MCIS COVID-19 RESPONSE
PARENTAL RESOURCES
MCIS has collected the following multilingual databases related to COVID-19. They are set up in English, but include a large amount of information and resources available in a high number of languages. If you know anyone else who can use the information in the links below, please feel free to share this page with them.
Mental Health
The current pandemic has impacted families in different ways and is stressful for everyone. How infants, toddlers and preschoolers will experience and express their stress can look different from older children and teens. In particular, young children can be aware of the feelings and emotions around them. Despite the best efforts of parents and caregivers, the pandemic has created a new kind of stress and anxiety for many young children. SickKids has provided parents with support in helping young children cope with anxiety.
COVID-19 Parenting Tips and Resources: Parenting for Lifelong Health (PLH)
Parenting for Lifelong Health (PLH) provides open-source and evidence-based parenting resources to support parents and caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. These resources focus on building positive parent-child relationships and reducing violence against children by learning through play, reinforcing positive and managing difficult behaviours, creating structure and routines, talking about COVID-19, keeping children safe online, and reducing stress and conflict.
Pregnancy, childbirth and caring for a newborn during the COVID-19 pandemic
The government of Canada has curated a page advising on pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and having visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic. This page includes vaccination during pregnancy, being pregnant and giving birth during COVID-19, how to care for the baby once born, and visitation with safety measures. The page also includes mental health including postpartum supports and resources for mothers.
COVID-19 and its implications for protecting children online
COVID-19 has prompted widespread school closures and physical distancing measures and made online platforms and communities essential to maintaining a sense of normalcy. Children and their families turn to digital solutions more than ever to support children’s learning, socialization and play. While digital solutions provide huge opportunities for sustaining and promoting children’s rights, these same tools may also increase children’s exposure to online risks. This technical note sets out some of the key priorities and recommendations on mitigating those risks and promoting positive online experiences for children.
Financial Support for Families
Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan: Individuals and families:
The Government of Canada is taking immediate, significant and decisive action to support Canadians facing hardship due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Programs and benefits include Employment Insurance (EI), Canada Recovery (CRB), Canada Recovery (CRSB), Canada Child Benefits young child supplement (CCBYCS), and mortgage payment deferrals.