Resources to Help Children Through Difficult Times

Children may be feeling anxious, confused, and uncertain. Right now, connecting with the community around them may seem scary. As adults we can find ways to help them cope and navigate, and yes - even learn, as they experience these big emotions. We must do this even as we are overwhelmed by our own.

We have included a few links to resources below. It is by no means a solution, but a small part in finding hope and help. As always, we are here for you.

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ~Maya Angelou

Loving-kindness meditation for children (Greater Good Science Center)

Meditation is a useful tool to help children reconnect to their innate capacity to be kind and inclusive to all. This video talks about spreading kindness and the world needs a lot of that right now.

Racism and violence: How to Help Kids Handle the News from the Child Mind Institute (Child Mind Inst.)

Helpful guidelines for helping children deal with troubling news.

Talking Race with Young Children (NPR)

Even babies notice differences like skin color, eye shape and hair texture. Learn to handle conversations about race, racism, diversity and inclusion, even with very young children.

Talking With Children About Racism, Police Brutality and Protests (Aha! Parenting)

Because we as adults struggle with race issues, we will often find ourselves struggling to know how to talk to our children about them. But that doesn't mean we don't have a responsibility to do so. 

Supporting Kids Of Color Amid Racialized Violence (Embracerace.org)

Q&A regarding how and when to talk to children about healthy racial identity

Teaching Tolerance - Diversity, Equity and Justice (presidiohill.org links to PDF)

How does your own bias impact your child?

When the News is Scary, What do We Say to Kids (NPR)

What parents, teachers and other caregivers can do to help prepare and protect kids from all the scary news out there.

Is My Skin Brown Because I Drank Chocolate Milk? (TEDX Stanford)

It is the things we don’t say and the matters we don’t discuss with our children that find their way into racist dialogue and thinking.

I Love My Hair (Sesame Street)

Sing along and make the world aware that YOU love your hair!

Implicit Bias and Preschool Expulsion with Dr. Walter Gilliam (Home & Classroom podcast)

Examine our own implicit bias and what it means for young children

Self-Care Saturdays with Brightside Up

Weekly Zoom sessions to learn meditation, breathing, and living in a challenging time. New sessions every week. Visit Facebook or our COVID-19 page for details.