Assets for Parenting Via COVID-19

If you have young children, this was probably the first time you had to become a parent through a pandemic. COVID-19 has completely changed our daily life, our routines.

And we have concerns about our health, the health of our children, how we can talk to our children about coronavirus, and where we can get financial support in times of unprecedented layoffs - and some of us just need ideas on how to keep their children busy all day!

There are many wonderful resources on the Internet and we have put them together here so that families can easily access them. Stay healthy, families!

General community information:

Help with basic needs:

• Lane County Food: For recommendations, closings, and updated real-time information about food resources, contact the front desk at 541-343-2822 (M-F 9 am-4 pm).

• NAACP: Eugene / Springfield's NAACP works with Food for Lane County to distribute food every two weeks at historic Mims House to low-income parishioners

• • 17th, 19th, 24th, 26th, 31st March from 4.30pm to 6.30pm at 330 High St.
  • Bring a reusable bag. No documentation required
  • The foods include storage-stable dry goods, fresh products, frozen meat and yoghurt
  • Any household that is 185% above federal poverty
  • For more information call 541-343-2822 or visit foodforlanecounty.org

• • Xfinity and CenturyLink suspend shutdowns, waive late fees and initially provide unlimited data.

• EWEB: Temporary interruption of service interruptions and late fees due to non-payment by the customer during the coronavirus crisis; Expand invoice support programs and implement deferrals for residential and business loans to help customers with the economic disruption caused by the virus outbreak; As of April 1st, EWEB will expand the EWEB customer support program to give every customer who loses a job a credit of USD 260.

Virtual ways to learn and play:

• Practically visit a national park!

• Doodles for lunch with Mo Willems. YouTube uploaded daily.

• Little Notes Music Time with the Eugene Suzuki Academy. Every Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Facebook Live.

• Adventure @ Home of the Adventure Children's Museum: daily challenges, craft ideas, stories - all in a practical e-newsletter.

• Virtually visit a museum!

• Take a virtual dance class!

Activities at home:

• Learn cooking techniques with Kids a Cookin.

• Use your local library card to access free newspapers, movies, and TV shows.

• On the Parenting Now! Facebook page Find daily ideas about squishivities, including painting, dolls, homemade musical instruments, and more.

Talk to your child about COVID-19:

• "Something strange happened in my city": A social story about the coronavirus pandemic in children.

• "How To Talk To Children About Corona Virus" by Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School.

• "Understanding Corona Virus and How Germs Spread" by Brains On!

Tips for creating a daily schedule and routine:

• "How do I put my (suddenly) child at home on a daily schedule?" From National Geographic.

• Distance learning readiness kit from schoology.

• "When everything is canceled: How you can help students get the most out of their newfound freedom," from the Washington Post.

Resources to take care of yourself as parents:

• Virtual WellMama support groups and text support: 541-525-0495.

• • White Bird Crisis Line can be reached around the clock on 541-687-4000

• "COVID-19 uncertainties: take care of yourself, take care of your children" from the children's hospital of the royal daughters

• National lifeline for suicide prevention - 1 / 800-273-8255 (voice) 838255 (text)

• The friendship management (24-hour hotline / hotline) 1 / 800-971-0016

• Free live stream exercise courses.