Helping children learn to be smart about feelings can help alleviate their emotional stress, improve concentration, boost their immune system, and enhance brain development. This First Aid for Feelings workbook for children was designed to help do that. By using the simple coping strategies found in this workbook, you can encourage children to express thoughts, questions, and feelings. These life skills may help reduce and manage children’s stress or anxiety, and provide some sense of control within their changing lives.

This article shared by the University of Calgary provides suggestions for how to work from home during this COVID-19 pandemic. Brittany Harker Martin from the Werklund School of Education shares expert tips on how to:
-create workstations
-designate a work-free zone
-take scheduled breaks
-integrate physical
-creative activities, and establish a quitting time

These websites/apps for cultivating compassion are completely free! Teaching ToleranceThe WondermentThe Compassion Project Learn Storm SDG's in ActionCharacter Playbook Story Corps Sit with Us The Harry Potter Alliance Liyla and the Shadows of War 

Saskatchewan Health Authority Germ Smart Handwashing program for Schools has gone online.
Handwashing is one of the most important things we can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Incorporating handwashing education into student learning can make a real difference. This program is for elementary, middle level and high school students and includes free videos, activities, posters and more!

Time can seem to go very fast and we forget the little things that make us happy. This activity can help you be mindful of all the things that we are grateful for. Make a paper chain to decorate your home or classroom.

Professor Sonja Lyubomirsky - one of the world's leading Positive Psychology experts - shares the latest insights from her ground-breaking work on happiness....

She focuses on three main habits in this webinar...
1. Gratitude
2. Acts of Kindness
3. Social interactions and connections

"Below you will find several playlists for you and your family to use during our time of distance learning. All the music in the playlists have been recommended by staff and students of Masonville Public School as pieces which provide calm, relaxation, renewal and the opportunity to recharge. Most playlists are between 20-30mins long."

It is no surprise that there is an increase in global anxiety and stress for many people because we are dealing with a worldwide pandemic. This website allows parents to practice, model, and teach their children about the importance of calm and self-care.

Immediate mental health counselling and crisis intervention for all Indigenous peoples across Canada (available in some Indigenous languages). Toll-free: 1-855-242-3310.

Phone and chat counselling is available in English and French. On request, phone counselling is also available in:
Cree
Ojibway
Inuktitut

This short video explains to kids why we are "stuck at home" during the COVID-19 outbreak.

This is a tricky time for kids and they are missing school and their friends. It can be even harder if they don't understand WHY we are all at home.

I hope this video can help children understand "the why".

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention provides the most up-to-date information about the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

This infographic from Homewood Health provides tips for people (including students) working from home and staying productive.

Young kids don't know what it means to keep 6 feet away while social distancing. This article describes a hands-on activity parents can use.

This article shared by the University of Calgary contains age-appropriate ideas for talking with kids about COVID-19.
Researchers from UCalgary's Department of Psychology answer common questions from parents on talking to children about this timely topic. Some questions addressed include:
Will talking about COVID-19 increase my child's anxiety?
What is an age apporpiate age to talk to my kids about COVID-19?
Should I tell them what the symptoms are?
Are there any tips/tricks to promote handwashing?
Any recommendations for activities to do if we have to self-isolate?

What Is It?

INNER EXPLORER PRESENTS A MINDFULNESS APP FOR FAMILIES - Helping Parents Raise Mindful kids.

Inner Explorer is a free mindfulness app (for Apple and Android) from Inner Explorer. Hundreds of school districts use Inner Explorer's mindfulness program to help educators and students become socially-emotionally present and handle situations with calmness and resilience.

Inner Explorer @ Home is specifically designed for parents and caregivers to use with their children and features daily guided mindfulness practices for all age-groups.

THE BENEFITS AND 5 W's OF MINDFULNESS
1. What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness means paying attention to what’s happening right now with curiosity and kindness and without judgment.
2. Why Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is popular because it is very effective for reducing stress and for improving focus which helps learning.
3. When?
One can practice mindfulness any time. However, practicing mindfulness in the morning often sets the tone for a calm and lovely day.
4. Who?
Inner Explorer was designed for Pre K – 12th grade students. However, many adults utilize the program on a daily basis. Practicing as a family magnifies the benefits and creates calm and connection.
5. Where?
Practicing in as quiet a place as possible is always a good idea to minimize distractions.

What Is It?
This checklist from Respectful Ways contains 14 activities for families to foster creativity, prompt discussion, expand children's imaginations, and cultivate social-emotional growth. Respectful Ways created these fun, interactive activities to guide family members through the process of recognizing and navigating negative feelings, understanding the origins of emotions, and help everyone cope with stress.

This is a child friendly comic about the coronavirus. It can be printed and folded into a book.

This site offers a collection of resources to help support learning while families are home due to the COVID-19 pandemic and suspension of in-class instruction. It will be updated as more resources are identified and there is new information to share.
Sections include: (for Early Learning and Primary Years through to Adult Learning)
- Weekly Home Learning Videos
- Activities
- Learning from Home
- Everyday Learning Activities (ideas for promoting learning in many subject areas and with many activities)
- Resources (including educational programming from museums, science centers, zoos, artists, storytellers and others on a wide variety of topics, activities, games, videos, books and reading, educational collections, hands-on activities, languages, math, outdoor education, science, natural and human history, special education, French resources, and much more)
- Keeping Healthy