For this special issue of Keeping In Touch, we have compiled a list of resources in several categories to help support families, staff and organizations navigating changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 Health and Prevention Info

Canada COVID app and health tracker plus self-assessment tool: https://ca.thrive.health

Children’s Healthcare Canada: https://www.childrenshealthcarecanada.ca/covid19-and-canadas-kids

BCACCS COVID info and resources:  https://www.acc-society.bc.ca/services/early-learning-and-child-care-resources-for-navigating-covid-19/ (includes info for educators, parents, financial and mental health resources as well)

BC CDC COVID-19 info: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19

First Nations Health Authority info: https://www.fnha.ca/what-we-do/communicable-disease-control/coronavirus/public

Health Link BC: https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-feature/coronavirus-disease-covid-19

Info from PHAC on measures to reduce transmission: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/prevention-risks/measures-reduce-community.html

UNICEF: cleaning and hygiene: https://www.unicef.org/coronavirus/cleaning-and-hygiene-tips-help-keep-coronavirus-covid-19-out-your-home

Mental Health Support

Dr. Bill Howatt: Mental Health and COVID-19: https://www.conferenceboard.ca/insights/covid-19#videos

Free online mental health tools for essential workers: https://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/English/news-article/13950/mental-health-commission-canada-launches-free-online-crisis-training-essential

Free Webinar: Institute of Child Psychology: battling Anxiety in Children and Teens https://instituteofchildpsychology.easywebinar.live/registration-2?mc_cid=f2d79c5ec2&mc_eid=b8391e469d

Physical distancing: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/social-distancing.html

Recorded webinar: Managing Social Anxiety During Social (Physical) Distancing: https://register.gotowebinar.com/recording/7567216560642617100 (access is free, enter the requested info for access)

Activity Ideas for Children During COVID-19

42 Activities for Kids While Parents Work from Home: https://activeforlife.com/42-activities-to-keep-kids-busy-while-parents-work-at-home

Active at Home play book (fit for live (alberta)): http://befitforlife.ca/resources/playbook

Monique Gray-Smith: Love is Medicine (Monique Gray-Smith reads her childrens books): https://mailchi.mp/056039316405/from-our-home-to-yours-love-is-medicine

My Hero is You (kids and covid prevention, multilingual): https://interagencystandingcommittee.org/iasc-reference-group-mental-health-and-psychosocial-support-emergency-settings/my-hero-you

Pandemic and play for kids: https://www.outdoorplaycanada.ca/pandemic-play-child-centred-policy-in-a-global-crisis

Physical Health Education Canada: https://phecanada.ca/activate/phe-home-learning-centre

Trinka and Sam: Fighting the Big Virus (Story for Kids about Coronavirus): https://piploproductions.com/trinka-and-sam-virus/

YPlay activities for kids: https://www.ymcahome.ca/yplay

Being at Home / Parenting During COVID-19

Balancing family life: https://www.canada.ca/en/government/publicservice/covid-19/balance-family-life.html#toc2

BCACCS: Tips for Working from Home During COVID: https://www.acc-society.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Tips_1.3.pdf

BC Council for Families: Online Parenting Programs: https://www.bccf.ca/program/online-parenting-programs/

COVID and the basic shelf cookbook: https://www.cpha.ca/covid-19-and-basic-shelf-cookbook

Dr Bruce Perry: Parent/caregiver pandemic toolkit: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/pulling-through/202004/the-pandemic-toolkit-parents-need

Families Canada: resources for parenting at home during COVID: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCioXVDKjaT8NVjblBW58WDg/videos

Free Recorded Lesson: Parental Resiliency: Showing up for Your Kids in Times of Chaos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3cBVEZCsyo&mc_cid=c4d2e18b0e&mc_eid=b8391e469d

Free recorded webinar: Setting Up a Positive Home Learning Environment: https://register.gotowebinar.com/recording/8840534588806088716 (access is free, enter the requested info for access)

Government of Canada resources for parents: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/resources-parents-children.html

Kelty Mental Health: Parenting During COVID: https://keltymentalhealth.ca/podcastcovid19

List of Resources: BCACCS:Resources for navigating COVID-19 at Home: https://www.acc-society.bc.ca/services/early-learning-and-child-care-resources-for-navigating-covid-19/resources-to-support-children-and-families-at-home/

Parenting babies and toddlers: https://qz.com/1830026/resources-for-babies-and-toddlers-stuck-at-home-due-to-coronavirus/

Parenting During COVID-19 Factsheet: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/parenting-during-covid-19.html

Parenting During COVID: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/parenting-during-covid-19.html

The learning partnership: https://www.thelearningpartnership.ca/programs/covid19-resource-centre

Pregnancy / Babies and COVID

Being Pregnant and Having a Baby During the COVID-19 Pandemic: https://register.gotowebinar.com/recording/624095300508239373 (access is free, enter the requested info for access)

Breastfeeding and COVID infographic: http://www.bccdc.ca/Health-Professionals-Site/Documents/COVID19_LactationInfographic.pdf

Factsheet for breastfeeding during COVID: http://www.bccdc.ca/Health-Professionals-Site/Documents/COVID19_GuidelineLactationConfirmedOrSuspect.pdf

Pregnancy, Childbirth and Caring for Newborns: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/pregnancy-advise-mothers.html

Programs / Best Practices

BC Gov’t: Caring for young children: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/caring-for-young-children/child-care-response-covid-19

COVID and development: https://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/what-is-covid-19-and-how-does-it-relate-to-child-development/

Risk Mitigation for Child and Youth Settings: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/guidance-documents/covid-19-risk-mitigation-tool-child-youth-settings-operating-during-pandemic.html

Risk Mitigation for Outdoor Recreation Spaces: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/guidance-documents/risk-mitigation-tool-outdoor-recreation-spaces-activities-operating-covid-19.html

The Mental Health Commission of Canada: Crisis response training programs for essential workers: Caring for Yourself, Caring for your Team, and Caring for Others: https://theworkingmind.ca/courses

Webinar Series: Addressing Abuse and Neglect During COVID-19: https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/3348-webinar-series-addressing-abuse-and-neglect-during-covid-19

Financial Resources

Emergency Community Support Fund: https://www.communityfoundations.ca/covid-19-community-foundations-participating-in-the-ecsf/

Emergency Food Support Funding: https://www.agr.gc.ca/eng/agricultural-programs-and-services/local-food-infrastructure-fund/supporting-people-experiencing-food-insecurity-in-canada-because-of-covid-19

Other Resource Lists

All our Families Study: http://allourfamiliesstudy.com/covid19/

Neufeld Institute: Resources Related to COVID-19: https://neufeldinstitute.org/resources-related-to-the-pandemic/

Resources for children with disabilities, their families and caregivers: https://www.child-bright.ca/covid-19-resources

Resources for supporting challenging behaviours: https://www.challengingbehaviour.org.uk/information/covid19information.html

The Lancet: https://www.thelancet.com/action/doSearch?collecIdFltr=012393&searchScope=fullSite&searchType=collection&journalCode=&searchText=early+childhood&occurrences=all (COVID-19 articles are currently free)