For many NIH staff members, the current stay-at-home orders, coupled with school and childcare closures, mean every day is "Take Your Child to Work Day"… at home.
For parents who are looking for tips on how to stay sane and healthy while balancing work and caring for their children at home, check out the following resources:
NIH has unique resources for parents you may not be aware of. Below is a short list of resources you may find useful.
- NIH Parent Coach: Do you need additional help managing these unique concerns? For free, unlimited, and confidential coaching sessions, email Hazel Osbourn, NIH Parenting Coach at nihparentingcoach@AdventistHealthcare.com. Watch this 1-minute video to meet Hazel, the NIH Parenting Coach as she shares more about this valuable service.
- NIH Resource & Referral Service: NIH employees, trainees, and contractors have free, unlimited access to a Work/Life Specialist, who can help assess your parent/caregiving role and support you by providing a range of resources and referrals for children and adults. To access this service, call 1‐800‐777‐1720 or visit http://www.ors.od.nih.gov/resourcereferralservice.
Below are additional resources, including activities and educational resources for parents and children:
- Resources offering tips for families including age-appropriate responses to common questions, a guide to self-care, and activities for young children experiencing social distancing from Zero to Three
- Activities and educational resources specifically for children ages 0-2
- National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations. This link has multiple social stores, videos, graphics, and links for parents/caregivers and children. Many are available in English and Spanish.
- A one-page PDF from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychologists (AACAP) on how to talk to kids about Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Child Mind Institute offers more great information including a video to help parents talk about the coronavirus. (Also available in Spanish)
- How to make a new home routine from PBS Kids.
- Creating routines/structure and rules - Quick tips from the CDC
- Activities to do at home with children:
- This collection of at-home, hands-on activities is organized around seven learning domains: Language & Communication, Reading & Writing, Math, Science, Social & Emotional, Physical Development, and Art & Sensory. Also available in Spanish.
And as a reminder, the NIH Employee Coronavirus Intranet is filled with advice on facing the current COVID-19 pandemic, whether you have questions about getting tested, working from home, or reducing your risk of getting sick.
