May 2020 - Coronavirus Part 3 | CA MAP Newsletter

1. MAP Team Families: Sharing with our Community

MAP Team families and colleagues are contributing to resources for families in various ways. We will be adding more stories and resources in the future. The photo collage used for this newsletter and an extra special video for very young children are described below.

Homeschooling during the Pandemic

For the photo collage used at the top of this newsletter we connected with a member of the MAP Team whose children (ages 9, 6, and 4) have been enrolled in homeschool prior to the school closures. The shift to staying at home was a bit easier for them because they already had a homeschool routine. The big changes were around using technology for connecting with the homeschooling support community for enrichment classes and regular meetings with advisors. At the beginning of the stay at home orders, the family was offered free online resources that are usually only available for a fee. They tried to take advantage of some of them, like the national park educational sessions and free art lessons, but it was just too much screen time and too hard to add to an already full schedule.

They realized that they didn’t need to do everything. The MAP Team realizes that families may already be dealing with more than they can handle. If they can benefit from one resource in this three-part set, we are happy. In the meantime, let’s all focus on what’s most important, taking care of ourselves and enjoying time with our families.

Toddlers and Masks, April 19, 2020, 2:25 Minutes (Video) aria-hidden="true"

Nora Caruso, Program Director at the Santa Cruz Toddler Care Center (Info@sctcc.org aria-hidden="true") helps very young children become familiar with seeing others in masks. Nora is also the daughter of our Senior Research Associate for MAP. She has made this video widely available to families of young children to help ease potential anxiety that little ones may experience when they see people wearing masks.

2. Addressing the Unique Needs of Children and Adults with Disabilities and Their Families

Children and adults with disabilities and their families have unique needs. This set of resources includes strategies, activities and guidance for individuals with specific disabilities and disabilities in general that may help to minimize anxiety and promote learning at home or in other environments. Some of the tools described for specific disabilities may be helpful for any child trying to adjust to new uncertain times and new learning environments.

The social stories and videos created by the Autism Research Institute can be used with any children. The 60 page packet offered by Affirm has templates for visual supports to help families and child care providers set up an environment that facilitates routine and predictable schedules. Tips for Staying Calm and Managing Anxiety from the Prader-Willi Research Foundation emphasizes the importance of self-care for families of children and adults with disabilities. Resources from The Arc and the California Department of Developmental Disabilities provide tools to help with planning for the possibility of a child or adult with a disability needing hospitalization.

Autism Research Institute: Coping with the COVID-19 Pandemic: Resources for Individuals and Families aria-hidden="true"

"Disruptions to our personal and professional lives, schedule changes, and school closings present unique challenges individuals on the autism spectrum and their families. In these challenging times, we are sensitive to the needs of these individuals and their families. To help, we have compiled these resources aimed at reducing anxiety and restoring a sense of routine during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Scroll through the Coping with the COVID-19 Pandemic page to find the Sample Recorded Webinars and Additional Resources listed below: aria-hidden="true"

COVID-19 Webinars You Can Watch Now

Talking to Kids About Changing Schedules, Altered Plans, and Disruption
Support for Individuals with ASD: Coping with Family and Virtual Interactions During COVID-19

Social Stories and Video Aids

Social stories and explainer stories are available for download as a slide show and as a printable handouts to help individuals with personal hygiene, communicating COVID-19 symptoms, and prepare them for potential medical examinations. More are being added as needed.

Hand Washing: Step-by-Step Social Story
I Can Wear A Mask: Social Story
Social Distancing: Explainer Story
When Can I Go Back to School?: Explainer Story
Feeling Sick: Coronavirus Social Story
Easing Anxiety: Medical Play (Video)
Medical visits can be stressful for anyone and individuals with autism often face extra challenges during procedures like blood draws due to communication deficits and sensory issues. Individuals and caregivers can watch this video to learn procedural support tips to create honest, developmentally appropriate communication. Printable support tips are also available.

AFFIRM-Supporting Individuals with Autism in Uncertain Times, 7 Support Strategies aria-hidden="true"

“All children and young adults require support from caregivers during times of stress and uncertainty, such as those we are facing now with the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Individuals with autism may need additional support to process the news and adapt to the many changes. This article and downloadable 60 page packet describes 7 support strategies designed to meet the unique needs of individuals with autism during this period of uncertainty. In addition, examples and ready-made resources are included to help caregivers implement these strategies quickly and easily. These materials purposely represent a variety of styles/designs/complexity to model the range of what may be most meaningful across ages and skills, and to demonstrate what can be generated with few materials by busy caregivers.” Translations of this article and resources are available in 7 different languages.

Stay-at-Home Activities for Children with Visual Impairments (And All Kids!) aria-hidden="true"

“During the COVID-19/coronavirus pandemic, it's important to have fun activities to keep children engaged. Some children may be able to be self-directed with homework and reading, while others will need more active engagement with adults. Parents often have competing demands, with other children, working from home, or just getting through the day. We hope that some of these ideas may be helpful during this time!”

Support for Kids with ADHD During the Coronavirus Crisis aria-hidden="true"

Families everywhere are struggling to care for (and homeschool!) children cut off from their normal routines and activities during the coronavirus crisis. Kids with ADHD may need extra structure and support to manage attention and behavior challenges and keep on track with learning in this challenging situation. This webpage provides suggestions from ADHD experts for helping kids with ADHD weather this storm and contains links to related resources.

Support for Kids with ADHD During the Coronavirus Crisis aria-hidden="true"

Tips for Staying Calm and Managing Anxiety During COVID-19 (for parents of children with disabilities), Podcast, Blog, Foundation for Prader-Willi Research aria-hidden="true"

“There's so much anxiety and uncertainty around the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation. As caregivers for people with PWS or any disability, we know that events like this can be even more challenging. It's difficult not only for the person with the disability, who may not do well with change/uncertainty and have high levels of anxiety at baseline, but also for caregivers who are trying to cope with their child while also keeping themselves calm and functioning. This article Includes a short podcast and blog with tips and a link to a presentation with more information on the most effective strategies for parents of children with disabilities in dealing with stress.”

The Importance of Self Care (Video)

The Arc California aria-hidden="true"

The Arc of California is greatly concerned about the threat of COVID-19 to people with disabilities, their families, and the workforce that supports them. They are compiling resources to help people with intellectual and /or developmental disabilities (I/DD), their families, and service providers to understand this global pandemic. One of the resources that The Arc has promoted is the COVID-19 Disability Form aria-hidden="true".

The creator of the form, Michelle Ballan, PhD, describes the reason for the form below:

Most hospitals are not allowing staff or loved ones to accompany patients for treatment. After learning of incidents of inferior treatment for individuals with IDD in New York hospitals, I created the COVID-19 Disability Form which has been reviewed by ER physicians, families of individuals with IDD and adults with IDD. At the request of disability agencies nationwide, the form was amended for each state governmental agency’s Developmental Disabilities Services and the state’s equivalent of the MOLST/POLST. For more information and the forms for each state visit:

The California COVID-19 Disability Forms are available here:

The California Department of Disabilities Services (DDS) Coronavirus Information and Resources aria-hidden="true"

The DDS website offers resources supporting families with children with developmental disabilities during the Coronavirus Pandemic. You’ll find safety information, FAQ’s, and videos to help people with disabilities understand COVID-19 and what they need to do to stay safe. They also provide 5 different sample Health Passports that are helpful for children and adults with disabilities in communicating their unique needs to different health care providers. These may be very important if your child must visit the doctor or hospital alone.

3. Guidance for Caregivers During the Pandemic: Advice from Experts

This set of resources provides information for all families who are trying to manage emotions, work at home and support online learning. Included is information from the Harvard Center on the Developing Child about COVID-19 related to early childhood, tips and videos from Dr. Bruce Perry on managing stress and parenting advice from Dr. Laura Markham on how to cope.

Defending the Early Years (DEY) Guidance for Supporting Young Children Through COVID-19 aria-hidden="true"

This Guide contains resources and recommendations for parents and educators, including supporting play, communicating with loved ones, establishing routines, thoughts on screen-time, and how to talk to young children. Please download the PDF and share with others.

Harvard Center of the Developing Child: A Guide to COVID-19 and Early Childhood Development aria-hidden="true"

In this guide, the Center on the Developing Child has gathered a number of resources and recommendations to help you through this challenging time. This guide pulls together information on COVID-19, what it means for child development, and easy-to-share resources, including an infographic (part of which is shown here) that can help parents and caregivers, as well as child care providers, pediatricians, and others who work with families.

The Pandemic Tool Kit for Parents: 8 Expert Tips To Help Families Stay Regulated, April 1, 2020 aria-hidden="true"

Dr. Bruce Perry, child psychologist and trauma expert, has a helpful guide for parents looking for answers. His research on handling stress and staying regulated can inform us as we’re faced with challenges ahead. Self-regulation involves controlling our own behavior, emotions, and thoughts as we pursue long-term goals. This crucial skill is something parents can help develop in their children, especially during times of uncertainty and stress. Perry has proposed 8 tools for families to use during the Coronavirus pandemic. They are described in this article. For those of you who would like to hear more from Dr. Bruce Perry on science of stress and how it affects us during the COVID-19 pandemic, here is a cache of short video presentations aria-hidden="true".

Are Your Kids Suddenly Regressing? Yes, it's the Pandemic. Here's what to do. aria-hidden="true"

"Dr. Laura… My three year old is having accidents after having been completely potty trained for a year. My five year old wants to sleep in my bed. My seven year old whines all the time and acts helpless -- she can't even wash her hands without help. She has a tantrum if I tell her to act her age. Is this because of the coronavirus pandemic?"

Your Blueprint for Discipline During the Coronavirus Pandemic aria-hidden="true"

“So your child's school has been cancelled and you're on family lockdown because of the coronavirus. This could drive you crazy. OR you could view this as a gift, a rare opportunity to cultivate family connection and create habits that will help your family thrive long after this pandemic is over. Here are 10 solutions to help you save your sanity during the coronavirus pandemic lockdown.”

4. Online Learning: Resources and Tips for Families and Educators

Child care providers, preschool teachers and families will be inspired by the joy found in Jacky Howell’s webinar on Facilitating Meaningful Online Experiences. Special educators will love the wealth of information brought together on the new Educating All Learners website. Families and educators alike can benefit from the Center for Parent Information and Resources tips on technology and telecommuting and virtual IEP’s. Overcoming the Distance offers thoughtful consideration about equity and distance learning.

Early Childhood Investigations Webinar: Facilitating Meaningful Online Experiences With Young Children: Unexpected Challenges and Joyful Opportunities, Jacky, Howell, M.A., April 29, 2020, Register Here aria-hidden="true"

Join this timely webinar to learn how to create engaging, meaningful, and developmentally appropriate routines, rituals, traditions with children online during these challenging times. Although it’s too late to join the live webinar, you can still register and get access to the recorded webinar. This one will lift your spirits and remind you about the values of early childhood.

EducatingAllLearners.org aria-hidden="true"

Coronavirus is posing unprecedented challenges to public schools around the country. To help ensure the continuity of special education services during remote instruction and to spotlight best practice approaches for schools and educators, an alliance of national education organizations has come together to ensure equity for all learners. EducatingAllLearners.org creates a hub of curated tools, strategies, tips and best practices for supporting students with disabilities online. Our goal is to both curate and creates special education resources for educators to serve students who learn differently during this time of challenge. Check out Resources and Guidance for Educators aria-hidden="true".

New Website Offers Tips for Teachers About Virtual Special Education aria-hidden="true"

This EdSource article explains why this new website is significant and how it can help special educators with distance learning for students with disabilities.

Overcoming the Distance: Promising Practices to Center Equity in Implementing Distance Learning aria-hidden="true"

The “Overcoming the Distance” policy brief is one of a series of position statements to support the Californians most impacted by the international health pandemic. California will overcome this crisis by ensuring education policy, budgeting, and democracy issues are informed by those impacted most by COVID-19 – low-income communities of color.

Center for Parent Information and Resources (CPIR) aria-hidden="true"

Supporting Your Child’s Learning at Home aria-hidden="true"

Telecommuting Technology and Tips aria-hidden="true"

This page of resources is part of CPIR’s Coronavirus Suite aria-hidden="true" of information. This page identifies resources for telecommuting during COVID-19, technology platforms you can use for virtual meetings, and other tech tips. Technology equipment and skills are a gigantic variable among people and communities, so many of us need all the guidance we can get!

Virtual IEP Meeting Tip Sheets April 27, 2020 aria-hidden="true"

The Center for Parent Information and Resources (CPIR) is honored to serve as the host for this collection of tip sheets developed collaboratively by six OSEP-funded technical assistance centers on planning for and participating in virtual meetings, including those related to a student’s IEP (Individualized Education Program aria-hidden="true").

The tip sheets include:

a sample agenda for a virtual IEP meeting, in English and Spanish,
technology tips for all participants,
suggestions for hosting a virtual meeting,
tips for those participating in a virtual meeting, and
an infographic about virtual IEP meetings, in English and in Spanish.

5. Learning and Playing At Home

Free tip sheets, online books and activities for child care providers and families with children of all abilities are gathered here for entertainment and learning at home. Be sure to check out the Educational Tool Kit for At Home Learning that is a treasure trove of free resources for learning and fun. Sounds True offers free online story books and activities focused on resilience. The Genius of Play offers tips for families and activities for kids of all ages..

At Home Brain Building Tips for Families Age Birth To Five aria-hidden="true"

Child Care Aware® of America recently developed three resources embedded with brain-building tips to help families and caregivers integrate brain-building moments into their morning, afternoon, and evening routines with babies, toddlers and preschoolers.

Educational Tool Kit for At-Home Learning: Amid School Closures, Barbara Bush Foundation Creates Educational Toolkit to Help Parents and Children Learn Together at Home aria-hidden="true"

As schools across the nation close to protect students and educator s from COVID-19, many parents and caregivers are seeking ways to support their children’s learning outside of the classroom. The good news is that there are some wonderful, free online resources that can help children continue to build critical literacy skills while schools are closed. To help parents choose among the plethora of available options, our team of in-house literacy and education experts has curated a toolkit of trusted, high-quality online resources that can be used anytime, anywhere. Just a few of the logos of the free online resources are represented in the graphics shown.

Sesame Street: Health Emergencies aria-hidden="true"

A health emergency brings many changes and much uncertainty for young children and their families, but there are things we can do to face each day with optimism and hope. We can practice healthy habits like handwashing and coughing into the bend in our arm. We can offer comfort, connect with, and care for others safely. And we can keep learning and growing at home through everyday routines and simple activities. The resources on this page can help families cope during challenging times.

Sounds True: Free online children’s books and storybook kits on Resilience aria-hidden="true"

“Just like we are dedicated to offering children resources for personal growth and resilience, we are equally dedicated to showing up for parents—especially in these times when you are quite literally doing it all. So many of us at Sounds True are with you on this journey. We see you. We see your children. And our commitment to you remains as strong as ever.

As part of that commitment, we're providing a handful of free resources from our children's books that we've personally found to be comforting and helpful at this time. May these be of benefit to you and your families as well.

Resources include videos of select books being read aloud and some activity kits associated with the books. Here are two samples: For any child who has lost someone they love, My Big, Dumb, Invisible Dragon is a tale of healing and hope. Author Angie Lucas offers six compassionate activities to support children facing grief.

Happy Right Now, read by an 8 year old, teaches us that the best way to be happy is to embrace the circumstances that we find ourselves in every day.

The Genius of Play: Play Today Hub to Help Families with the COVID-19 Crisis aria-hidden="true"

“Play is critical to our physical and emotional well-being at any age. In stressful times, play can bring comfort and relieve anxiety. It helps us decompress and stay positive.

This virtual hub will help bring the joy of play to your family during these uncertain times. Check out our collection of play ideas by age group, expert advice, and other helpful resources. We hope they help your family adjust to the new normal and inspire hours of fun.”

Scholastic Learn at Home aria-hidden="true"

Offers day by day projects for grade level groupings from PreK to 9th grade to keep kids learning thinking and growing. Thematic learning with books via videos, games and activities all free!

6. Positive Behavioral Support and Trauma Informed Care

This set of resources provides rationale and tools for creating an environment with clear expectations for behavior and help children to feel safe and understood. They include an introduction to positive attention from the Child Mind Institute, tools from Conscious Discipline that explain and promote safe behavior, resources from the National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations and resources for professional development on trauma informed care from the Office of Head Start.

Child Mind Institute: The Power of Positive Attention aria-hidden="true"

“Experts have found that giving kids positive rather than negative attention is much more effective in changing behavior. Research shows that praise for behavior you want to encourage gets more results than calling out things you want them to stop doing.” This article is provides an introduction to positive behavioral support with examples and research that supports it.

Conscious Discipline: Free COVID-19 Printables aria-hidden="true"

“Conscious Discipline is an evidence-based, trauma-informed approach. It is recognized by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP).” They have developed an array of helpful tools and activities that educators and families can use to help create an environment where children feel safe and calm and understand what they need to do to be safe and stay well. The Free Resources include downloadable activities, books and tip sheets. Many are in Spanish. Here is a sample:

ABC’s for Parents of Little Ones-Tips for parents to stay calm (Awareness, Breathe and Closeness)
Coronavirus Is a Big Word: Printable Story
How I Can Keep It Safe At Home
Mask and Gloves: A Printable Story
My Parent is a Safekeeper-Printable Story
Managing “Scared” During COVID-19
Visual Safety Reminders for COVID-19
Why Can’t I Go to School? A Printable Story

National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations: Emergencies and National Disasters: Helping Children and Families Cope aria-hidden="true"

The following are resources to support families in helping young children cope with the challenges that might occur during stressful emergency or disaster situations. The website is updated as more resources are identified. Resources include tip sheets for coping with the pandemic, “Having to Stay at Home” social stories, prevention strategies for challenging behavior, response strategies for challenging behavior and self-care for adults. Includes resources in English and Spanish.

Teaching Pyramid: Family Materials aria-hidden="true"

Teaching Pyramid approach provides a systematic framework that promotes social and emotional development, provides support for children’s appropriate behavior, prevents challenging behavior, and addresses problematic behavior. On the “Family Materials” page you’ll find a wide array of free positive parenting tips and tools. The materials have been:

Specifically adapted or developed by WestEd;
Developed by the National Centers (CSEFEL/TACSEI);
Translated into Chinese and Spanish and approved for use in California.

Office of Head Start Trauma Informed Care Resources

“One of the first steps to incorporating a trauma-informed approach into your Head Start program is to recognize the signs and symptoms of trauma. The next step involves responding to what you see. Young children communicate through their behaviors, and sometimes those behaviors are challenging for adults. Understanding how to address children's challenging behaviors is part of a trauma-informed approach; knowing how to address them in a classroom setting is key to helping children heal and recover.” The resources below all address trauma informed approaches relevant in this time of crisis. They include a Head Start Newsletter, Webinar with experts from the National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations and resources from Head Start Heals.

Office of Head Start Newsletter: Trauma Informed Care in the Classroom: Resources to Address Challenging Behaviors, Office of Head Start, April 20, 2020 aria-hidden="true"

Office of Head Start Webinar: Head Start Heals: Addressing Trauma in Classroom Settings, Tuesday, May 12, 2020, 2–3:30 p.m. ET aria-hidden="true"

The Pyramid Model offers evidence-based practices teachers can use to support children's social and emotional development and effectively address challenging behavior. Join the Office of Head Start (OHS) and the National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations (NCPMI) for a webinar to learn more about the Pyramid Model. Hear practice ideas from faculty and share strategies with one another. These strategies are especially relevant now, as the recent disruption of routines may add additional intensity to pre-existing traumatic experiences for young children and their families. Click here to Register aria-hidden="true".

The registration link can be used for both the live event and on-demand viewing. The recording will be available to watch on-demand from Tuesday, May 12 at 4 p.m. ET until May 31, 2020.

Office of Head Start : Head Start Heals- Webinars and Resources aria-hidden="true"

The resources on this page includes information on the basics of trauma, what it means to have a trauma-informed care approach, and how trauma intersects with topics including mental health, substance use, domestic violence, and child welfare. Head Start Heals focuses on healing and addresses topics such as resilience, recovery, how to incorporate mental health consultation effectively, how to address challenging behaviors, and ways to have difficult conversations with families.

Direct questions or comments about this newsletter to map@wested.org

California MAP* to Inclusion and Belonging… *Making Access Possible May 2020 Newsletter

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Part 3: Learning, Living and Playing at Home