Helpful Resources
.png/:/cr=t:0%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:100%25/rs=w:388,cg:true)
National Association of School Psychologists Talking to Children About Violence https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-safety-and-crisis/school-violence-resources/talking-to-children-about-violence-tips-for-parents-and-teachers
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network: Mass Violence Resources https://www.nctsn.org/what-is-child-trauma/trauma-types/terrorism-and-violence/mass-violence
Fred Rogers Institute: Talking with Children about Difficult Things in the News: http://ow.ly/UzNj50Jhf5r
PBS Helping Children with Tragic Events in the News
National Federation of Families https://www.ffcmh.org/resources
Say Something Campaign Sandy Hook Promise: https://www.sandyhookpromiselearning.org/
Child Mind Institute: https://childmind.org/education/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-school-shootings/
Resources for families following the tragedy in Uvalde:
https://www.chnola.org/blog/2022/may/resources-for-families-following-the-tragedy-in-/
Slumberkins Supporting Our Community free resources:
Slumberkins Blog - How to help children cope with frightening news: https://slumberkins.com/blogs/slumberkins-blog/how-to-help-children-cope-with-frightening-news
Slumberkins Blog - How language can impact children's fear: https://slumberkins.com/blogs/slumberkins-blog/how-language-can-impact-children-s-fear
Slumberkins Blog - How to support a young child with grief and loss: https://slumberkins.com/blogs/slumberkins-blog/how-to-support-a-young-child-with-grief-and-loss
Holding Space For Educators with Liz from @teachandtransform and David from @amplify.rj. Tonight 5/25 - 8-9pm PT. This is not a Slumberkins event. Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdMaJ-7MemuG2MUcuqWLGRcA638sP7nDBKd3nQY-acegD03ZA/viewform
After a School Shooting from Liberated SEL: https://drive.google.com/file/d/19FF5J3_d1HGoCHU9a1zdzNgMp0ziw8pw/view Sesame Street - Safer Space. For children and families directly affected by violence in their own neighborhoods: https://sesamestreetincommunities.org/subtopics/community-gun-violence/
Book recommendations:
"What to Do When the News Scares You" is available at https://www.amightygirl.com/what-to-do-news-scares-you
Dawn Huebner has also released a similar book for kids 6 to 12, "Something Bad Happened: A Kid's Guide to Coping With Events in the News," at https://amzn.to/3lEjJFV
For parents and educators, there's an excellent guide filled with conversation scripts and tips on helping kids feel calm in an anxious world, "When the World Feels Like a Scary Place" at https://www.amightygirl.com/world-scary-place
For a simple yet powerful picture book that reassures kids that the world is filled with helpful and friendly people -- and serves as a counterpoint to scary news stories -- check out "Most People" for ages 4 to 7 at https://amzn.to/3wKwNzL
For a few helpful books for younger kids on coping with worries, we recommend "The Don't Worry Book" for ages 3 to 5 (https://www.amightygirl.com/the-don-t-worry-book), "Ruby Finds A Worry" for ages 4 to 7 (https://www.amightygirl.com/ruby-finds-a-worry), and "The Whatifs" for ages 4 to 8 (https://www.amightygirl.com/the-whatifs),
For older kids, we recommend "What To Do When You Worry Too Much" for ages 6 to 12 (https://www.amightygirl.com/when-you-worry-too-much), "Outsmarting Worry" for ages 9 to 13 (https://www.amightygirl.com/outsmarting-worry), and "The Anxiety Workbook for Teens" for ages 13 and up (https://www.amightygirl.com/the-anxiety-workbook-for-teens)
For more books to help kids of all ages manage their worries, visit our blog post "25 Books to Help Kids Overcome Anxiety, Worry, and Fear" at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=22612
Coming Out: Information for Parents of LGBT Teens
Healthychildren.org
Provides parents with responses and information about common phrases that teenagers use when they are exploring their sexual orientation.
Ending Conversion Therapy: Supporting and Affirming LGBTQ Youth (PDF - 10,783 KB)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (2015)
Presents research, clinical expertise, and expert consensus on therapeutic practices related to children's and adolescent's sexual orientation and gender identify, and makes the case for eliminating the use of conversion therapy among this population.
The Family Acceptance Project ®
Works to decrease major health and related risks, such as suicide, substance abuse, HIV, and homelessness, for LGBT youth in the context of their families. The initiative uses a research-based, culturally grounded approach to help ethnically, socially, and religiously diverse families decrease rejection and increase support for their LGBT children.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Explores some of the health issues and inequities affecting LGBT communities. This website offers resources for LGBT youth and adults as well as health care providers, public health professionals, and public health students.
Safe Communities
(opens in new window)
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)
Supports LGBT people, their families, friends, and allies locally and nationally by providing PFLAG chapter helplines, support group meetings, advocacy, and resources. PFLAG's resources for families and communities on sexual orientation, gender identity, and LGBT issues include Coming Out(opens in new window), Our Trans Loved Ones: Questions and Answers for Parents, Families, and Friends of People who are Transgender and Gender Expansive(opens in new window) (PDF - 946 KB), and Be Not Afraid: Help Is on the Way! Straight for Equality in Faith Communities(opens in new window) (PDF - 2,800 KB).
Tips for Parents of LGBTQ Youth
Sanders & Lamont Fields
Johns Hopkins Medical
Explains clear directions for parents seeking to support their LGBTQ youth, including learning information about various sexual identities, engaging youth in conversation, and staying involved with school.
Family Support: Resources for Families of Transgender and Gender Diverse Children(opens in new window)
Movement Advancement Project
Explains the importance of family acceptance in supporting transgender youth’s mental health. This page also provides research and practical tips for supporting gender diverse children and youth.
Gender-Diverse and Transgender Children(opens in new window)
Rafferty
Healthychildren.org
Defines terms and provides recommendations for parenting gender-diverse children and youth, including how to respond to identity disclosures and recognizing signs of mental health challenges.
Our Trans Loved Ones(opens in new window)
Highlights a resource that shares information, first-person stories, and advice for individuals how have a loved one who identifies as transgender or gender expansive.
Resources for Parents of Transgender(opens in new window)
University of Rochester, University Counseling Center
Provides websites and books designed to help parents become advocates for their transgender children and youth.
TransFamilies(opens in new window)
Helps connect the parents of transgender youth to support groups and information to build their capacity to care for their children.
For Kids:
Books and videos to help kids understand racism, our history, and appreciate diversity
- Books with Characters of Color: A curated list of children’s books that promote tolerance, diversity, and cultural understanding.
- Six Books to Help You Talk to Your Child about Diversity
- Coming Together: Standing Up to Racism: A CNN/Sesame Street town hall.
For Parents:
Books and resources to help parents understand and explain racism, raise children who appreciate diversity and advocate for justice.
- Talking about Race: Tools and guidance from the National Museum of African American History and Culture to empower your journey and inspire conversation.
- Embrace Race Resources to help parents foster resilience in children of color, nurture inclusive, empathetic children, raise kids who think critically about racial inequity, and support a movement of racial justice advocates for all children
- Talking Race with Young Children: A podcast from NPR and Sesame Workshop.
- Identity Matters: A Sesame Workshop study showing that understanding and valuing one’s identity and the identities of others can help children develop into more confident and accepting adolescents and adults.
- How to Talk to Kids about Race and Racism: A parent toolkit for talking about race, setting an example, navigating curiosity, making it relatable, addressing mistakes, and being an advocate.
- Table Talk: Resources for sparking family conversation about current events.
- Beyond the Golden Rule: A guide for parents on preventing and responding to prejudice at every age and stage.
- Source: https://www.marbleskidsmuseum.org/racial-equity-resources
- Talking With Children: Tips for Caregivers and Teachers English
- Parent/Caregiver Guide to Helping Families with Coronavirus Disease: English
- Sesame Street - Handwashing for Kids: Video | Short Story | Coloring Sheet
- Sesame Street - Routines During “The For Now Normal”
- Sesame Street - Talking to Children About COVID-19
- Sesame Street - Caring for Each Other
- Zero to Three - Expert Resources to Parents and Caregivers in Response to Coronavirus Pandemic
- BrainPOP - Teaching Kids About Coronavirus: Videos with Animation
- CDC - Talking with children about Coronavirus Disease 2019: Messages for parents, school staff, and others working with children
- Generations United - COVID-19 Fact Sheet for Grandfamilies and Multigenerational Families
- ChildMind - Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus: English
- https://www.sleep.org/how-sleep-works/how-much-sleep-do-babies-need/
- ChildMind - Supporting Families During COVID-19 - Spanish translations available
- Zero to Three - Parenting Resource: Why are people wearing masks? Why are people covering their faces?
- PBS Kids - Schools Closed? How to Make a New Home Routine (for children ages 2-8)
- PBS Kids - Educational Info, Games and Videos (for children ages 2-8)
- Sesame Street - Fun at Home! Youtube videos
- PBS Kids - Sesame Street Free On-Demand Recent Episodes
- Barnes and Noble - Free E-Books from Sesame Street
- Zero to Three - Parenting Resource: Five Tips to Make the Most of Video Chats (with Young Children)
- Cosmic Kids Yoga - Yoga adventures for kids that use stories they can relate to
- NPR - Just For Kids: A Comic Exploring The New Coronavirus
- Brains On! - Talking with children about coronavirus: Understanding coronavirus and how germs spread
- Childmind.org - Resources For Learning at Home
- Road Trips From Home: https://www.titlemax.com/articles/road-trip-from-home-virtual-field-trips/