Parent Resources

Concern about coronavirus can make both children and families anxious. It is important that we communicate to our students the facts about the virus in an age-appropriate way and reassure them that they are safe at home.

Here are some resources to communicate with your student about COVID-19:

• This article provides some guidelines to communicate what is happening with COVID-19

Talking to Children about Covid-19

These guidelines include:

• Remain calm and reassuring

• Make yourself available

• Avoid excessive blaming

• Monitor television viewing and social media

• Maintain a normal routine to the extent possible

• Be honest and accurate

• Know the symptoms of COVID-19

• Review and model basic hygiene and healthy lifestyle practices for protection

• Discuss new rules or practices at school

• Communicate with your school

• Keep explanations age-appropriate

More tips: Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus

• 5 Ways to Help Teens Manage Anxiety About the Coronavirus

• CDC: Stress and Coping

• CDC: Helping Children Cope with Emergency Situations

• How to Avoid Passing on Anxiety to Your Kids

• Supporting Kids During the Coronavirus Crisis

• LA County Public Health Department: Coping with Stress During Infectious Disease Outbreaks that require social distancing

• SAMHSA: Tips to Manage Your Own Stress During Infection Disease Outbreaks

• Taking Care of Your Mental Health in the Face of Uncertainty

• What to Do (and Not Do) When Children Are Anxious

Social Media Contract

During times like this, processing too much information from media can cause more panic and anxiety in students. We recommend limiting the access your student has to media to allow your student space to process all the information and to ask questions. Here are some guidelines for creating a media contract with your student:

1. Set family expectations for all devices - whether it is the TV, tablets, computers, or cell phones, set clear expectations about the use of devices and be a role model for your students.

2. Guidelines about when and where the device can be used - although this time away from school and work can be stressful, it can also be a time to reconnect as a family. Set guidelines about not using phones while eating meals together or before bed.

3. Encourage your student to stop and think before they post - misinformation can result in more panic during this stressful time. Encourage your student to research before reposting anything or to think about if that information will be helpful to others or have negative consequences.

4. Respectful behavior and completing online school work earns more privileges - in an effort to motivate students to complete the online school work they are receiving, technology privileges can be used as a reward.

5. Have open communication about media content - be open about the information you are aware of and have open discussions with your students about what is going on currently as we are getting new updates each day. If there is a question that you don’t have the answer for, research the information together on reliable websites or news outlets.