The COVID-19 situation in the Bay Area has progressed so quickly that we are all reeling. Especially with schools closing there are tons of resources coming available, but information overload can make it hard to keep track. To help, we’ve curated this categorized list of resources to help San Bruno parents navigate. We will continue to update as we come across more resources.
Information about COVID-19
- CDC – Coronavirus Disease 2019: Current information and recommendations about the COVID-19 situation in the United States.
- San Mateo County Health – Novel Coronavirus: Current information and recommendations about the COVID-19 in San Mateo County
- San Bruno – COVID-19: Current information and recommendations about the COVID-19 in San Bruno.
- San Bruno Park School District – COVID-19 Information: Current information about San Bruno Park School District operation.
- Project Baseline – California Risk Screening and Testing: Eligibility and appointment availability for COVID-19 testing. As of this publishing, currently serving San Mateo County and Santa Clara County.
Financial Aid and Other Support
- California Employment Development Department – COVID – 19: Information about how to get unemployment benefits if your work has been affected by COVID-19-related closures. “If your child’s school is closed, and you have to miss work to be there for them, you may be eligible for Unemployment Insurance benefits.”
- California Department of Industrial Relations – FAQs on laws enforced by the California Labor Commissioner’s Office: Useful information about employee’s rights, including the following: “Employees at worksites with 25 or more employees may also be provided up to 40 hours of leave per year for specific school-related emergencies, such as the closure of a child’s school or day care by civil authorities (see Labor Code section 230.8).”
- FREE Meal For Kids San Bruno Park School District: [The following information is not yet available the SBPSD website; we called the district to get the these details]. Starting on March 18th the San Bruno Park School District will provide grab-and-go meals for children under 18 years at all elementary schools and at Parkside Middle School. You may drive through the parking lots of these schools between 11:00 am and 12:30 pm to pick up breakfast and/or lunch for your kids. No proof of enrollment is required. Please contact your child’s school or the SBPSD SNS Manager for more information (contact info in link).
- Chevy’s Tex Mex (Facebook announcement): Chevy’s is offering FREE meals to kids 12 & under in response to school closures.
Mental Health
- Star Vista: Help lines, support groups and resources to get more mental health support.
- NAMI San Mateo County: Help lines, support groups, and resources to get more mental health support.
- Sutter Health – Mentoring Mothers: This group is for pregnant and postpartum women and provides emotional support, mentoring, education, advice and resources for new and experienced moms. We have confirmed that this group is continuing to run via Zoom during the shelter in place; please contact the facilitator for more details.
- Postpartum Support International – PSI Online Support Meetings: Attend online Perinatal Mood Support, Pregnancy Mood Support, NICU Parents, and Military Moms groups.
- Sutter Health – Mills-Peninsula Behavioral Health Outpatient Services: Information about the mental health services Mills-Peninsula Medical Center offers.
- Kaiser – Psychiatry/Mental Health Services: Information about the mental health services Kaiser offers.
- Anxiety and Depression Association of America – Coronavirus Anxiety – Helpful Expert Tips and Resources: An extensive, categorized, regularly-updated list of resources to help people navigate anxiety around the COVID-19 pandemic. Look for the separate “Children, Teens and Parents” and “Coronavirus and Children/Teens/College Students” sections. Some of our favorite links:
- Dr. Jill Ehrenreich-May – Coping with Child and Caregiver Anxiety and Fears about COVID-19 (Vimeo): The Child and Adolescent Mood and Anxiety Treatment Program at the University of Miami has created this channel to share informative videos to support children and their caregivers regarding anxiety and stressors about the coronavirus.
- Youtube – Anxiety & COVID 19 Part 2: Tips for Parents: Suggestions for parents navigating COVID-19 anxiety from a panel of experts (And, Part 1 of this series is for anyone, not only parents).
- ADAA – Managing Coronavirus Anxiety: Tips and Strategies for Families: Experts share helpful tips and strategies to manage coronavirus anxiety and stress for families.
- The Wall Street Journal: The Kids Are Home. You Need to Work. What Do You Do? Tips on working from home while caring for children.
How You Can Help
- San Bruno Community Foundation – COVID-19: How You Can Help: A comprehensive guide to being a helper during this time. It lists where you can volunteer, donate, give blood, and support local business.
How to talk with your kids about COVID-19
- Psychology Today – Parenting During COVID-19: A detailed article about how to talk to your kids about COVID-19 and help them process everything going on.
- Stanford Children’s Health – How to Talk with Kids About COVID-19: A brief guide to communicating with kids about COVID-19.
- PBS – How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus: A detailed article about how to talk to your kids about COVID-19 and teach them healthy habits.
- mindheart.kids – Covibook: A cute comic educating and reassuring kids about COVID-19.
Homeschooling
- Incisive.nu: Working and Learning From Home With Young Children: A helpful guide to managing working from home with young children.
- A Mothership Down – How to Prepare For Extended School Closings (And Not Lose Your Mind): A detailed guide to setting yourself up for homeschooling success.
- Amazing Educational Resources: A massive, frequently-updated list of education companies offering FREE subscriptions due to school closures.
- Toddler-Approved – Homeschool Schedule for Kids: A FREE homeschooling guide including daily and weekly schedules, suggested activities, and more.
- Motherly – If your child’s school closes temporarily, don’t panic: Here’s a list of homeschooling resources: Brief homeschooling guide and links to resources.
- Adventures In Familyhood – 20 Virtual Field Trips to Take With Your Kids: A list of online museum tools, zoo and aquarium webcams, and virtual world travel.
Lockdown-Friendly Activities for Kids
- Motherly – 17 fascinating + fun virtual activities to entertain you and your kids during the coronavirus outbreak: Some truly fascinating and timely ideas, from doodling with author Mo Willems, to stories read by role models, to virtual Disney rides, to an app that allows kids to play face-to-face games with Grandma.
- Toddler Approved – Easy to Set Up Toddler Boredom Busters: 50+ ideas for easy indoor activities.
- Toddler Approved – Toddler Activities For Working Parents: 25+ simple “sit beside me” activities that you can set up when you need to get your toddler out of your hair for a bit so you can get some work done.
- Princess Pinky Girl – Easy Indoor Activities For Kids: Activities for kids that are easy for parents to set up at home.
- Hello, Wonderful – 50 Plus Easy Interactive Activities For Kids: Easy activities using household materials and recycled materials.
- The Best Ideas For Kids – Indoor Activities for Kids: 100+ ideas to do with kids indoors, including crafts, activities, and games. Many of these are a little messier and more hands on than what’s listed in the last two links.
- Primary Playground – Scavenger Hunts: A list of fun, themed scavenger hunts for kids.
- 150+ Enrichment Activities for Children While Parents Are Working Remotely: A collaborative Google Sheet including details such as degree of parental involvement, age range, prep-time, and cost.
- Kids Activities – Here’s the Entire List of Authors and Illustrators That are Doing Online Story Time: A list of live story times and art lessons listed by day and time, lists of story times, podcasts, and virtual field trips available any time. A story time listed worth an extra hat tip: Storytime From Space!
- Inside the Magic – 10 Disney Zumba Videos To Work Up A Magical Sweat: Want to workout and keep your kids happy? Try these Zumba routines set to Disney songs.
- The Bark Blog – Educational Websites for Kids: An annotated list of educational kids websites categorized by age.
- A Day In Our Shoes – 12 Fun and Free Educational Website Your Kids Will Love: An annotated list of educational kids websites categorized by topic.
Other Resources
- Make Your Body Work – 50 Best Free Home Workouts: Need exercise to stay sane while sheltering in place? Here are some links to online workouts available for free.
- Travel + Leisure: Stuck at Home? These 12 Famous Museums Offer Virtual Tours You Can Take on Your Couch: Links to virtual museum tours.