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Family Resource Center
As Alaska weathers the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, we want you to know that we are here for you and your family. Below are some resources and updates to support you and your family during these uncertain times.
thread services
thread’s statewide offices are physically closed, but we are open for business and providing all services via telephone and/or through distance delivery.
If your child care program is closed, thread encourages you to stay home and avoid placing your children in alternate care, if possible.
We also understand every family has a unique situation at this time. If you need assistance with child care referrals, contact thread at 800.278.3723 between 9 am and 5 pm, or use our online search tool. We can provide you with the latest information on which programs are open and have vacancies.
The Municipality of Anchorage has launched a map showing the status of early childhood education programs in the municipality.
Considerations for Returning to Child Care
- NEW! State of Alaska Child Care Program Office Broadcast: Child Care Assistance Program – Waiver of Family Co-Payments Announcement
- Alaska Child Care Assistance Program: Waiver of Family Co-Payments (State of Alaska)
- Report: Picking Up the Pieces – Building a Better Child Care System Post COVID-19 (Child Care Aware of America)
- Your On-the-Go Child Care Consumer Education Brochure Suite (Child Care Aware of America)
- Resources for Enrolling Infants/Toddlers in Child Care for the First Time (Child Care Aware of America) [PDF]
- Resources for Enrolling a Child in Kindergarten (Child Care Aware of America) [PDF]
- Resources for Enrolling a Child in School-Age Care (Child Care Aware of America) [PDF]
- Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Employee Paid Leave Rights (U.S. Dept. of Labor)
- Creating a COVID-19 Family Plan – in multiple languages
(Alaska DHSS) - Health and Safety Measures for Families (Child Care
Aware of America) [PDF] - Is It Safe to Bring My Child to Child Care During COVID-19? (Child Care Aware of America)
- Back to Child Care Following Shelter in Place (ZERO TO THREE)
- COVID-19 Planning Considerations: Guidance for School Re-entry (American Academy of Pediatrics)
Transitioning to Kindergarten
- Resources for Enrolling a Child in Kindergarten (Child Care Aware of America) [PDF]
- Making a Smooth Transition: Parenting Strategies to Help Ease Young Children’s Worries About Going Back to School (Harvard Graduate School of Education)
- Supporting Transitions: Using Child Development as a Guide (Head Start Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center)
- Apoyo a las transiciones: Uso del desarrollo infantil como guía (Head Start Centro de Aprendizaje y Conocimiento en la Primera Infancia)
Health & Wellness
- Little equipment needed to keep your preschoolers active this winter (State of Alaska)
- Tips and Questions to Keep Child Care Providers and Families Healthy (Child Care Aware of America)
- New Video: Take care of your health, body and mind (State of Alaska Play Every Day)
- Tips for Celebrating Winter Holidays in New Ways (State of Alaska Play Every Day Blog)
- Self-Care Guide for Parents (The Integration Group)
- Difference Between Flu and COVID-19 (Child Care Aware of America)
- Back to School Resource Toolkit: Tips for Mindfulness for Teachers, Students, and Parents (NorthStar Behavioral Health)
- Families, Lay Your Burdens Down: Supporting Your Children (NAEYC)
- Talking to Young Children about Wearing Masks (ZERO TO THREE)
- FDA Updates on Hand Sanitizers with Methanol (FDA)
- Help Me Grow Alaska
- COVID-19 and Pregnancy & Breastfeeding (CDC)
- Caring for Children While School is Out (CDC)
- Cloth Face Coverings (Alaska DHSS)
- Resources for Children and Youth with Special Care Needs (Alaska DHSS)
- Preparing for Emergencies with Brain Building Tips (Vroom)
- Results from Family Surveys (Alaska Maternal
and Child Health Epidemiology)
Emotional Well-Being
- Helping Children Cope with Traumatic Events (Child Care Aware of America)
- Helping Your Child During the Pandemic (National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations) [PDF]
- Let’s Talk About Feelings (Child Care Aware of America and Vroom)
- Together We Are Safer – Youth Safety During COVID-19 (Video by Alaska Children’s Trust)
- Social Connections (Video by Alaska Children’s Trust)
- Concrete Supports (Video by Alaska Children’s Trust)
- Child Safety and Well-Being During COVID-19 (Office
of Children’s Services) - Grief (Sesame Street Toolkit)
- More Resources (Johns Hopkins
IDEALS Institute)
Talking to Children About COVID-19
- Book: Something Strange Happened in My City (Dr. Shu-Chen Jenny Yen)
- Conversations that Matter: Talking with Children About Big World Issues (NAEYC)
- Book: Our Smallest Warriors, Our Strongest Medicine: Overcoming COVID-19 (Children’s Book from Center for American Indian Health)
- Book: My Hero is You (Children’s Book from the World Health Organization)
- Talking With Children About Coronavirus Disease 2019 (CDC)
- A Guide to COVID-19 and Early Childhood Development (Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University)
- Just for Kids comic about COVID-19 (NPR)
- Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus (Child Mind Insitute)
- How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus (PBS Kids)
- Resources for Supporting Children’s Emotional Well-being During the COVID-19 Pandemic (Child Trends)
Play Dates
- Alaska Kids Can Get Out and Play, But Avoid Indoor Play Dates (Alaska DHSS)
- What About Play Dates? (The New York Times)
Staying Active
- Safe Physical Activity During Social Distancing (Video by Play Every Day)
- Play Every Day (Alaska DHSS)
- Play & Learn Ideas [PDF]
- Health at Home PE & Health Resources for Parents (CATCH)
- 100 Mile Club Free 26 Day Challenge
- Yoga Ed Youtube Channel
- Alo Yoga Youtube Channel
- Free Yoga Resources for Children and Families (OMTastic
Yoga) - Movement & Mindfulness Videos (GoNoodle)
- Free Online Mindfulness Classes for Kids: (Mindful Schools)
Learning at Home (E-Learning)
- Little Learners (Virtual Summer Camp for Ages 2-5 By Best Beginnings)
- AK Learns (Alaska DEED)
- Early Learning Activities for Babies (Best Beginnings)
- Early Learning Activities for Toddlers (Best Beginnings)
- Early Learning Activities for Preschoolers (Best Beginnings)
- At-Home Tips to Make the Most of Everyday Moments with your Baby (Vroom) [PDF]
- At-Home Tips to Make the Most of Everyday Moments with your Toddler (Vroom) [PDF]
- At-Home Tips to Make the Most of Everyday Moments with your Preschooler (Vroom) [PDF]
- Working and Learning from Home (American Academy of Pediatrics’ HealthyChildren.org)
- Activities for Kids at Home During School Closures (TIME Magazine)
- Age by Age Tips & Activities for Social Emotional Learning, Literacy, Arts and More (PBS Kids Learn and Grow)
- 16 Card Games to Learn Math (We Are Teachers)
- Free Educational Program for Young Children (Khan Academy Kids)
- Build Reading Skills (Squiggle Park)
- Celebrities Reading Children’s Books (Storyline Online)
- Online Game Library (Playworks)
- Resources and Activities for Fun at Home (Imagination Tree Blog)
- Day to Day Projects to Keep Kids Growing (Scholastic Learn at Home)
- Second Step Summer Reading List [PDF]
- Kids National Geographic
- Learn to Type (Typing Club)
- Learn a New Language (Duolingo)
- Virtual Tours and Field Trips (Johns Hopkins IDEALS Institute)
- Arts & Crafts Resources (Johns Hopkins IDEALS Institute)
- Book Resources (Johns Hopkins IDEALS Institute)
- More Educational Resources (Johns Hopkins IDEALS Institute)
Working From Home
- Parents Juggle Work and Child Care During Pandemic (United State Census Bureau)
- How to Master Working From Home—While Under Quarantine With Kids (Parents Magazine)
- 5 Tips for Effectively Working From Home During the Coronavirus Outbreak, When You Have Kids (CNBC Make It)
- 9 Tips for Working at Home With Kids During the Coronavirus Crisis (CNBC)
Tell Us Your Story
thread wants to hear from you about how COVID-19 is affecting your family. Share your story.