(updated November 18, 2020)
Our team has compiled a list of mental health resources for families with young children whose schools and childcare providers have closed or been moved online in response to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Please let us know if you have any questions or if we can provide you with any support. We are here for you. Email us at [email protected].
CalMatters’ “PolicyMatters” panel “Will the kids be all right?”
Early Edge California’s Executive Director Patricia Lozano joined CalMatters’ virtual Q&A panel, “Will the kids be all right?” to discuss the long-term impact of the pandemic on children’s mental health with fellow experts Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, Surgeon General of California, and Dr. Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola, Director of UC Davis’ Center for Reducing Health Disparities. The panel, moderated by mental health reporter Jocelyn Wiener, explored potential long-term effects of COVID-19 on mental health, what behaviors to watch for in your child, and how to help them cope with the stress of the pandemic.
Mental Health Resources
Brazelton Touchpoints Center: Webinars
Head Start: Helping Children Thrive During the COVID-19 Pandemic
In this video from the Head Start Early Learning and Knowledge Center, Dr. Bergeron is joined by Sangeeta Parikshak, mental health lead at the Office of Head Start to discuss how to help children feel loved and safe during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, including ways to talk to children about COVID-19, as well as how to make this experience easier on them.
HealthyChildren.org: Parenting in a Pandemic: Tips to Keep the Calm at Home
Fear, uncertainty, and being holed up at home to slow the spread of COVID-19 can make it tough for families to keep a sense of calm. But it’s important to help children feel safe, keep healthy routines, manage their behavior and build resilience. Read these tips from the American Academy (AAP) to help your family through the outbreak.
Los Angeles Public Library: Maternal and Family Mental Health Storytelling Series
The Los Angeles Public Library is offering a weekly storytelling and informational series on maternal and family mental health. Program topics range from postpartum depression (and recognizing the symptoms) to the impact of racism on maternal health to understanding how to navigate paid leave.
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAYEC): Resource Library on Trauma & Young Children
Educators also often wonder how they can best support children and families in their care who are affected by trauma. This resource library introduces key concepts and provides trauma-sensitive strategies that can be used directly in the classroom.
National Child Traumatic Stress Network: COVID-19 Resources (available in multiple languages)
In the event of an outbreak in your community, your first concern is about how to protect and take care of yourself, your children and your family. Knowing important information about the outbreak and learning how to be prepared can reduce your stress and help calm likely anxieties. These resources from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network will help you think about how an infectious disease outbreak or pandemic might affect your family— both physically and emotionally—and what you can do to help your family cope in times of public health emergencies.
National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM) Foundation:
- Helping Children Thrive: Early Childhood Development & ACEs
This infographic designed by the NIHCM Foundation explores the impact of early childhood development and adverse childhood experiences on health and well-being, and outlines actionable strategies to support healthy child development. - Helping Children Thrive: The COVID-19 Pandemic’s Impact on Health and Well-being
This infographic designed by the NIHCM Foundation explores the challenges facing children and families and provides actionable guidance to nurture resilience and support caregivers and parents.
New York Times: It’s Not Just Adults Who Are Stressed. Kids Are, Too.
Identifying your child’s emotional and behavioral reactions to stress is crucial, experts say, especially when anxieties are high.
OUSD Early Learning Community: Self-Care Resources
Parents as Teachers:
- Understanding My Child (Parents as Teachers) (available in English and Spanish)
- For Parents – Family Wellbeing (Parents as Teachers) (available in English and Spanish)
PBS KIDS: How to Support Your Child for a Very Different School Year
This article from PBS KIDS shares ways parents can support children’s feelings of confidence and security as they head into a new year.
Scientific Mommy: Managing Anxiety through Structure and Play
This article from Scientific Mommy outlines ways to ease children’s anxiety and help them regain a sense of control over their environment.
UCSF Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences: Addressing Parenting Stress During COVID-19 Webinar
Zero to Three:
- Supporting Young Children Experiencing Separation and Trauma
Zero to Three offers resources for families and caregivers working with very young children who have experienced trauma as well as connection to specialized mental health professionals who understand the needs of very young children. This page includes a directory with Infant Early Childhood Mental Health contacts each state to field inquiries and make connections to resources and clinicians. -
Young Children at Home during the COVID-19 Outbreak: The Importance of Self-Care
Parenting a young child is already stressful at times. That’s why it’s important to remember to take care of yourself, too. When you feel calmer, it’s easier to be there for your children and meet their needs. Zero to Three offers resources for parents to support them in being physically, emotionally, and mentally capable of being there for their young children.