Coronavirus Information & Resources for Families

Adults and children alike have questions about the pandemic, especially because the fast-paced nature of the changes we are experiencing is unprecedented. Below are some resources that you might find helpful as you parent and support your children during these times. Some of these articles may also help you explain the pandemic to members of your family and find additional educational resources for your students.

Resources for children

An infographic from NPR based on interviews with experts
A resource on Coronavirus from BrainPOP, including a video appropriate for kids
NBC show for children about the coronavirus by Lester Holt, a twice-weekly ‘kids edition’ of the ‘NBC Nightly News’ to talk to youngsters who might be anxious and curious about the coronavirus pandemic
Time to Come In, Bear: A Children's Story About Social Distancing, a storybook video by children's book author Kim St. Lawrence
What is the Coronavirus? - A simple story from The Autism Educator to help alleviate fears and anxiety that children may be experiencing at this time
Masks, Masks, MASKS! - A coloring book by Dr. Michelle Lemelman, Dr. Benjamin Lemelman, and Martin Lemelman

Resources for parents

What Parents Need to Know About Coronavirus, a constantly-updated column with multiple parenting articles from The New York Times
Resources, ideas and more for parents and children at home during the coronavirus pandemic, a column from Los Angeles Times
Supporting Families During COVID-19, a compilation of articles for familes, including about anxiety, behavior, and grief, from Child Mind Institute
Coronavirus And Parenting: What You Need To Know Now, an article from NPR
Helping Children with Tragic Events in the News, an article from PBS Parents
Parent/Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope With the Coronavirus Disease, a document from The National Traumatic Stress Network
COVID-19 and at-home resources, a collection of activities and resources from Action for Healthy Kids
Coronavirus family resources, a compilation of resources, tools, and information from National PTA to support families
Resources for Families During the Coronavirus Pandemic, a column of articles and links for families from Common Sense
Guide to Well-Being During Coronavirus, an article from Greater Good
How parents and kids can stay safe and sane during the coronavirus pandemic, an article from Science News
Advice to Parents Whose Kids Are Stuck at Home During the Coronavirus Lockdowns, an advice column from The Atlantic
In-Home Strategies for Time Away from School, an informational sheet from Lunenburg Public Schools
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): What parents should know, an article from Unicef
Behavioral Health Resources For Coronavirus, a series of articles, podcasts, and resources from On Our Sleeves
Coronavirus Updates, articles and resources from Understood
Coronavirus Resources, a list of links from Center for Parent Information & Resources
Thoughts for Students and Families

Multilingual resources

Fact sheets from Washington State Department of Health
COVID-19 information from NYC Health

Numerous articles point to the benefits of establishing a consistent routine. Children appreciate choice and they are reassured by predictability. You know your children best; make a schedule with the needs of your family in mind. Feel free to use this template. Need inspiration? Our own Shelley Hoey, Instructional Coach and Curriculum Coordinator at Floral Street School, has also shared the plan she created for her children. Here is another schedule for learning from home.

Having an unplanned period of time off from work and school is challenging for many families. Concerns about health, childcare, income, and other related challenges can result in a high-stress environment that impacts the childrens' feelings and behaviors. Here are some local resources that families can use to help smooth the path through this unusual time.

District Resources

— Many media center resources are accessible through the district website, which has links for each media center.
— Occupational Therapy resources from the Shrewsbury Public Schools website
— Speech & Language resources from the Shrewsbury Public Schools website

Town Resources

— The Shrewsbury Public Library is a tremendous local resource. You can visit their website for more information about their e-Resources for children and teens.

Public Resources

— WGBH, our local hub for children's programming, has shared resources for both educators and children of all ages. Check out their Learning Media website, which includes many links.
— Association Of Middle Level Educators (AMLE) has a curated list of online learning resources for middle school students and their families.
— The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has a webpage on Stress and Coping during the outbreak.
— Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has a webpage addressing mental health and substance abuse during the outbreak.
— If your child is in crisis or if they are a threat to themselves or others, you should call 911. In addition, here are other 24-hour emergency services.

UMass Medical Center
55 Lake Avenue North
Worcester, MA 01655
(508) 856-3562

MassHealth Clients
Youth Mobile Crisis Intervention
(866) 549-2142

Those clients who do not have MassHealth can still access Emergency Mental Health Services through UMass Memorial-Community Healthlink (26 Queen Street, 5th Floor, Worcester, MA 01610). To schedule an appointment call, (800) 977-5555.

Having accurate and up-to-date information about the virus is important, so please consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for the most official and up-to-date information about the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. The Mass.gov website also has information on the outbreak of coronavirus in Massachusetts, including updates from the Department of Public Health (DPH), Center of Disease Control (CDC) and Governor Baker. Information and articles from Mass.gov include the “Stay at Home” advisory, Unemployment Benefits and Housing Assistance, Emotional Health and Well Being Resources, Mental Health Crisis Support, and Talking to Children about Stress.