COVID-19 Parental Resources Kit – Early Childhood

Change in routines

In addition to everyday steps to prevent COVID-19, physical or social distancing is one of the best tools we have to avoid being exposed to the virus and to slow its spread. When children are very young, their parents and caregivers—including extended family members, a worship community, and childcare workers—provide them with daily caretaking routines that support their development and well-being (i.e., diaper changes, feeding, hair combing). Disruptions in these routines and the sudden loss of usual caregivers due to the need to physically distance can be traumatic for young children. It is important for parents to support young children by ensuring their own social, emotional, and mental health. Establishing routines and structure for young children with other trusted caregiver(s) (e.g., babysitters) who also practice social distancing and hygiene measures can provide support to parents with caretaking responsibilities, giving parents time to take healthy steps to cope with their own stress.

Break in continuity of care or learning

Intermittent daycare and school closures may mean that young children have to stay at home while parents and caregiver juggle caretaking, supervision of play and learning, and potential telework responsibilities. Keeping young children at home is one way to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Depending on your child’s age and ability, supervision of play may require more hands-on engagement. Unfortunately, some parents do not have jobs that offer telework. It is important for parents to determine how their family’s composition and access to social supports (i.e., individual and work policies) could make caretaking of young children less challenging. For families with children who have special needs, extra social supports may be required.

Break in continuity of health care

Parents may have felt pressured to avoid seeking health care due to earlier stay-at-home orders and may continue to do so because they are afraid of getting sick with COVID-19. However, well-child visits and immunizations are important to maintain the health of your child. Similarly, social services closures may have impacted many young children’s ability to receive other therapeutic services, like speech and occupational health. It is important to ensure children receive continuity of health care, including checking on their development at well-child visits, continuing speech, mental health, and occupational health therapies (e.g. via telehealth), and receiving vaccines for illnesses such as measles, influenza, whooping cough, and others. Developmental milestones matter.

Missed significant life events

Physical distancing can make you feel as if your family’s life is on hold. The truth is that the clock keeps ticking. Birthdays, vacation plans, births, and funerals are just a few of the many significant life events that families may miss experiencing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Social distancing, stay-at-home orders, and limited gatherings have affected the ability of friends and family to come together in-person to celebrate and/or grieve in typical ways. When parents or caregivers experience grief, young children may also experience emotional challenges. It is important to have honest conversations with young children about grief as a normal response to losing someone or something important to you. For pre-verbal children, reading books about emotions can help them begin to understand expression of emotions. Also, be creative in ways to celebrate life events differently—birthday parades and virtual celebrations with family and friends can help.

Loss of security and safety

Being safe and feeling safe are essential for young children. The household income of many families with young children has been affected during the COVID-19 pandemic due to job loss and lost wages. Economic insecurity is linked to adverse childhood experiences that can negatively impact their social-emotional development, learning, and health. Young children living in families that are experiencing economic difficulties may feel unsafe. They may have inconsistent access to healthy foods, safe transportation, and housing. Parents’ mounting economic stress can increase children’s risk for exposure to violence. With increased time spent at home during COVID-19, some children may have been increasingly exposed to child abuse and neglect, intimate partner violence at home, and sexual violence. It is important for parents to access social supports and services—including mental health services. Telemental health and national helplines may provide emergency options for emotional and mental health support during a crisis. Moreover, being attentive and responsive to a young child’s behaviors or questions can help support feelings of safety.