With all the news about COVID-19 – the coronavirus – it can be hard to know what to say to children and it can be difficult to know how to ease their concerns. Mister Rogers once said, “Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting and less scary.”
To help you ease your child’s anxieties and help them learn to handle scary situations, we have compiled these resources from PBS Kids and the Meet the Helpers project:
PBS Kids Resources
Help ease your kid’s worries about the virus by reading this article from PBS Kids and following their helpful tips: https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/how-to-talk-to-your-kids-about-coronavirus.
This Curious George video can help your child understand what germs are and teach them how to protect themselves from them: https://pbskids.org/video/curious-george/2339263578.
Sesame Street has a printable worksheet that can teach your child how to wash their hands properly – with a little help from Elmo: https://www.pbs.org/parents/printables/step-by-step-handwashing-with-elmo.
Meet the Helpers Resources
Doctor Carr’s job is to help you feel better when you are not feeling well or are sick. Learn more about what steps kids can take to help you be healthy: https://thinktv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/meet-the-helpers-doctors-helpers-in-depth/meet-the-helpers-doctors-helpers-in-depth/
Meet Josh, who is a paramedic. Find out how paramedics like Josh can help treat people who are having a medical emergency: https://thinktv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/meet-the-helpers-paramedics-helpers-in-depth/meet-the-helpers-paramedics-helpers-in-depth/
911 operators coordinate with doctors and paramedics to help you get the care you need! Find out what tools Renee, a 911 operator, uses in order to get you the help you need in times of emergency: https://thinktv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/meet-the-helpers-911-operators-helpers-in-depth/meet-the-helpers-911-operators-helpers-in-depth/For more information on this virus and preventative measures you can take, visit CDC’s website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
SDPB Educational Resources to Use While Kids are Home
With schools in South Dakota closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, SDPB has created this directory of our FREE educational resources that parents can use to bridge the gap during this time.
FREE Television Resources:
In addition to the educational children's programming televised daily on SDPB-1, we offer 24/7 kids programming on the over-the-air channel, SDPB-4. Check here for how to access locally: https://www.sdpb.org/tv/reception-guide/
SDPB also offers a livestream of our 24/7 Kids Channel online here: https://www.sdpb.org/learn/Kids24/
FREE Web Resources:
Buddy is the SDPB Kids mascot. We encourage healthy habits and a positive learning environment on our Buddy website, which has many links and the weekly activity blog. http://www.sdpb.org/buddy
PBS LearningMedia is a media-on-demand service delivers research-based, classroom-ready digital learning experiences. https://sdpb.pbslearningmedia.org
PBS Parents is a trusted resource that’s filled with information on child development and early learning. http://www.pbs.org/parents
PBS Kids Learn offers access to educational games and activities inspired by PBS KIDS programs. http://pbskids.org/learn
PBS Crafts for Kids offers many opportunities to use art to teach science and math. Unleash the crafty side of kids. https://www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-for-kids
FREE Downloadable PBS Apps:
PBS Kids Video - This app provides a safe, child-friendly viewing experience of PBS Kids videos for all ages. New full episodes are released every Friday. This app also includes the PBS Kids 24/7 channel for free!
PBS Kids Games - Play over 50 free learning games with your favorite PBS characters anytime, anywhere! New games are added all the time. Games encourage your child to engage in skills related to math, science, creativity, and more!
PBS Parents Play and Learn - Designed specifically for parents, this app provides more than a dozen games parents can play with their kids. Each game includes information about the math and literacy woven into the game to help maximize learning and interaction with your child.
SDPB App- Listen to SDPB Radio’s two channels live. Watch live or archived locally produced SDPB TV shows. Explore and watch On Demand content, search for programs or bookmark a program for later.
PBS Video - Enjoy the most popular shows from PBS anytime, anywhere! Masterpiece hits, Nature, NOVA, and more. PBS Video features thousands of full-length videos from you favorite PBS shows and local stations with new videos added daily.