Resources for Families

• Talking To Children about COVID-19: A Parent Resource by the National Association of School Psychologists and the National Association of School Nurses

• Helping Children Cope with Stress During the 2019-nCoV Outbreak by the World Health Organization

• Helping Children Cope with Emergencies

• Manage Anxiety & Stress

• Parent/Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope With the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

• National Association of School Psychologists: Talking to Children About COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

• New York Times: How to Talk to Kids about Coronavirus

• Child Mind Institute: Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus

• Open Circle: How to Talk to Kids about Coronavirus

• PBS Parents: How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus

• NPR: What To Say To Kids When The News Is Scary

• NPR: Just For Kids: A Comic Exploring The New Coronavirus

• Livescience: The Ultimate Kids’ Guide to the New Coronavirus

• Identify a learning place. Where will your student work? Make sure that they have pencils, erasers, paper, calculator, or any other tools they may need to learn.

• Create a study plan together and set small goals. Help your student understand the purpose and objectives of their tasks and learning by discussing what they are expected to complete digitally. Help them create a checklist of due dates and a timeline so that you both understand what needs to be completed. Celebrate when they meet small goals.

• Guide your student on his/her responsibilities by helping them create a daily schedule for learning, balancing time in front of a screen, exercising, socializing, and etc. Schedule breaks in learning when needed.

• Try to keep your student on a regular schedule for waking and sleeping. Online learning is often asynchronous which means that students can access their work at any time of the day, allowing them to keep odd hours. Ensure that your student is taking assignments seriously by keeping them to a somewhat ‘normal school day structure.’ Encourage and set aside time for exercise and creative time for making or drawing.

• Find out when your student’s teachers’ office hours are in case you or your student has questions. When will he or she respond to emails? Is he or she offering synchronous learning opportunities for a class? If this information has not been communicated to you, reach out to the instructor.

How can I keep my kids learning when we're stuck at home? - This is a great article that outlines a schedule that can be used to realistically support students while they learn at home.

Recommendations for Cleaning Your Electronics

We have heard often during this health crisis to wash our hands, but we need to clean the electronics we touch as well. Here are some recommendations to use to keep devices from passing along the virus:

Phones & Tablets:

1. Wash/Sanitize your hands before cleaning your devices.

2. Unplug your phone or tablet before cleaning.

3. Never spay cleaner on your device. The moisture can damage the equipment and go where it was not intended.

4. Use a soft dry cloth. Paper products can damage the screen.

5. Never submerge device into water or other liquids.

6. Check the instructions for your device: Apple products instructions (https://apple.co/39UGM7V) ,Samsung Site instructions (http://bit.ly/2w3MSEi) both recommend using 70% isopropyl alcohol or Clorox wipes. All recommend spraying onto a soft, non-abrasive cloth, never the device.

Do not use pure alcohol, bleach, or vinegar. They are too harsh and may actually damage the device.

Computers, Mice, Keyboards, etc.:

1. Wash/Sanitize your hands before cleaning your devices.

2. Unplug and remove batteries, if possible.

3. Spray into a soft cloth, never directly onto the device.

4. Don’t use paper products to wipe. They are too abrasive.

5. Never submerge the device into water or other liquids.

6. Use 70% isopropyl or Clorox wipes for best results. Clorox wipes will be damp when they are removed from the container. Be sure to let the wipe dry slightly before cleaning the keyboard or touchpad on a laptop. This will ensure that the keyboard is not damaged by excess solution entering the device.

Again, do not use pure alcohol, bleach, or vinegar. They are too harsh and may actually damage the device.