COVID-19 Resources for Parents & Families

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Caring for Children (CDC) : Information for families from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Includes information about keeping children healthy.

• For Parents: Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) associated with COVID-19 (CDC)
• COVID-19: Pregnancy, Breastfeeding, and Caring for Newborns (CDC)

2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) (Healthy Children) : Information for families from Healthy Children from the American Academy of Pediatrics. The general page provides an overview of COVID-19, including symptoms and health risks, dealing with school closures, and how to talk to your children about the disease. Families may also be interested

• COVID-19: Information for Families of Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (Healthy Children)
• Is it OK to call the pediatrician during COVID-19 even if I'm not sure my child or teen is sick? (Healthy Children)

Coronavirus Information and Resources (Family Voices) : Information for families from Family Voices, including information about preparation and planning.

COVID-19 and the American Workplace (USDOL) : Guidance from the US Department of Labor for employers and workplaces around preparing for COVID-19, temporary paid leave, and information from the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). Includes posters and handouts.

Considerations for Young Children and Those With Special Needs as COVID-19 Continues (JAMA Pediatrics) : Information from JAMA Pediatrics, published by the American Medical Association, for families with young children and children with special health care needs.

ADHD and COVID-19 (CHADD) : Information from Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) on supporting children with ADHD during COVID-19, including with learning.

Return to Play After COVID-19 Infection in Children (JAMAPeds) ( 265 KB) : Information for Parents from the Journal of the American Medical Association - Pediatrics.

See also the Medical Home Portal's page on Mental Health (MHP)

Advice for Caregivers of Children with Disabilities in the Era of COVID-19 (APA) : Information from the American Psychological Association for parents and caregivers of children and youth with disabilities with a focus on the unique challenges during COVID-19 and managing stressors.

Coronavirus Mental Health Resources (On Our Sleeves) : Resources and guides from On Our Sleeves, an initiative for child mental health from Nationwide Children's Hospital, about managing life during COVID-19.

Coronavirus/COVID-19 Resource Library (AACAP) : Resources from the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry for parents, patients, and clinicians to help with the impact of COVID-19.

COVID-19: 24/7 Parenting (Parenting for Lifelong Health) : Open-access online parenting resources from Parenting ofr Lifelong Health in various languages. Working with the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children, the Internet of Good Things, USAID and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Public Health Resources (NCTSN) : Information from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network on responding to public health emergencies.

Supporting Families During COVID-19 (Child Mind Institute) : Information and resources from the Child Mind Institute for families trying to balance work, child care, and self-care during this period.

A Pandemic Coping Guide for Parents (UAAP) : A comprehensive resource from the American Academy of Pediatrics to help parents help their families manage through the COVID pandemic; includes information on creating/maintaining structure, managing stress, and getting further help.

In updated recommendations on youth sports during the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) encourages players of most sports to wear cloth face coverings at all times for group training, competition, and on the sidelines. Cloth face coverings have been shown to decrease transmission rates of COVID-19, and the coverings have been found to be tolerated well by the majority of people who wear them for exercise.

• COVID-19 Interim Guidance: Return to Sports (AAP)

Youth Sports Participation During COVID-19: A Safety Checklist (HealthyChildren.org) : This article has a safety checklist for parents of children and youth who are participating in sports during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to phone, text, email, social media, and mail, there are a number of other technologies available for free or low cost for connecting to friends and family with audio and video options. Please see individual services for paid and free options and limitations as well as privacy policies. The Portal does not endorse specific technologies.

• Discord
• Facebook Messenger
• FaceTime (Only available on Apple products like iPhone, iPad, and Mac computers)
• Free Conference Call
• Google Hangouts
• Skype
• Slack
• Zoom

If you have an internet connection, check out online storytimes from libraries, booksellers, and authors. Many libraries, museums, and parks are also offering online activities.

If you don't have a reliable home internet connection, check options in your local community. Some libraries are closed but offering internet connections outside their buildings. Some craft stores and nonprofits are offering low cost options for at-home craft kits.

Coloring My Way: Learning About Coronavirus (Bradley Hospital) ( 2.3 MB) : An informational coloring book for kids about COVID-19 from Bradley Health in Rhode Island.