• CONNECT: Continue to connect with friends and family who feel safe to you. Who makes you feel safe and calm? Call, Skype, FaceTime, chat with them!

• Take action: There is a lot we cannot control, but take action where you can. Take steps to protect yourself, your family, and your community. Help others. Practice self-care actively!

• Limit news: Limit the time you spend online and watching the news. It is easy to get sucked into the never-ending updates, news, and stories, but it is important for us to get accurate information when necessary and then leave the rest.

• Let your body relax: When we are experiencing intense stress or crisis, our bodies and brains can be constantly looking out for danger or waiting for something bad to happen. It is important to let our bodies relax at least once a day. Take a bath, practice mindfulness for 5 minutes, let your muscles relax, focus on your breath. Let your body come down for a few minutes.

We want to use simple, correct, age-appropriate facts to explain the virus to children. It is important to manage our own stress to help kids feel calm and safe.

Here are a few examples and resources created for kids!

The following points are excerpts from 'How to deal with uncertainty during coronavirus' from © ReachOut Australia 2020. For the full article and additional resources, click HERE

• Hold on to your ‘stability rocks’ (routine, practices, or people that help create normalcy)

• Accept that it’s normal to be feeling stressed

• Remember: you are not your thoughts (thoughts that cause anxiety are not all true, it is important to remind ourselves of this)

• Practise tolerating uncertainty, or take one day/morning/hour/moment at a time

• Draw on skills you’ve used before (what have you done to get through challenges in the past? Do those things now)

• Play to your strengths (we aren't perfect, acknowledge what areas you are strong in and use those)

• Find ways to talk to others (through Skype, FaceTime, Google Meet, chat, phone, whatever! Just connect)

• Stay up to date with the facts (take time to get reliable information, then take breaks from the media)

• If you feel overwhelmed, seek support (see 'Resources' for additional supports)

• Here to Help BC: COVID-19 and Anxiety - Tips for managing anxiety during the COVID-19 outbreak

• Common Sense Media: Resources for Families - Navigate social distancing and school closures with quality media and at-home learning opportunities for your kids

• Zero to Three: Tips for Families - Tips for families with young children