About COVID-19

You might be wondering what COVID-19 is, what Coronavirus means, or how this might impact you and your family. As we are not medical professionals, we have linked articles below for your reference. It is hugely important right now for everybody to get their information from reputable sources, as it will give accurate prevention measures you can take (important) and accurate risk factors.

A Note to Parents and Caregivers during COVID-19:

You are encouraged to visit the entirety of this website, and to utilize some/all of the resources provided. We wholeheartedly believe that the best way to teach our children good mental health habits is to model those skills ourselves. If you need additional help, we have provided resources below that specifically address some issues you might be experiencing.

It's ok if you don't know how to homeschool your child; you know how to teach your child. You taught your child to walk, talk, put on pants, open doors, and 50,000 other things. You can do this. It's ok if you feel overwhelmed or need help. Humans weren't meant to do everything alone. Remember that this is temporary. Your child will grow up to be an amazing human being regardless of how well you helped them with 1 month of classwork.

Take time for yourself. Reconnect with your partner. Play card games. Organize your closet and make a 'donate' pile. Call or Facetime YOUR parents. Teach your child how to change a tire, do laundry, sew on a button, or load your dishwasher the *right* way. Remember: kids are always learning. Right now, they are learning how YOU respond to stressful events.

And when it all boils down, do what is best for your family. If that means you continue to work, do that. If that means ensuring their medical needs are met, do that. If that means deep cleaning the entire hour or praying or baking or just sitting on the couch and watching TV, do that. You know what your family needs better than anybody else.

Tips for Strengthening Your Relationship with Your Teen

Address the situation

1. Don't give them platitudes like "Everything will be ok."
2. Acknowledge their (very real) feelings "I know this is scary."
3. Emphasize the good things "Isn't it great that the whole world is coming together to work on a cure?"
4. Give them an opportunity to work through their feelings "Do you want to go for a walk and talk about it?"

Learning goes both ways.

• Ask your student to teach you something (how to do a famous TikTok dance, make a fishtail braid, throw a football)
• Play their favorite game with them
• Tell them something about YOUR day
• Share an embarrassing story from your teen years with them (trust me, this will build solidarity)
• Say you're sorry (and mean it) when you mess up or lose your temper
• Learn something new with your child - you can find free activities and lessons created BY TEACHERS using #TeacherTipsCOVID19 on Instagram