Center on the Developing Child - Harvard University: How to Support Children (and Yourself) During the COVID-19 Outbreak

As we continue into this long phase of remote learning, I thought these key tips from the Center on the Developing Child are worth noting and incorporating into our daily routines.



How to Support Children (and Yourself) During the COVID-19 Outbreak




The coronavirus outbreak has changed many things about our daily lives. But even during this uncertain time, it’s a sure thing that our children are still learning, growing, and developing.
Everyone can help support a child’s healthy development (and it may even help relieve your stress!). Just a few minutes and some simple, free activities can make a difference.

  1. Practice "Serve and Return"

    Practice “serve and return,” or back-and-forth interaction with your little ones. Even before they learn to talk, infants and children reach out for attention—babbling, gesturing, or making faces. When young children “serve up” a chance to engage with them, it’s important to “return” with
    attention. It can be as simple as a game of peek-a-boo. Or, if a toddler points at a toy, name it out loud as you hand it to the child.
    Why? Serve-and-return interactions help build developing brains and resilience, something we all need in these challenging times.
    Helpful Resources:
    Video: 5 Steps for Brain-Building Serve and Return (Center on the Developing Child)
    A still from the serve and return video with a mother playing with a toy truck with her daughter
    Handout: Serve and Return for Parents & Caregivers (Center on the Developing Child)
    Podcast: The Brain Architects: Serve and Return (Center on the Developing Child)
    A still from the UNICEF video with a young baby looking directly at the camera
    Smartphone Apps: Vroom and Kinedu

  2. Maintain Social Connections

    Stay-at-home measures are helping to slow the spread of the virus, protect our health, and protect our hospitals. But, while we are staying apart from each other physically, it’s even more important to connect socially, to protect our emotional well-being. Keep up relationships and social contacts—while maintaining physical distance outside your own home.
    Why? Responsive relationships—like those with lots of serve and return interactions (see #1 above)—between children and adults, adults and other adults, and children and other children all help buffer us against the effects of ongoing stress.
    Tips & Helpful Resources:
    Talk with family and friends via video chat or phone. This is a great way to connect children with other adults (and give you a short break!).
    If talking live isn’t an option, write emails or old-fashioned letters to friends and family. Encourage children to ask questions of their grandparents and other adults.
    Make encouraging posters and signs and put them in your windows to support your neighbors. This can also be a fun craft project to do with children!
    Go outside and say hello to neighbors, friends, people passing by. Just make sure to keep at least 6 feet away from anyone who doesn’t live with you.
    Article: Keeping Classroom Connections Alive (Harvard Graduate School of Education)

  3. Take a Break

    Take a break (with or without children). If you feel overwhelmed, find a way to give your stress response a rest. Take a walk around the block. Try a few minutes of meditation or deep breathing. Call a friend (see #2 above).
    And, give yourself a break. Remember that you’re not alone—everyone is struggling with these unexpected changes to our lives, and many of us need some extra support from our communities. Be kind to yourself and understand that you can’t do it all.
    Why? When you’re able to find ways to give yourself a break, you’ll return to your children better able to meet their needs and support their development.
    Helpful Resources:
    Infographic: What We Can Do About Toxic Stress (Center on the Developing Child)
    A still from the How Stress Affects Us video, where an animated father and child hold hands above the phrase 'Be the parents we want to be'
    Brief: The Science of Resilience (Center on the Developing Child)
    Article: COVID-19: Stress and Coping (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
    Article: COVID-19: Taking Care of Your Emotional Health (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

  4. For More Information & Resources

    Many communities and organizations offer supports and services such as crisis hotlines, food delivery, and relief funds. If you don’t know how to find them, call 211 in the U.S. and Canada to speak to someone who can help you get connected or visit http://211.org/services/covid19.
    The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University has compiled a list of additional coronavirus-related resources for parents, caregivers, and others.
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