COVID-19 for Early Childhood

Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH.illinois.gov) has a statewide, 24-hour COVID-19 hotline (1-800-889-3931) and a designated email address (DPH.SICK@Illinois.gov).

For the Most Up-to-Date COVID-19 Information & General Guidelines

• The United States (U.S.) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides up-to-date information about prevention, symptoms, testing, and the current situation. Follow CDC recommendations.
  
• The American Academy of Pediatrics and HealthyChildren.org are providing critical updates on COVID-19 for families and clinicians.  
  
• The World Health Organization (WHO) is providing "rolling updates" of COVID-19 guidance and recommendations.
• The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) COVID-19 webpage is updated regularly with information in English and Spanish to keep Illinois residents informed. 
  
• Coronavirus.illinois.gov centralizes updates from state government, prevention and preparation tips, frequently asked questions, and resources from public health experts. 
• The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) COVID-19 webpage regularly updates the latest news, CDPH tweets, and answers to frequently asked questions. 
  
• The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) District Response to Coronavirus page features a listing of chronological updates for CPS parents, families, and staff starting on 3/4/2020.
  
• The Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA) webpage houses COVID-19 related information on funding and guidance to support the implementation of mitigation techniques in communities and programs. 
  

Resources for Families with Young Children 

Resources for Supporting Children (alphabetical): 

• Adobe Spark - COVID-19 Information for Students and Teachers of Young Children 
• CDC - Frequently Asked Questions and Answers: COVID-19 and Children 
• Chicago Children's Museum - Parenting Playbook
• Child Trends - Resources for Supporting Children's Emotional Well-being During the COVID-19 Pandemic
  
• Illinois Early Intervention Clearinghouse - Everyday Early Intervention During Coronavirus
  
• Illinois Early Learning Project - Learning at Home During Trying Times 
  
• Nemours KidsHealth - Coronavirus: How to Talk to Kids 
  
• PBS Kids - How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus
  
• PBS - 10 Tips for Talking About COVID-19 with Your Kids
  
• Save the Children - 7 Simple Tips on How to Talk to Kids about the Coronavirus 
• Teachstone - 4 Easy Activities to Support Learning While Your Child is At Home
  
• Teachstone - Use This Daily Schedule to Keep Children at Home Engaged
  
• UNC School of Education - UNC Team Creates Online Toolkit for Those Supporting Individuals with Autism During COVID-19 Epidemic
• WHO - Helping Children Cope with Stress During the 2019-nCov Outbreak (infographic)
  
• ZERO TO THREE - Why are people wearing masks? Why are people covering their faces? 
• Zero to Thrive - Helping Young Kids through the COVID-19 Crisis 

• CDC - Get Your Household Ready for Coronavirus Disease 2019 
• CDC - COVID-19: Protect Your Family - Children 
  
• CDC - COVID-19: Protect Your Family - Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Information 
• CDC - Managing Anxiety and Stress
  
• Child Care Aware of America - Stay Up-To-Date on the Latest Coronavirus News & Resources: for Parents
• Child Mind Institute - Supporting Families During COVID-19
  
• Erikson Institute – Early Childhood Experts Share 10 Tips for Children & Families Navigating the COVID-19 Outbreak
  
• Erikson Institute's Fussy Baby Network is available to support families struggling with their infant's crying, sleeping, or feeding. Call 888.431.BABY. Email fussybaby@erikson.edu. @Fussybabynetwork on Facebook. 
  
• The National Child Traumatic Stress Network - Parent/Caregiver Guide to the to Helping Families Cope with COVID-19
• UIC School of Public Health - COVID-19 Maternal and Child Health Resource List (3/30/2020)
• UIC School of Public Health - Protecting Women's, Pregnant Persons' and Infants' Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic
  
• ZERO TO THREE - Young Children at Home during the COVID-19 Outbreak: The Importance of Self-Care
  
• ZERO TO THREE - Tips For Families Coronavirus