Resources for Parents

Cooper-Specific

Bright Horizons – Cooper has partnered with Bright Horizons to support care and education needs for you and your family. Care programs include: secure full-time care in a quality child care center, find sitters, nannies, pet care and more, and get discounted nanny placement.

New!

Children and teens can learn coping strategies through coding – From the folks at Columbia University’s Engineering Department, a look at the often overlooked benefit of coding as a means of teaching children about coping with distress through problem-solving, creativity, and computational thinking. 

General

Parent/Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope with the Coronavirus Disease 2019 – From the The National Child Traumatic Stress Network, information for parents and caregivers about infectious disease outbreaks in your community. Knowing important information about the outbreak and learning how to be prepared can reduce stress and help calm likely anxieties.

Resources for New Parents During the Pandemic – Being a new parent in the age of social isolation can be difficult without support systems like friends and family members around to help during stressful times.  Many organizations have created resources for new parents working through this life transition in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. OnlineCounselingPrograms.com collected resources about issues such as giving birth, mental health care, and providing support.

Human Services Opens Applications for COVID-19 Child Care Tuition Assistance Program – NJ Human Services Commissioner Carole Johnson announced that applications are now open for the new COVID-19 child care tuition assistance program. Eligible families needing child care assistance as schools open remotely can apply now at ChildCareNJ.Gov
 
How to Handle Autism-Related Clinical Care during Social Distancing and School/Program Closures – From Autism Speaks, tips help prepare for service adjustments caused by COVID-19 precautions.

Talking to Children about COVID-19

Blog from Nationwide Children’s Hospital (OH) – How to talk to your kids about COVID-19
 
Talking with Children about Infectious Disease Outbreak – This fact sheet provides parents, caregivers, and teachers with strategies for helping children manage their stress during an infectious disease outbreak. It describes potential reactions among youth and the support adults can provide to help them.
 
Helping Kids Cope with Emergencies (CDC) – Regardless of your child’s age, he or she may feel upset or have other strong emotions after an emergency. Some children react right away, while others may show signs of difficulty much later. How a child reacts and the common signs of distress can vary according to the child’s age, previous experiences, and how the child typically copes with stress.
  
The Expert Parent’s Guide to Childhood Anxiety – From Tutorful, with featured advice and resources from The Children’s Society, this guide for parents is designed to help children understand, cope and become strengthened by their experiences of anxiety at a young age.
 
Activities

Using Music for Fun and Stress Management for Children – Music is a universal way that we relax. The same is true for children. Aside from exercise it may be the most studied and effective method of benefiting from recreation and leisure time activities. This guide from Dr. David Bogacki of Cooper Psychiatry offers some practical tips on how to use this while you are at home with your children.

12 Best Coding Tools & Resources for Kids While Learning From Home

Additional Resources