If you have young children, this is likely the first time you’ve had to parent through a pandemic. COVID-19 has completely upturned our daily lives, our routines—everything. And we have concerns about our health, our children’s health, how to talk to our kids about Coronavirus, and where to get financial support during a time of unprecedented layoffs—and some of us just need ideas on how to keep our kiddos busy and engaged all day! There are lots of wonderful resources floating around the web, and we’ve conveniently compiled them here for families to easily access. Stay healthy, families!
General Community Information
Help with Basic Needs
Virtual Opportunities for Learning and Play
Activities in the Home
Talking with Your Child about COVID-19
Resources to Take Care of Yourself as a Parent
General Community Information
- Lane County Public Health – www.lanecountyor.gov/coronavirus
- Lane County Call Center – 541-682-1380
- City of Eugene – www.eugene-or.gov/coronavirus
- Oregon Health Authority – COVID-19
- Centers for Disease Control – www.cdc.gov/coronavirus
- WIC
- Parenting Now's Resources for Families Website -- in English and Spanish
Help with Basic Needs
Food for Lane County: For real-time referrals, closures, and updated food resource information, please contact the front desk at 541-343-2822 (M-F 9am-4pm).
Virtual Opportunities for Learning and Play
- Virtually tour a National Park!
- Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems.
- Virtually tour a museum!
- Center on the Developing Child: Mejora y Práctica de las Habilidades de Función Ejecutiva con Niños desde la Infancia Hasta la Adolescencia
- PBS Daily Activities for Families
- Peep and the Big Wide World Videos y Actividades para los padres de familia
- TinkerGarten at Home: free activities in English and Spanish
Activities in the Home
- Learn cooking techniques with Kids a Cookin’.
- Use your local library card to access free newspapers, movies, and TV shows.
Talking with Your Child about COVID-19
• “Something Strange Happened In My City:” A social story about the coronavirus pandemic for children.
• “How To Talk To Children About The Coronavirus,” from Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School.
• “Understanding Coronavirus and How Germs Spread,” from Brains On!
• “Helping Children Cope With Emergencies,” from the CDC.
• “Tips for Families: Coronavirus,” from Zero To Three.
• “Healing In Place: Game on to find the flip of the Covid-19 threat into a positive experience for our children,” from Johns Hopkins University.
• Back to School COVID Anxiety: Resources for Parents & Students
Resources to Take Care of Yourself as a Parent
- WellMama virtual support groups, and text support: 541-525-0495
- Daisy CHAIN's Nursing Nook Telehealth. Text 937-703-4462 or email: sophia@daisychainlane.org to get instructions on how to join.
- White Bird Crisis Line is accessible 24/7 by phone at 541-687-4000
- “COVID-19 Uncertainties: Caring For Yourself, Caring For Your Kids,” from Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1/800-273-8255 (voice) 838255 (text)
- The Friendship Line (24-hr hotline/warm line) 1/800-971-0016
- Free live-stream exercise classes
- Tips for Working at Home from ACEs Connection Staff.
- HOOTS (Helping Out Our Teens in School) is offering mental health support by phone for students, families, and staff of high schools in the 4J, Springfield, Bethel and Oakridge school districts. The phone line will be accessible from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, until schools are able to reopen.
Child Care
• CDC: For Child Care Programs That Remain Open
• Child Care Education Institute: Self-Care
• ChildCare Aware of America: Coronavirus Updates and Resources for Child Care Providers and CCR&Rs
• Committee for Economic Development: Coronavirus Resources for Child Care Providers
• Home Grown: Home-Based Child Care Emergency Fund Toolkit
• Home Grown: Resources for Home-Based Child Care Providers
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Office of Child Care COVID-19 Resources