Talking With Children about Infectious Disease Outbreaks:

As parents we will need to help our children understand and feel secure about something that we ourselves are struggling to wrap our minds around. It is necessary for us to first calm our own fears before we attempt to calm theirs. We don’t fully know what this will look like in two days let alone two weeks and the disruption to our everyday routines may continue. Many more changes and cancellations may be announced. We can help to guide our children through this disappointment and uncertainty by creating a space for them to both genuinely feel and express their emotions.  During this time and at most times throughout their lives communication will be key. 

Please make use of our resource collection below.

Image credit: BlessingManifesting.com

• If you are in immediate crisis, please contact 211 by phone or at 211ct.org
• CT Department of Children and Families' TalkItOutCT hotline 1-833-258-5011
• Let's Stress Less - Youth-Powered Mental Health Resource Guide from DoSomething.org
• NPR’s Just For Kids: A Comic Exploring The New Coronavirus
• PBS's Daniel Tiger How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus and links to other relevant episodes of several children's shows.
• Sesame Street's Caring For Each Other
  
• Talking to Children: A Parent Resource provided by the National Association of School Nurses 
• Talking to Children: A Parent Resource provided by the National Association of School Psychologists
• Mindheart’s COVID book, printable in 22 languages 
  
• Search Institute’s 10 Ways to Respond to Fear and Scapegoating During the Coronavirus Epidemic and Building Developmental Relationships During the COVID-19 Crisis, for 19 ways to connect with young people during this time
• SAMHSA’s Talking With Children: TIPS FOR CAREGIVERS, PARENTS, AND TEACHERS DURING INFECTIOUS DISEASE OUTBREAKS, 
  Coping With Stress During Infectious Disease Outbreaks and Tips For Social Distancing, Quarantine, And Isolation During An Infectious Disease Outbreak
• GIZMO’s Pawsome Guide to Mental Health and e-book
• WHO’s Mental Health and Psychosocial Considerations During COVID-19 Outbreak
• NAMI’s How To Ease Children’s Anxiety About COVID-19
• The Child Mind Institute’s tips on Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus
• BrainPOP’s Coronavirus Clip and educational material
• Harvard University’s How to talk to children about the coronavirus
  
• AhaParenting.com’s Talking with children about the coronavirus
• The Hub CT’s Coping with Corona: Mental health supports in a pandemic
• Pathways to Empower’s A Quick Guide for Fostering Mental Health While Practicing Physical Distancing
• Fairfield Health Department’s video Town of Fairfield COVID-19 Pandemic Mitigation Goals:

Talk it Out Public Service Announcement Call 1-833-258-5011 or Visit www.TalkItOutCT.com