Updated April 14, 2020
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf’s March 13, 2020 announcement of statewide closure of all K-12 Pennsylvania schools for 10 business days effective Monday, March 16, 2020 may leave many families seeking resources to keep children safe and learning during this time.
General COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Information
- What You Need to Know (Center for Disease Control)
- How to Prepare (Center for Disease Control)
- Protect Your Family (Center for Disease Control)
- Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) and Children (Center for Disease Control)
- Pregnancy & Breastfeeding: Information on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Center for Disease Control)
- COVID-19 (Coronavirus) in Pennsylvania (PA Department of Health)
- Emergency Preparedness Guide (READYPA)
- Pandemic Planning (Federal Emergency Management Agency)
- Plain Language on COVID-19 (Self Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center)
- The Family Lockdown Guide: How to Emotionally Prepare for Coronavirus Quarantine (The Guardian)
- COVID-19 Fact Sheet for Grandfamilies and Multigenerational Families (Generations United)
- What should the autism community know about the coronavirus outbreak? (Autism Speaks)
Talking to Children About Coronavirus and Supporting Them
- How to Talk to Kids about Coronavirus (New York Times)
- Talking to Children about COVID-19 (Bright Horizons)
- Child Mind Institute’s Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus (Child Mind Institute)
- How to Explain A Global Health Crisis to Children with Autism (Psychology Today)
- Answering Your Child’s Questions About Coronavirus (Zero to Three)
- Responding to Children’s Emotional Needs During Times of Crisis (American Academy of Pediatrics)
- Resources for Supporting Children’s Emotional Well-being during the COVID-19 Pandemic (Child Trends)
- A Comic Exploring the New Coronavirus(NPR’s Just For Kids)
- Social and Emotional Learning Supports for Children and Young Adults Around Covid-19, SEL4TX
Finding Open Child Care for Life-Sustaining Positions
- Open Child Cares During COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Closures for Life-Sustaining Positions (PA Department of Human Services)
Resources for Families Affected by Coronavirus
- How to Access Emergency Food Assistance During COVID-19 Mitigation(PA Department of Agriculture)
- #Meals4KidsinPA – School Districts Offering Free Meals for Kids(PA Department of Education Facebook)
- Resources for Pennsylvanians Affected by COVID-19(PA Office of Unemployment Compensation)
- Here’s How to Qualify For Paid Leave For Coronavirus (Forbes)
- Here’s What Is in the ‘Families First’ Coronavirus Aid Package Trump Approved (NPR)
- COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Pandemic FAQ and Available Resources(211 & United Way)
- Insurance Coverage and Coronavirus (COVID-19) Frequently Asked Questions (PA Department of Health)
- Are There Programs Available to Help Make Internet Service More Affordable? (HighSpeedInternet.com)
- Summary of National Response to COVID-19 and Continuity of Education for Early Years
Translated Materials
Spanish
- Daily Live Feed: https://pacast.com/live/es
- Lo que necesita saber sobre la enfermedad del coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19)
- Coronavirus
- Información sobre el COVID-19 para Negocios Esenciales
- Guía sobre el Equipo de Protección Personal (EPP) para el COVID-19
- Guía para Clínicas de WIC para el COVID-19
- Lidiar con las Preocupaciones por el COVID-19
- ¿Cómo Hablar con los Niños Acerca del COVID-19?
For more languages, visit the PA Department of Health website.
Resources for Early Childhood Education Programs & Professionals
Visit the Pennsylvania Key website for these resources.
Activities to Do While Children Are Home
- National P-3 Center At-Home Teaching and Learning in PreK-3rd Grade: This document provides specific guidance related to school districts’ and elementary schools’ supports for at-home learning across the primary grades (PreK-3rd grade). This is not a compilation of e-resources. Rather, this document provides guidance about how to best support at-home learning, focusing on two fundamentals of effective teaching and learning in the early grades: child development and equity.
- Pennsylvania Learning Standards for Early Childhood: Booklets divided by age/grade spans that provide information on what children should be able to know and do. Of interest is the supportive practices provided for each standard that adults can use to help children meet age appropriate learning standards.
- PA Promise for Children Resources for Learning: Website that provides resources for families to engage in activities at home with their children.
- Kindergarten, Here I Come Activity Guide: Activities for pre-kindergarten children to prepare them for kindergarten. The activities can be used by families to engage in activities at home with their children.
- Kindergarten, Here I Am Activity Guide: Activities for kindergarten children. The activities can be used by families to engage in activities at home with their children.
- Recipes for Readiness Activity Cards: Activities for pre-kindergarten children to prepare them for kindergarten. The activities can be used by families to engage in activities at home with their children.
- Math at Home (NAEYC): Website that provides resources to assist families to engage in math related activities at home with their children. The site provides multiple resources and activities.
- Colorin Colorado: Website that can assist families in supporting the learning and development of children who are dual language learners.
- Summary of National Response to COVID-19 and Continuity of Education for Early Years
- Learning Language Every Day: Activities for Families (Arabic)
- Learning Language Every Day: Activities for Families (English)
- Learning Language Every Day: Activities for Families (Simplified Chinese)
- Learning Language Every Day: Activities for Families (Spanish)
Click here to print this list of activities to do while children are at home.
Visit PA’s Promise for Children Pinterest page for a variety of activities.