Mental Health Resources

Family Resources

Free Information Book Explaining the Coronavirus to Children

Coronavirus a Book for Children

How to Explain the Coronavirus-19 to Children:

Explaining the Coronavirus-19 to children can be challenging. Please use these resources to help you explain this complicated concept to children.

• Coronavirus-19 Social Story
• Yucky Bug PowerPoint
• Coronavirus Talksheet from Counselor Keri
• PBS How to Talk to your Kid about Coronavirus
• Talking to Your Child About COVID-19: A Parent Resource

Socio-Emotional Activities

Many counselors around the country have been sharing resources for families to help with Social-Emotional Learning. The resources below are options to help. Please click on them as fun activities to help during this challenging time.

• SEL Scavenger Hunt
• 25 At Home Socio-Emotional Activities
• 30 Things Kids Can Do
• SEL for K-2 (PowerPoint) - Counseling with Ms. Ramirez
• SEL for 3-5 (PowerPoint) - Counseling with Ms. Ramirez
• Giant List of Ideas for Being Home with Your Kids
• Supporting your Children’s Social, Emotional, and Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Calming Activities

• Calm My Worry
• Coloring Pages
• Action for Happiness Coloring Posters
• Grounding Techniques Instructions
• Keys to Resiliency
• Videos for Sleep, Meditation, and Relaxation
• Feeling Anxious or Worried? Listen to These 8 Podcasts
• Device Free Dinner
• Free Calming Tools Website

Mental Health First Aid

• Self-Care/Mental Health (Covid-19)
• Love in a Time of Corona:A Homebound Self-Care Guide for Parents and Students - from School Counselor Stephanie
• Taking Care of Your Mental Health in the Face of Uncertainty
• 5 Ways to Help Teens Manage Anxiety about the Coronavirus

Schedule Ideas

• Parent Academy K-2 Schedule
• COVID 19 Daily Schedule - From Amy on Instagram (allthings_lovelyxo)

Activities to do at Home

• Ideas for Activities During School Closings
• Stuck at Home? These 12 Famous Museums Offer Virtual Tours You Can Take on Your Couch (Video)
• Best Music Apps and Games for Kids
• 50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12
• Best Family Movies
• Common Sense Selections highlighting the best movies and TV shows
• Sibling Watch-Together TV
• Best Documentaries for Kids and Families
• Common Sense Media (reviews for what your kids want to watch before they watch it)
• Write notes, letters, draw pictures to send or drop off at local nursing homes - the elderly in nursing homes aren’t allowed to have visitors right now and it will brighten their day!
• Kodable - Programming for kids
• Hello Ruby - Hello Ruby is the world's most whimsical way to learn about computers, technology and programming. The story started with a book, and now Ruby continues her adventures in exercises, activities and videos. It’s suited for kids age 5 years and older (but even adults might learn something new)
• Public libraries - many public libraries have digital books you can rent for free on their websites, along with other resources
• Library of Congress digital collections
• Free audiobooks
• Getting outdoors and connecting with nature is a way to help maintain our physical and mental health (as long as you are maintaining social distancing!). 
• Tour Yellowstone National Park
• Explore the surface of Mars on the Curiosity Rover
• The Canadian site FarmFood 360 offers 11 Virtual Tours of farms from minks, pigs, and cows, to apples and eggs
• 40+ Best Indoor Activities from Busy Toddler
• Audible.com - all stories are free to stream on your desktop, laptop, phone or tablet