COVID-19 Parent/Guardian FAQs
During these uncertain times, many parents and guardians are in search of the best ways to help kids and adults deal with stress and anxiety. To better support our community, we’ve compiled some of our most frequently asked questions (FAQs) and responded with practical ways parents and guardians can set their children, families, and yes, even themselves, up for success.
- Look for symptoms like fever, cough, difficulty breathing, and fatigue.
- Clean and disinfect door handles, toys, electronics, counters, and other frequently touched items.
- Here are kid-friendly videos explaining COVID-19:
Remind kids to wash hands frequently (for 20 seconds), cough/sneeze into elbows, avoid their touching faces, and practice social distancing to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
- Establish a routine for sleeping, getting out of bed, eating, studying, cleaning, alone time, and fun time. Designate a place for studying with minimal distractions. Be consistent. Review and adjust your schedule as needed. Click here for a helpful video.
- Carve out blocks of time for each activity. Be flexible. Don’t worry if activity takes longer than expected; simply adjust schedule accordingly. Focus on harder tasks in the morning when you have more energy.
- Kids crave routine. It helps ease anxiety and creates structure in this chaotic time.
- Don’t be discouraged if you are met with resistance from your child; change can be hard at first. Be patient with yourself and your child. Start slowly, and work your way up to a stricter schedule that works best for both of you.
- Ask about their concerns/questions. Communicate that you are doing your best and that you know they are doing their best, too!
- Cloth mask
- Hand sanitizer
- The little things that make back-to-school special (like a new backpack or fresh pack of glitter pens) for a child still matter and can motivate them.
- Make sure kids are wearing masks in public and practicing social distancing. Normalize the idea of wearing them. Encourage them to not worry about it by not making it a big deal and having a good attitude about staying healthy.
- For little ones, ask teachers for a picture of themselves with and without a mask, so your child can begin to recognize them either way. This will help uneasy/scared children feel better
- Communicate your concerns to your child’s teacher. Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for the teacher’s help and advice.
- Ask the teacher about educational online and offline activities or resources for your child.
- Check in with your child regularly. For example, ask, “How are you feeling with school this week? How can I help?”
- YouTube fitness videos can help. Here are a couple to check out:
- Write letters to friends and family.
- Draw, color, and craft. Try DIY no-sew masks.
- Learn a new card game or go on a virtual museum tour.
- Create a scavenger hunt or camp in the backyard / living room
- Cook something fun like apple granola stackers or banana pancakes. Click below for the recipes.
- Practice good self-care by washing regularly, sleeping eight hours, eating healthy, spending time outside, exercising, and making time to relax.
- Do a personal check-in. “How am I feeling this week? How am I coping with these feelings?” Remind yourself that you are doing your best and that your feelings are 100% valid.
- Try breathing techniques, journaling, or talking to someone about it. Don’t be afraid to take a break or two throughout your day to be alone and recharge.
- Take time to do things you enjoy…like singing, baking, or surfing
- Here are links to videos related to COVID-19 stress:
- If you’re struggling with kids fighting, click here for help. If you are having disagreements about parenting, click here.
- Signs your child might be struggling emotionally:
- Overly withdrawing
- Excessive sleeping
- Persistent sadness
- Changes in appetite or rapid weight loss
- Difficulty sleeping or overly neglecting personal hygiene
- Talking about death/suicide
- Hurting themselves or others intentionally
- Resources available:
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
- 273.8255 (available 24/7 + chat)
- 628.9465 (Español)
- 211 Hotline
- For anyone having a mental health crisis, substance issue, or needs help with food, housing, health care, or other social services, dial 211 (180+ languages).
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
- Normalize the fact that every family has different concerns during this pandemic, therefore every family will have different rules and expectations.
- Write out your specific rules and expectations, and post them somewhere your child can easily see and reference. Collaborate with your child, and ask for their opinions/concerns.
- If needed, have a conversation with your child. “Look at the board—remember, this is what our family is doing to stay safe and protect others. Your friends might have different rules, and we have to make sure we are sticking to ours, even if they look different.”
- Relax with a 15-minute guided meditation. Listen while showering, taking a break, or before starting the day. Click here for a list of guided meditations for all ages.
- Watch your favorite movie with a calming cup of tea or hot cocoa (try chamomile tea with honey). You can even apply a homemade face mask while enjoying your flick. Click here for easy facemask ideas.
- Journal, enjoy a nice drive, or go for a light jog.
- Rock out to your favorite music while getting ready for the day…and don’t be afraid to sing aloud!