Coping During COVID: Mindfulness and Self-Care for Adults and Kids

updated July 13, 2020 

Photo by August de Richelieu from Pexels

by Catharine Hannay

Depending on where you live, things may be getting back to relative normalcy or you may be under quarantine for the umpteenth week in a row. In either case, most of us are feeling a lot of anxiety as we're wondering whether the situation will get better or worse over the next several months.

To make it easier to access the resources you need, I've gathered together all of the recent posts on coping during the coronavirus crisis. You might also find these posts useful during other times of challenge and uncertainty.

Update July 13, 2020: All over the U.S., stress levels are going through the roof at this point, since educators, students, and parents keep getting conflicting information about whether schools should reopen and under what conditions, and how on earth this is all going to work. 

Hang in there, everybody! Here are a few links that may help.

• How to Help Children Build Resilience in Uncertain Times by Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg at healthychildren.org
• How to Plan When You Don't Know What to Plan for by Katie Hicks and Sarah Schroeder at Edutopia
• School Reentry Considerations: Supporting Student Social and Emotional Learning and Mental and Behavioral Health Amidst COVID-19  from the American School Counselor Association and the National Association of School Psychiatrists.
• Reunite, Renew, and Thrive: Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)Roadmap for Reopening School from The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL).

Here are the Mindful Teachers posts from March through May 2020: 

Mindfulness Activities for Families at Home:

• Four Mindfulness Games for One or More Children by Sara Weis of Go Go Yoga for Kids
• Four Ways Parents Can Share Mindful Moments with Kids, by Noah Teitelbaum of Empower Education  
• Five Senses Worksheets for English and Language Arts Classes: downloadable worksheets for three of the most popular activities for adults and/or kids (Rainbow Walk, Five Senses Mindfulness Chart, and Five Senses Snack), with suggested writing prompts
• 3 Actividades 5 Sentidos: downloadable worksheets in Spanish of the same three activities: Caminata del Arcoíris, Cinco Sentidos Cada Día, and Bocadillo Cinco Sentidos

You may also be interested in the many other activities for exploring the five senses. Any of the five senses can be a good anchor, or point of attention, which can be less problematic for many people than focusing on the breath. (Some people find that focusing on their breath actually increases their anxiety. Do what's best for you, and be sure to give kids options, as well.)

Self-Care for Teachers, Parents, and Other Adults:

• A Gratitude Practice for Challenging Times 
• 4 Tips for Coping with Anxiety and Cabin Fever 
• 6 Tips for Dealing with the Physical Toll of Working from Home , including eye strain, and neck, back and wrist pain
• Growing Stronger Even in a Crisis Situation: Mindful Practices to Use Throughout the Day, by Ira Rabois, author of Compassionate Critical Thinking
• Tips for Dealing with the Emotional Toll of Teaching from Home During Coronavirus Quarantine 

You may also be interested in the many other self-care resources.

Video Playlists

• Self-Care Video Playlist: Meditation and Yoga for Anxiety 
• At-Home Yoga and Movement Videos for Kids 
• Coronavirus Song and Video Playlist: focusing on empathy, compassion, kindness, and service

You may also be interested in the many other song playlists and video playlists on mindfulness, compassion, gratitude, etc.

Looking for even more suggestions? There are hundreds of posts here at MindfulTeachers.org on practicing and teaching mindfulness, compassion, gratitude, and social-emotional skills.





About the Author

Catharine Hannay is the founder of MindfulTeachers.org and the author of Being You: A Girl’s Guide to Mindfulness, a workbook for teen girls on mindfulness, compassion, and self-acceptance. 

catharinehannay.com