Talking to your Kids
Children, as well as adults, are likely to experience anxiety in this uncertain time. Several resources have been created by leading mental health experts on how to have age-appropriate, fact-based and reassuring conversations with you children about the outbreak and the steps they can take to stay healthy.
How To Talk To Your Kids About Coronavirus
This article from PBS Kids is inspired by Mr. Rogers’ who famously explained: “Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting and less scary.” It provides great guidance on how to talk to kids about the virus in developmentally appropriate ways.
Talking to Kids About Coronavirus
This article from Smarter Parenting Blog addresses the importance of managing your own emotions so you don’t project worry that can increase your children’s anxiety and feelings of insecurity.
Answering Your Young Child’s Questions About Coronavirus
Even if you’ve kept your toddler away from news about COVID-19 in the media or overhearing adult conversations, they are bound to have questions. Here are some age-appropriate responses to common questions.
Just For Kids: A Comic Exploring The New Coronavirus
NPR presents a comic developed from an interview with Tara Powell, Joy Osofsky, PhD, and Krystal Lewis on what kids might want to know about the Coronavirus.
Why are people wearing masks? Why are people covering their faces?
Read through tips to answer tough questions toddlers may ask about COVID-19.
Supporting Young Children Isolated Due to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Learn more about common reactions in children when they are faced with stress and things you can do to help.
Talking to Kids about COVID-19
Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton, M.D., MPH the Ohio Department of Health offers these guidelines for kids and COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic can be overwhelming for parents and concerning to kids. ODH recommends that parents and others who work with kids to talk about COVID-19 with kids in a way that children will understand.
How to Talk to Kids About Coronavirus
Keeping your own anxiety in check is key. Read more.
How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Expert opinions on having the conversation. See it here!
6 ways parents can support their kids through the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak
A psychologist's advice on how to help your children deal with the many emotions they may be experiencing now. Read it here.
Coronavirus Talking Points for Parents & Teachers with the Whole-Brain Child Approach
Keep the following in mind when talking with children.
Talking to Children About COVID-19
Read from National Association of School Psychologists and National Association of School Nurses
Supporting Teens and Young Adults During the Coronavirus Crisis
Tips for parents with older children at home
Childrens Handout for Coronavirus and Ways to Cope from Counselor Keri
Download it here.
- How to Talk to Your Child about the Coronavirus, Kids Health
- Talking to Children About COVID-19 (Coronavirus): A Parent Resource, National Association of School Psychologists
- Parent/Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope with the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), National Child Traumatic Stress Network
How To Talk To Your Kids About Coronavirus
This article from PBS Kids is inspired by Mr. Rogers’ who famously explained: “Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting and less scary.” It provides great guidance on how to talk to kids about the virus in developmentally appropriate ways.
Talking to Kids About Coronavirus
This article from Smarter Parenting Blog addresses the importance of managing your own emotions so you don’t project worry that can increase your children’s anxiety and feelings of insecurity.
Answering Your Young Child’s Questions About Coronavirus
Even if you’ve kept your toddler away from news about COVID-19 in the media or overhearing adult conversations, they are bound to have questions. Here are some age-appropriate responses to common questions.
Just For Kids: A Comic Exploring The New Coronavirus
NPR presents a comic developed from an interview with Tara Powell, Joy Osofsky, PhD, and Krystal Lewis on what kids might want to know about the Coronavirus.
Why are people wearing masks? Why are people covering their faces?
Read through tips to answer tough questions toddlers may ask about COVID-19.
Supporting Young Children Isolated Due to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Learn more about common reactions in children when they are faced with stress and things you can do to help.
Talking to Kids about COVID-19
Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton, M.D., MPH the Ohio Department of Health offers these guidelines for kids and COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic can be overwhelming for parents and concerning to kids. ODH recommends that parents and others who work with kids to talk about COVID-19 with kids in a way that children will understand.
How to Talk to Kids About Coronavirus
Keeping your own anxiety in check is key. Read more.
How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Expert opinions on having the conversation. See it here!
6 ways parents can support their kids through the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak
A psychologist's advice on how to help your children deal with the many emotions they may be experiencing now. Read it here.
Coronavirus Talking Points for Parents & Teachers with the Whole-Brain Child Approach
Keep the following in mind when talking with children.
Talking to Children About COVID-19
Read from National Association of School Psychologists and National Association of School Nurses
Supporting Teens and Young Adults During the Coronavirus Crisis
Tips for parents with older children at home
Childrens Handout for Coronavirus and Ways to Cope from Counselor Keri
Download it here.
How to Celebrate a Birthday
To all you Aries and Taurus....this birthday will be different. But that doesn’t mean this bday won’t be a memorable one. Here are some ideas on how to celebrate!
The best gifts for a quarantine birthday
Not sure what to ask for or what to give? Here are a few ultimate quarantine birthday present ideas:
How to Throw a Virtual Birthday Party for Your Child
Have you had to cancel your child's birthday party due to the coronavirus outbreak? Here's how you can move the party online and celebrate virtually.
How to Handle Your Kid's Canceled Birthday Party and Still Make It Special
The new coronavirus may have canceled their plans, but these families still made birthdays wonderful. Read it here.
- Have a virtual party using Google Hangout, Skype call, WhatsApp, Zoom or FaceTime date with as many friends and family as you wish.
- Make your own Cake or watch videos on how to decorate cupcakes or cookies and share it with your friends via a virtual party.
- Organize a Kids' Birthday Drive-By/Birthday Parade-Invite neighbors, friends or family to drive-by in a birthday parade. have them decorate their cars with signs and balloons. (TIP: ask local police/firefighters if they will join the parade)
- This company is offering Virtual Online Princess Parties
- Sky Zone Offers Free Virtual Birthday Party Experience For Kids
- Have a Cake Delivered in an Exploding Box. See Send A Cake.
- No Spring Birthdays in your family? Encourage your neighborhood to make & display “Happy birthday, kids of March!” and “Happy birthday, kids of April!” signs in their windows. Or send these birthday wishes on social media. Or write them on chalk outside your house.
The best gifts for a quarantine birthday
Not sure what to ask for or what to give? Here are a few ultimate quarantine birthday present ideas:
- Movies or streaming subscriptions
- Board games/Puzzles
- Use Amazon to create a Birthday Wish List for people to shop and send from
- Flowers
- Lottery tickets
- Books or e-books
- iTunes or entertainment gift cards
- Activity books
- TIP: Send an E-card (they are instant & germ-free)
How to Throw a Virtual Birthday Party for Your Child
Have you had to cancel your child's birthday party due to the coronavirus outbreak? Here's how you can move the party online and celebrate virtually.
How to Handle Your Kid's Canceled Birthday Party and Still Make It Special
The new coronavirus may have canceled their plans, but these families still made birthdays wonderful. Read it here.
Parenting
“Been homeschooling a six year old and an eight year old for one hour and 11 minutes. Teachers deserve to make a billion dollars a year. Or week.” - Shonda Rhimes
"8 year old is covered in paint. 17 year old is not speaking to me because pandemic is ruining her social life and it is obviously my fault." -- Cara Biddings
"Climate change needs to hire Coronavirus's publicist"- Anonymous
"The first hour of homeschooling started out strong, with some great reading comprehension exercises, and concluded with an epic tantrum over the fact that she can't watch Frozen 3 because it does not exist."- Jeff Kosseff
13 parents give us a reason to laugh amid the coronavirus pandemic
We're all in this together (always at least six feet apart but, you know, together-ish). So while we're stuck here telling our kids to wash their hands for the umpteenth time and social distancing the best we can, let's have a laugh, shall we? Click here.
Keeping Siblings from Each Other's Throats During Quarantine Forced Togetherness
Here are five family habits you can structure into your life in quarantine to help with emotions, meet needs and heal sibling rivalry -- for more peace and affection all around.
Good Digital Parenting While Staying At Home
Pulling out three of the “7 Steps to Good Digital Parenting” as a guide, let’s look at how to build a foundation for responsible tech use at home, and some ways to make this coming period as tolerable, safe, and creative as possible. Learn more.
What Do We Do With The Kids?
An Opportunity to Teach Life Skills. Read the article.
10 Solutions To Save Your Sanity During the Coronavirus Pandemic School Closures
Here are 10 solutions to help you save your sanity during the coronavirus pandemic lockdown.
Coronavirus and Parenting: What You Need to Know Now
This ever-updating guide from NPR includes advice for both health and education during the coronavirus outbreak.
Talking with Kids About Tragic News
After horrific events in the news, do you share your feelings w kids/students… or try to reassure by hiding your feelings? Or smoothing over feelings, eg, “I know it’s sad, but don’t worry, it will be better soon.”
How can we talk with children about these difficult feelings? Read more.
10 Tips for Building Close Family Bonds
As a parent, you play a key role in cultivating and protecting family bonds. But, building strong family connections doesn't always happen naturally, even if you're spending more time together at home. If you want to make this firm foundation a reality in your family, commit to these 10 essential practices.
How to Recognize and Ease Kids’ AnxietyDistressing news is everywhere. Whether they see it on TV broadcasts, read about it on social media, or hear it at school, kids are not immune from learning about disturbing information or alarming world events, such as the spread of COVID19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. A continuing stream of bad news coupled with school pressures and the desire to meet expectations can cause a heightened sense of anxiety in kids. How do you know if your child is suffering from anxiety, and what can you do to help?
We're all in this together (always at least six feet apart but, you know, together-ish). So while we're stuck here telling our kids to wash their hands for the umpteenth time and social distancing the best we can, let's have a laugh, shall we? Click here.
Keeping Siblings from Each Other's Throats During Quarantine Forced Togetherness
Here are five family habits you can structure into your life in quarantine to help with emotions, meet needs and heal sibling rivalry -- for more peace and affection all around.
Good Digital Parenting While Staying At Home
Pulling out three of the “7 Steps to Good Digital Parenting” as a guide, let’s look at how to build a foundation for responsible tech use at home, and some ways to make this coming period as tolerable, safe, and creative as possible. Learn more.
What Do We Do With The Kids?
An Opportunity to Teach Life Skills. Read the article.
10 Solutions To Save Your Sanity During the Coronavirus Pandemic School Closures
Here are 10 solutions to help you save your sanity during the coronavirus pandemic lockdown.
Coronavirus and Parenting: What You Need to Know Now
This ever-updating guide from NPR includes advice for both health and education during the coronavirus outbreak.
Talking with Kids About Tragic News
After horrific events in the news, do you share your feelings w kids/students… or try to reassure by hiding your feelings? Or smoothing over feelings, eg, “I know it’s sad, but don’t worry, it will be better soon.”
How can we talk with children about these difficult feelings? Read more.
10 Tips for Building Close Family Bonds
As a parent, you play a key role in cultivating and protecting family bonds. But, building strong family connections doesn't always happen naturally, even if you're spending more time together at home. If you want to make this firm foundation a reality in your family, commit to these 10 essential practices.
How to Recognize and Ease Kids’ AnxietyDistressing news is everywhere. Whether they see it on TV broadcasts, read about it on social media, or hear it at school, kids are not immune from learning about disturbing information or alarming world events, such as the spread of COVID19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. A continuing stream of bad news coupled with school pressures and the desire to meet expectations can cause a heightened sense of anxiety in kids. How do you know if your child is suffering from anxiety, and what can you do to help?
