This site has many resources to assist parents and students with questions about mental health, community mental health options, special education programs and services and much more. We hope you find this helpful.

If you need additional information or a referral to a private, local mental health professional, please contact the School Social Worker, School Psychologist, or School Counselor in your student's building. We are here to support you!

Explaining Coronavirus to your Children 5

Video from WDIV - 5

Children and COVID-19 from the CDC: 5

Toolkit for Families with students with ASD. 5

This would also be appropriate for parents with young children. 5

A story to help children understand Coronavirus 5

Julia Cook “The Yucky Bug” video 5

APA Social Distancing & Related Resources 5

CDC Managing Anxiety & Stress 5

Autism Speaks Resources re: COVID-19 including social stories 5

Autism Toolkit for school closures 5

Coronavirus Social Stories 5

Another Coronavirus social story 5

Sesame Street and Caring for Each Other 5

Autism and Special Needs Exercise App. 6

FAQ about CoronaVirus 6

Something for Everyone 6

Hand-washing Steps Using the WHO Technique 6

Handwashing-The 12 Steps 6

Coping with Stress During an Infectious Disease Outbreak 6

How to manage emotions and build structure at home during COVID-19 6

FREE Mental Health Support and Resources Through Child Mind 6

Supporting Children's Emotional Health during physical distancing 6

Time to come in Bear, a story about social distancing 6

Social-Emotional Learning Online 7

Howard B. Wigglebottom Books for Young Children with songs 7

Books Read By Celebrities 7

Social Skills Video-Based Curriculum 7

Coping Skills Checklist for Students 7

Social-Emotional Learning at Home 7

Lessons for Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) 7

Social Emotional Learning 7

SEL Y5-gr2. Stories & activities 7

SEL gr.3-5 Stories & activities 7

Centervention 7

Classroom Champions 7

Anxiety and Stress Management 9

10 Therapist and Child Approved Activities to Support Kids with Anxiety 9

20 Fun Activities to Help Kids With Anxiety 9

Worry Warriors videos (gr 3-5) 9

Mindfulness exercises: 9

More Mindfulness exercises: 9

Virtual Calming Room 9

General Mental Health Resources 10

A list of children's books about mental health topics 10

Resources for Early Childhood 11

Sesame Street and Caring for Each Other 11

Sesame Street Belly Breathe 11

Breathe Think Do Sesame Street App 11

Elementary Resources A-Z Activities for Coping 12

Sesame Street Belly Breathe 12

Breathe Think Do Sesame Street App 12

Yoga and meditation for young elementary 12

Cosmic Kids Yoga and Mindfulness 12

Secondary Resources 13

Therapy in a Nutshell - Anxiety and Relaxation video series 13

Therapy in a Nutshell - Help to fall asleep when stressed 13

Therapy in a Nutshell - Progressive Muscle Relaxation 13

Great resource for High School through adulthood! 13

Self Care for Teens 13

Apps 13

Breathe2Relax 14

Headspace Guided Meditation 14

Calm App-Meditation & Sleep Stories 14

Mindshift CBT 14

Stop Breathe Think App (ages 5-10) 14

Breathe Think Do Sesame Street App 14

Autism and Special Needs Exercise App. 14

Fun Family Projects and Learning Sites to Beat Boredom! 15

50 Fun Activities for Kids and Families 15

Kindness & Compassion Word Search 15

My Cup of Feelings 15

Fun family activities and games 15

Virtual Family Field Trips! 15

More fun things! 15

Free Learning Materials from Scholastic 15

Virtual Museum Tours! 15

Introduce the children to opera! 15

Georgia Aquarium! Jellyfish anyone!? 15

Educational Resources 15

Educational Videos 15

Online Children’s Books-Read to them! 15

More educational websites posted by WDIV 15

Marine Mammals 15

150+ Enrichment Tools 16

More fun things to do 16

Calendar of Virtual Field Trips 16

Brain Breaks 16

And movement breaks that music and movement breaks to get the wiggles and sillies out. 17

Jack Hartman videos 17

The learning Station 17

Go Noodle 17

Yoga for kids 17

Learning and Studying Tools: 17

How to Plan a Homework Schedule: 18

Study Skills for Students: 18

12 Strategies to Help your Child Learn: 18

Tips for Taking Online Classes: 18

Free Keyboarding Skill Builders/Activities 18

Free STEM Activities 18

Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems 18

Online FREE Learning Tools and Tutorials 18

Great reading instruction resources 18

Time for Kids: digital. Free! 18

At Home Learning Resource from Florida State University 18

Virtual Field Trips Calendar 18

Explaining Coronavirus to your Children

Video from WDIV -

https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2020/03/13/watch-explaining-coronavirus-to-children-what-is-it-why-are-schools-closed/

Children and COVID-19 from the CDC:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/children.html

Toolkit for Families with students with ASD.

This would also be appropriate for parents with young children.

https://afirm.fpg.unc.edu/sites/afirm.fpg.unc.edu/files/covid-resources/Supporting%20Individuals%20with%20Autism%20through%20Uncertian%20Times%20Full%20Packet.pdf

A story to help children understand Coronavirus

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/595fb0d16a49632afb7e2c00/t/5e73cf66459c9d6afea2bb10/1584648075946/Coronavirus+Story+for+Children.pdf

Julia Cook “The Yucky Bug” video

https://youtu.be/ZD9KNhmOCV4

APA Social Distancing & Related Resources

https://www.apa.org/practice/programs/dmhi/research-information/social-distancing

CDC Managing Anxiety & Stress

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/managing-stress-anxiety.html

Autism Speaks Resources re: COVID-19 including social stories

https://www.autismspeaks.org/news/covid-19-information-and-resources

Autism Toolkit for school closures

https://l.ead.me/bbTE3n

Coronavirus Social Stories

https://drive.google.com/open?id=115D1gn80OrWocRr-LwG9dYeWbuwXkoDY

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FREE-Coronavirus-COVID-19-Social-Story-5319239

Another Coronavirus social story

https://www.flipsnack.com/KeshetChicago/coronavirus-social-story/full-view.html?fbclid=IwAR2spJ0sBUaboJC3UqxeqoHCZjOl2Smg1JSn_CqnzL6V2CQfQf_JG0ohw24

Sesame Street and Caring for Each Other

https://www.sesamestreet.org/caring

Autism and Special Needs Exercise App.

Supported in research and used by universities, parents and professionals around the world. The Free trial period has been extended to both schools and parents during these difficult times.

http://www.exercisebuddy.com/

FAQ about CoronaVirus

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1x3eApRJDPdVxpOlq1eEU124oIWpfQDK1/view?mc_cid=b04fa541f1&mc_eid=17a6856e0c

Something for Everyone

https://www.wholechildcounseling.com/post/coronavirus-resources-for-kids-parents-counselors-and-educators j

Hand-washing Steps Using the WHO Technique

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IisgnbMfKvI

Handwashing-The 12 Steps

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGQpJafaWj0

Coping with Stress During an Infectious Disease Outbreak

https://lookaside.fbsbx.com/file/Coping%20With%20Stress%20During%20Infectious%20Disease%20Outbreaks.pdf?token=AWwirWbwnFZzJLvz3PPjKrKdmjruV9RT8Cv8f-twIduYJgjzyONTCy0XbV5oTOiUJOTRxfHiJypWT3yj1i-II-yvO2FQS0hPdpXuPvuRMGgtAsg8MS8KrPERtPPyMqT7vFLEliQ4HMtrZfdMDF1WbmcMDlnquY_mwl8UUbVqECgpbeErrdrs0hiauXXXv4uzKhBnBOOlTYo7L5jeQuQFClRV

How to manage emotions and build structure at home during COVID-19

https://makesociallearningstick.com/keep-calm-and-structure-on-how-to-manage-emotions-and-build-structure-at-home-during-covid-19/?__s=xxxxxxx&__s=cw95cvvfixsjp5ptydrm

FREE Mental Health Support and Resources Through Child Mind

https://childmind.org/coping-during-covid-19-resources-for-parents/?fbclid=IwAR2rIRsR80rCNIZeb9JtEhS7k_CEPRNujVjeQfPfWevFpQYghjatPoNp-sU

Supporting Children's Emotional Health during physical distancing

https://www.childtrends.org/publications/resources-for-supporting-childrens-emotional-well-being-during-the-covid-19-pandemic

Time to come in Bear, a story about social distancing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DA_SsZFYw0w&fbclid=IwAR1Q9Oumh5sCMjnwVGmdx2xDUYSHbYZUaVvzXbWtoIswih7i0m8_IpL5ZYs

Social-Emotional Learning Online

Howard B. Wigglebottom Books for Young Children with songs

https://wedolisten.org/

Books Read By Celebrities

https://www.storylineonline.net/

Social Skills Video-Based Curriculum

Parents can utilize this program for a 30 day free trial - this may be extended by the manufacturer as more schools close.

https://everydayspeech.com/parents-and-families/

Coping Skills Checklist for Students

https://lookaside.fbsbx.com/file/Coping%20Tools%20Checklist_Color.pdf?token=AWz24ua6PjW7Lsmt9V8doxn3mHb-IGHjrclrEO5-_QmHN0U3C4lZCspE6gMKMWzz5MKXIq1DOBQUe4rcPa-TtbJBXBkQzZsDkpeqh8NIbokvmjji1SkrnGVKQi0c51SS6eBvaPlp_1MyWu-0s8PqikhsBpW_LicVSl4PDZkvjhshV0p-4q3u-l-aFX9zJqKyCFmBAs162f4Z4mSOE2BE7BaS

Social-Emotional Learning at Home

https://lookaside.fbsbx.com/file/SEL%20at%20Home%20grades%20K-2%20-%20Listed%20on%20TpT%20.pptx?token=AWz3Gfu8dU1gk_zW3-yKG_oSqlkaUTtFSCY9hTj2WoDaAhiZLIos-bO3lI69dbN8552NJ3R6ytvr5gmShCfemXYzEAp52KWRpQ-QA_2FZeDPJhzO5ykS4x1lbYFQWt3lVxCZdH0pcYgsstLgQvfALJ0WDeBZQXWkdW54yU-w-9JpriwPuFig-RopaXunUMxXMFrt0s-kXC5PMbxqAhWneb_E

Lessons for Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo0zW6kLPq2Ns_51AaZN0lQ

Social Emotional Learning

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SEL-Home-Learning-Packet-supports-Social-Emotional-Learning-5326481?aref=xds4gjp4

SEL Y5-gr2. Stories & activities

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1BALGReH9Yks-AgHTJ_sdLJfS2YnGk-wFxf297iZYFaQ/edit?usp=sharing

SEL gr.3-5 Stories & activities

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/10Z1lMNrDlp6FtlZUzfupyWA-EYcUMcEh4bJD9eNkcKs/edit?usp=sharing

Centervention

https://www.centervention.com/

Game-based interventions that focus on improving social and emotional skills in K-8 students.

Offering a free 30-day trial. We offer free lessons/activities and printables on our website that focus on SEL:

https://www.centervention.com/social-emotional-learning-activities/

Classroom Champions

https://teach.classroomchampions.org/available-programs/

The social and emotional learning lessons within Classroom Champions’ SEL Foundations Curriculum underscore the value of dreams, grit, and perseverance, especially during hard times. For ten years, Classroom Champions has been focused on students’ social and emotional learning by connecting world-class athletes with K-8 schools in every state and province across North America, achieving measurable improvements in student mental health, social and emotional development, and academic outcomes. Founder Steve Mesler (an Olympic Gold Medalist) and Board Member Christian Taylor (2-time Olympic Gold Medalist) have opened up the platform to share the entire K-8 SEL Foundations Curriculum, plus the Parent Toolkit, the video library, and access to the teacher community for free to help support educators and families.

Access to Classroom Champions’ digital platform containing the entire K-8 SEL Foundations Curriculum, plus their Parent Toolkit, video library, and the teacher community.

Anxiety and Stress Management

10 Therapist and Child Approved Activities to Support Kids with Anxiety

October 10, 2017

Ili Rivera Walter, PhD, LMFT

https://familytherapybasics.com/blog/2017/10/8/10-therapist-and-child-approved-activities-to-support-kids-with-anxiety

20 Fun Activities to Help Kids With Anxiety

https://perfectionpending.net/20-fun-activities-to-help-kids-with-anxiety/

Worry Warriors videos (gr 3-5)

https://youtu.be/dA54Nbv3__M?list=PLl8YAZ_ezKNFELLp8KjMEmcn8A0YbKvRt

https://youtu.be/9qNKPw-EeEE?list=PLl8YAZ_ezKNFELLp8KjMEmcn8A0YbKvRt

https://youtu.be/gH_OWeGwjCI?list=PLl8YAZ_ezKNFELLp8KjMEmcn8A0YbKvRt

https://youtu.be/5WGPxQJ2sBg?list=PLl8YAZ_ezKNFELLp8KjMEmcn8A0YbKvRt

Mindfulness exercises:

https://www.mother.ly/child/ease-your-anxious-child-6-simple-mindfulness-exercises-to-try-today

More Mindfulness exercises:

https://positivepsychology.com/mindfulness-for-children-kids-activities/

Virtual Calming Room

https://sites.google.com/apps.district279.org/virtualcalmingroom/home

General Mental Health Resources

A list of children's books about mental health topics

https://childmind.org/article/best-childrens-books-about-mental-health/?fbclid=IwAR1CPcyUDQ2MSAe6DtkYhMLDqumlPMiFjdStphhE_3emBcvywSOGCKmsKUs

Resources for Early Childhood

Sesame Street and Caring for Each Other

https://www.sesamestreet.org/caring

Sesame Street Belly Breathe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mZbzDOpylA&feature=emb_title

Breathe Think Do Sesame Street App

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/breathe-think-do-with-sesame/id721853597

Elementary Resources

A-Z Activities for Coping

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EXpkVw3fh0

Sesame Street Belly Breathe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mZbzDOpylA&feature=emb_title

Breathe Think Do Sesame Street App

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/breathe-think-do-with-sesame/id721853597

Yoga and meditation for young elementary

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYI0TPJOuGk

https://awakeandmindful.com/best-kids-yoga-videos-on-youtube/

Cosmic Kids Yoga and Mindfulness

https://youtu.be/0ImHIWzP49M

Secondary Resources

Therapy in a Nutshell - Anxiety and Relaxation video series

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrhPTqholcc

Therapy in a Nutshell - Help to fall asleep when stressed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAGUVH_yIRE

Therapy in a Nutshell - Progressive Muscle Relaxation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNqYG95j_UQ

Great resource for High School through adulthood!

https://www.virusanxiety.com/

Self Care for Teens

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1OI6qdAba3rtb13XYYKf0Pubi6IxL5Y4SRQeytLcdjx8/mobilepresent?slide=id.p

Apps

Breathe2Relax

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/breathe2relax/id425720246

Breathe2Relax is a portable stress management tool that provides detailed information on the effects of stress on the body and instructions and practice exercises to help users learn the stress management skill called diaphragmatic breathing.Breathing exercises have been documented to decrease the body’s ‘fight-or-flight’ (stress) response, and help with mood stabilization, anger control, and anxiety management. Breathe2Relax can be used as a stand-alone stress reduction tool or can be used in tandem with clinical care directed by a healthcare worker. Breathe2Relax now uses HealthKit and your Apple Watch device to measure your heart rate throughout your breathing exercise to help provide an even more complete picture of the relaxation experienced.

Headspace Guided Meditation

https://www.headspace.com/meditation/guided-meditation

Calm App-Meditation & Sleep Stories

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/calm/id571800810

Mindshift CBT

https://www.anxietycanada.com/resources/mindshift-cbt/

A user-friendly self-help tool based on proven scientific strategies, MindShift™ CBT teaches about anxiety, helping users to engage in healthy thinking and to take action. Users check-in each day to track their anxiety and work with tools in the app.

Stop Breathe Think App (ages 5-10)

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/stop-breathe-think-kids/id1215758068

Breathe Think Do Sesame Street App

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/breathe-think-do-with-sesame/id721853597

Autism and Special Needs Exercise App.

http://www.exercisebuddy.com/

Supported in research and used by universities, parents and professionals around the world. The Free trial period has been extended to both schools and parents during these difficult times.