you speak. Take your cues from them on what to discuss.
Reassure children with facts. Remind them that adults, in particular capable scientists and health care workers, are working together to keep everyone safe. Discuss what you are doing and what they can do to stay safe and germ-free.
Dealing with the uncertainty of the current situation is difficult for everyone, and we want to support in any way we can. Please feel free to share the above with your school community, and do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have questions, suggestions, or seek additional guidance in this area. Below are links to other resources you may find helpful as you navigate this challenging time.
Sincerely,
The Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence Team
When Kids are Stressed
Children and teens react, in part, on what they see from the adults around them. When parents and caregivers deal with the COVID-19 calmly and confidently, they can provide the best support for their children. Parents can be more reassuring to others around them, especially children, if they are better prepared.
Not all children and teens respond to stress in the same way. Some common changes to watch for include
Excessive crying or irritation in younger children
Returning to behaviors they have outgrown (for example, toileting accidents or bedwetting)
Excessive worry or sadness
Unhealthy eating or sleeping habits
Irritability and “acting out” behaviors in teens
Poor school performance or avoiding school
Difficulty with attention and concentration
Avoidance of activities enjoyed in the past
Unexplained headaches or body pain
Use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs
There are many things you can do to support your child
Take time to talk with your child or teen about the COVID-19 outbreak. Answer questions and share facts about COVID-19 in a way that your child or teen can understand.
Reassure your child or teen that they are safe. Let them know it is ok if they feel upset. Share with them how you deal with your own stress so that they can learn how to cope from you.
Limit your family’s exposure to news coverage of the event, including social media. Children may misinterpret what they hear and can be frightened about something they do not understand.
Try to keep up with regular routines. If schools are closed, create a schedule for learning activities and relaxing or fun activities.
Be a role model. Take breaks, get plenty of sleep, exercise, and eat well. Connect with your friends and family members.
Learn more about helping children cope.
