Parenting During a Pandemic

Fun Tools to Help Families Survive (and Thrive) During the Coronavirus

Updated 05/07/20

Reading together is a great way to connect with your children.

Remember that movie “Groundhog Day” with Bill Murray? It’s the story of a man who is stuck reliving the same day over and over again, until he gets it right.

Being at home with kids during this pandemic could feel like that. You’re trying to keep the kids active and doing some homeschooling, while also cooking healthy meals and keeping the house from descending into total chaos. And you’re doing it day, after day, after day. But here’s a little secret — there is no “right” way to do this.

However, we can stay present and engaged with our kids and find joy and laughter together that will buffer us against the stresses of living in an uncertain time. To help you, the CMH Pediatric Clinic’s Misty Bottorff, LCSW, compiled this list of resources.

Online Learning Resources

For All Ages

• Scholastic: Homeschool resources for kids of all ages (PreK-9^th grade)
• Khan Academy: Homeschool resources (2-18 years)
• Math at Work: Math worksheets and resources for kids of all ages (K-12^th grade)
• Elemental Science Experiments: At home science experiments for children of all ages (K-12^th grade)

For Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers (0-4 years)

• Kinedu: Baby and toddler development activities (0-4 years)
• Vroom: Brain-building activities for babies and toddlers (0-3 years)
• Zero to Three: Developmental activities and information (0-3 years)

For Elementary-Age Kids (5-11 years)

• Miss Megan’s Camp Kindergarten: Virtual kindergarten activities every day at 9am (3-7 years)
• Starfall: Online educational games, books, and videos (K-3^rd grade)
• Funbrain: Online educational games, videos, and books for kids (K-8^th grade)
• Noggin: Learning website from Nickelodeon (3-7 years)
• PBS Kids: Educational resources for kids (3-9 years)
• Club SciKidz: Online science activities (K-5^th grade)

For Middle- and High-School Kids (12-18 years)

• Scholastic: Homeschool resources for kids of all ages (PreK-9^th grade)
• Khan Academy: Homeschool resources (2-18 years)
• Math at Work: Math worksheets and resources for kids of all ages (K-12^th grade)
• Elemental Science Experiments: At home science experiments for children of all ages (K-12^th grade)
• Funbrain: Online educational games, videos, and books for kids (K-8^th grade)

Talking to Your Kids About COVID-19

• Explanatory video from Brain Pop (All ages)
• “Coronavirus: How to talk to your child” (All ages)
• “7 Ways to Support Kids and Teens Through the Coronavirus” (All ages)

Mental Health Resources

• CDC on Stress and Coping: Several resources for managing stress and anxiety related to COVID-19 (All ages)
• Coping Skills for Kids: Various healthy coping skills and worksheets for calming anxiety (5-12 years)
• Worry Wise Kids: Anxiety coping skills (3-18 years)
• Mindfulness Activities: Mindfulness worksheets and activities (K-5^th grade)
• Stress and Coping: Tips for managing stress and anxiety during pandemic (All ages)
• Child Mind Institute: Great database for resources for anxiety, talking with kids about COVID-19, managing stress, etc. (All ages)
• Talking to Kids About Their Mental Health: Recognizing signs of depression and anxiety in children and tips on how to talk to kids about their feelings

Especially for teens

• “How to Support High School Seniors”: Tips from the Oregon Department of Education on supporting teens who will be missing their graduation
• Suicide Prevention: Tips from the Oregon Department of Education
• Oregon Youth Line: Text hotline for teenagers for emotional support, depression or anxiety
• Crisis Text Line 24/7: Text 741741 anytime for support via text message for depression, suicidal thoughts or anxiety
• Teen Tribe: Online support group for teens, mental health resources and healthy coping skills 

Virtual Playdate Platforms

• Caribu: Online app to arrange playdates for children
• Marco Polo: Online app to arrange playdates for children
• Skype: Virtual meeting platform
• FaceTime: Virtual meeting platform for iPhones or iPods

Online Art Activities

• Lunch Doodles with Mo Williams: Online art instruction for young children every day at 1 p.m. (3-7 years)
• Tinkergarten: Outdoor craft activities for young children (K-2^nd grade)
• Culturela: Database of virtual art and education activities (All ages)

Virtual Field Trips

• Google Arts and Culture: Various virtual museum tours
• The China Guide: Virtual Great Wall of China tour
• Smithsonian: Virtual Smithsonian Museum tours
• Colonial Williamsburg: Virtual tour of Colonial Williamsburg
• Access Mars: Virtual tour of Mars
• San Diego Zoo: Virtual tour of the San Diego Zoo
• Boston’s Children’s Museum: Virtual tour of the Boston Children’s Museum
• Georgia Aquarium: Virtual tour of the Georgia Aquarium

Indoor Physical Activities

• The Core Method: Virtual pilates classes for children and adults (All ages)
• Social Distancing Virtual Dance Party: Virtual dance party (All ages)
• Go Noodle: Online movement and mindfulness activities (K-5^th)
• Creating a Sensory Room for Kids with Autism