The impact of COVID-19 will be a new group of Americans who are more acquainted with the concept of staying indoors, distance learning and telework. As we continue to support the hearth of our friends, families and communities, we offer some resources to support you as we participate in physical distancing, but maintain our social connections. Below you will find some essential tools for distance learning and telework as well as resources to support your and your family’s mental health as well as maintain access to food and housing. The resource is updated regularly (newest resources highlighted in purple) so feel free to bookmark this page and visit us regularly.
How to effectively work from Home
Anyone can set up their laptop on their kitchen table and call it a home office, but how you make working from home an effective endeavor takes a little more effort. Here is some guidance from our friends who telework full time
Tips for working at home
- Get Dressed every day – While working in your PJs is part of living the dream, getting dressed gets you going and mentally prepared to work rather than surf the internet or take care of household chores.
- Get moving – Working at home can make you put off all of the survival skills you have mastered to be a working Jedi at the office. Make sure you take regular breaks to stretch and move throughout the day to stay strong in the Force!
- If you can, separate your workspace and your typical living space. Especially if you have a partner or kids or roommate it helps to make a firm line between your work and personal space. Trust us that 30 second commute will still be just as fun and make a difference
- Glam your workspace. We often don’t put as much effort into our own home offices. Channel your inner Hermione Granger or Amy Santiago and have fun with colorful folders pens and labels. A Unicorn Trapper Keeper never hurt either.
- Recognize holidays – without those mandatory fun office folks its up to you to break the monotony. Become your own sunshine committee and have office themed celebrations. Extra points for overly specific ones like Rex Manning Day.
Helpful Articles on Working from Home
- “How Working Parents Can Prepare for Coronavirus Closures”
- How to Actually Work…When You’re Working from Home
- Disabled people have worked remotely for years, and they’ve got advice for you and your bosses | the Washington Post
- When Alaina Lavoie, Boston-based communications manager for We Need Diverse Books, starts her work day, she keeps a strict schedule. She feeds her cats, makes herself breakfast, checks in with her boss from home and then tackles the most time-sensitive tasks first.
- Productivity Advice from Dr. Aisha Ahmad
Supporting young people doing Distance Learning
While many are working from home, some of us are supporting young people out of school . If you have found yourself an unexpected Dean of your Home School, here are some things to do to support educational development while you watch out for Delta House
Curriculum and Learning Websites for Kids
- Scholastic – Lessons and Plans https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lessons-and-ideas/
- Clever – https://clever.com/
- Zearn – https://www.zearn.org/
- Pebblego – https://pebblego.com/
- Raz Kids https://www.raz-kids.com/
- Prodigy – https://www.prodigygame.com/
- Unite for Literacy – https://www.uniteforliteracy.com/
- Virtual Museum Tours – https://bit.ly/2Qrd4zE
- Corona Virus Schedule – https://images.app.goo.gl/hRDStzdJw2LQZKQH9
- Art Class with Kennedy Center Artist-in-Residence Mo Willems https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/mo-willems/
- Here’s the Entire List of Education Companies Offering Free Subscriptions Due to School Closings | Kids Activities Blog
- Home Resources for Parents and Caregivers | National Federation of Families
- Erika’s Lighthouse – Practical tools and resources for teens, educators and parents during these challenging times
- A parent’s guide to surviving COVID-19: 8 strategies to keep children healthy and happy | Brookings
Family Rhythm, Discipline, and Routine
- Resource: Whole Family Rhythms offer free downloadable guides that are designed to help plan, create, and animate a peaceful, balanced, and holistic rhythm at home, flowing between structured, adult-led activities and child-led, imaginative free play.
- YouTube: Sundays With Sarah – ideas for crafts, stories, finger plays, and parent tips for napping, discipline and other topics. Waldorf education.
- Resource: 1-2-3 Magic Blog – positive discipline tips on a variety of topics
- Resource: Love and Logic Blog – Positive parenting and teaching techniques to build healthy relationships with kids.
Creating
- YouTube: The Making Foundation – Roanoke-based woodworking shop that specializes in problem solving, empowerment, DIY, and working with kids. Daily #@makethemost videos/challenges for making at home during social distancing.
- YouTube: Easy Kids Crafts: DIY kids craft videos with well-organized playlists for holidays and seasons
- Resource: Taproot Magazine Coloring Book – free printable
- Resource: Mr. Printable – free printable games, crafts, and coloring pages
Science
- Podcast: But Why? Podcast for curious kids – But Why is a show led by kids. They ask the questions and we find the answers. Are unicorns real? How is paper made?
- Podcast: Smash. Boom. Best Smash Boom Best is a debate show for kids and families Every episode takes two cool things, smashes them together and lets you decide which is best. Cats versus Dogs. Pizza versus Tacos. Super Speed versus Super Strength.
- Podcast: Brains On. Co-hosted each week by kid scientists and reporters from public radio, we ask questions ranging from the science behind sneezing to how to translate the purr of cats.
- Podcast: Earth Rangers — A sound-rich dive into nature and animal science.
Stories
- Podcast: Circle Round adapts carefully-selected folktales from around the world into sound- and music-rich radio plays for kids ages 4 to 10.
- Podcast: Stories Podcast: fairy tales, folk tales, Peter Rabbit, original fiction for kids.
- Podcast: Myths and Legends: Stories from around the world. Best for older kids. Warnings are given for disturbing content at the beginning of the show.
- Podcast: “Story Pirates” — Stories written by kids are woven into a narrative about a musical-theater company’s magical misadventures.
- Podcast: “Girl Tales” — Feminist fairy tales written and performed by playwrights and actors.
- Podcast: The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel. Serial Mystery Story for ages 8-12.
Music
- Podcast: “Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child” — An hourlong show that will introduce the family to the best in kids’ music, every week.
- Podcast:“The Music Box” — Each episode is a lesson about a musical concept featuring interactive activities.
- Podcast: “Ear Snacks” — The children’s musicians Andrew & Polly explore different themes through songs and interviews.
Mental Health Resources to support you and Your Family
Many of us will be dealing not just with the effects of coronavirus on our physical health but also how it affects our well being, personal outlook and mental health. Below are some articles to help set your mind at ease and create healthy behaviors
- Here’s how mental health professionals are approaching the anxiety around COVID-19 with their clients.
- How to Deal With Coronavirus If You Have OCD or Anxiety (VICE)
- Coronavirus Is Wreaking Havoc On Our Mental Health (Rolling Stone)
- How to survive coronavirus anxiety: 8 tips from mental health experts (TODAY)
- Managing the Stress and Uncertainty of Coronavirus https://hbr.org/podcast/2020/03/managing-the-stress-and-uncertainty-of-coronavirus
- Legal Assistance for Older Americans & COVID-19
- Plain Language Information on Corona Virus for people with disabilities
- Care for Your Corona Virus Anxiety – Resources for anxiety and your mental health in a global climate of uncertainty.
- Coronavirus: What it Is and What Can i do | the Arc of Maryland
Mental health Resources for Kids
- YouTube: Cosmic kids yoga – “Owl and guard dog” anxiety discussion is linked here. Channel has lots of kids yoga videos that link to popular movies or kid friendly themes. Meditation skill building.
- YouTube: Alo Yoga kids playlist. Yoga poses for kids (brave dino, puppy meditation,etc)
- YouTube: Howard Wigglebottom Courage – Gently Animated story of facing fears and having courage. “Its okay to be scared.” Channel has several videos addressing emotions
- YouTube: New Horizon Meditation for kids. Audio only.- several scripts to choose from.
- Book/YouTube: The Rabbit Listened – link to read aloud of book. Animals offer many unhelpful solutions to Taylor’s problem. The rabbit listened. Written by Cori Doerrfeld
- Book/YouTube: Grumpy Monkey – link to read aloud of the book. Monkey wakes up grumpy. “Shoulds” don’t help him feel better. The companionship of a friend helps. Written by Suzanne Lang
- Book/YouTube: My No No NO Day – link to read aloud of the book. Bella is having a hard day. She gets support and a chance for a better day tomorrow. Written by Rebecca Patterson
- Book/YouTube: Quick as a Cricket– link to read aloud of the book. Animals represent many aspects of the same child. “Put them all together and you’ve got me.” Written by Audrey Wood
- Podcast: The Calm Kids Podcast: Stories by kids, for kids to unwind and go to sleep relaxed and happy.
- Podcast :Be calm on Ahway Island is a soothing podcast to teach self-regulation and calm.
- App: Breathe Think Do. Help a Sesame Street monster calm down and solve everyday problems in this interactive game. (Free)
- App: Ninjafocus. Meditation scripts. Yoga poses. Mindfulness activities. Sleep music. Bedtime Stories. (Offering all content free for 90 days due to closed schools)
- App: Children’s Meditations. Meditations for focus, relaxation, and sleep. (6 free scripts with option for in app purchases of additional content)
- Class: Mindful Schools is offering mindfulness classes for kids free for the next few weeks! Join for mindful activities, mindful movement, read-alouds.
- Resource: Printable Lego Figure emotions chart.
- National Center for Healthy Safe Children mental Health Grantee Programs
Talking to young people about COVID-19
- Coping with COVID-19: Mental health Resources for Parents, Families and Youth from the National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health
- Resource: PSB kids resource list for Coronavirus. – Discussion for parents with links to free PBS video content on proper hand washing and sneeze techniques and rest.
- YouTube: Kids ask coronavirus questions with thoughtful answers. Good resource for kids who would benefit from factual information.
- Podcast: But Why? Podcast for curious kids – Episode “Coronavirus For Kids, And The Science Of Soap”
- Podcast: Brains On. Episodes “Staying home: How social distancing helps fight coronavirus” and “Understanding coronavirus and how germs spread.
- The Germ that Wears a Crown: A Story about Coronavirus – Center on Child Stress Health
- Handwashing: Teaching handwashing to kids – simple song with instructions on thorough hand washing
Supports from Anthem
With COVID-19 knowledge and prevention steps constantly changing, it’s more important than ever to keep your health, well-being and safety top priorities. We are deeply committed to helping you and your family stay emotionally and physically healthy, while safe at home. We will continue to share important information, like these articles, to support you and your family with resources and recommendations we hope can make a difference:
- Ease your children’s anxiety – We want you to have resources to help talk to your children about COVID-19. There are positive steps you can take to address their COVID-19 worries. Additional mental health and emotional support resources are also available to you and your loved ones.
- Social distancing safely – While you’re social distancing, it doesn’t mean you have to give up being social. You can safely stay connected with loved ones, while still doing your part to “flatten the curve”.
- COVID-19 testing requirements – Testing for COVID-19 is expanding, but still limited. Exactly how and where you can get tested varies by state, and doctors and health care providers must use the limited supply of tests wisely. Learn more about testing — when you can request it and what to expect during testing.
- Keep personal information safe from cyber scams -The internet can be a lifeline to the outside world with everyone playing games, meeting new people and chatting online with friends and family from the comfort of home. This is the perfect time to talk to family members about how to protect their identity and avoid cyber scammers taking advantage of COVID-19.
Resources to Support Individuals Experiencing Homelessness or Housing Instability
- National Alliance to End Homelessness offers CARES Act Guidance for State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Elected Officials
- Federal Programs that Support Individuals Experiencing Homelessness (USICH, HHS, HUD, FEMA)
- Issue Brief: Reducing Harm for People Using Drugs & Alcohol During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Guide for Alternate Care Sites Programs (National Health Care for the Homeless Council)
- SSVF Response to COVID 19 Guidance (VA)
- Questions and Answers for Office of Multifamily Housing Stakeholders (HUD)
- Resources to support people experiencing homelessness (CDC)
- Building a Plan: How the CARES Act Can Boost Prevention Efforts – By Kristi Schulenberg
- The Intersection of Homelessness, Race, and the COVID-19 Crisis – By NAEH
- Protecting People from COVID-19 Requires State and Local Leadership – By Sharon McDonald
- What’s in the Coronavirus Bill for Homelessness? – By Steve Berg