When the news of the Covid-19 pandemic first hit America in the early months of 2020, it seemed so far removed from our landscape that it was easy to dismiss it as irrelevant to our lives. We could not have been more wrong! Today, while the critical aspects of the pandemic has simmered down in large swaths of the nation, the true longterm impacts of this exceptional event - particularly on babies, children, families, and beyond, remains to be seen. What is certain, however, is that regardless of the conditions of the exterior world, babies and children's brains continue to develop in the context of the environment and people inhabiting their individual microcosms.
There is currently a growing body of evidence that the social and economic stressors of the last 19 months have given rise to higher levels of stress, anxiety and fear across all social strata. The pandemic further exposed that while all families want to provide safe and healthy spaces for their children, enormous disparities in access to resources and social buffers was laid bare, exposing not only a worldwide crisis for humanity, but also, according to Kai von Klitzing, President of the World Association for Infant Mental Health (WAIMH), "the opportunity of carefully reconsidering fairness and solidarity between the generations in our global world."
Like a phoenix rising out of the ashes, we can go forth from this experience better, stronger and more resilient. As IECMH professionals, we continue to expand our knowledge and expertise in helping babies, children and their families to be more confident, empowered and resilient as they proceed into a post-pandemic world.
IECMH, COVID and RESILIENCE RESOURCES
Please explore the following literature, podcasts, videos and links for more information and tools to help you navigate this brave new world:
This 4-part COVID-19 special edition Brain Architects podcast series from the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, begins with Center Director Jack P. Shonkoff, M.D. and host Sally Pfitzer discussing how to rebuild and re-envision early childhood services. A written transcript, links to other episodes, and an extensive resource list are available at the bottom of the page.
The Alaska Department of Health & Social Services offers this very useful webpage - Bounce Back AK, providing a comprehensive list of resiliency resources with discrete links for parents, educators, children and families, and more.
For an in depth and data-rich exploration on the mental health impacts of the COVID pandemic on children around the world, visit the UNICEF.org flagship report: The State of the World's Children 2021 and take an interactive view of national-level data that is is utilized for strategic action plans and innovations for improving the lives of young children around the world.
Peep this continuously updated information from the University of Oregon Center for Translational Neuroscience's Rapid Assessment of Pandemic Impact on Development (RAPID) and the RAPID-Child Care (CC) project. Each survey has been designed to help researchers better understand how young children (0-5) and the important adults in their lives are faring during and subsequent to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to their website, the information is collected bi-weekly from caregivers in all 50 states and then utilized to create fact sheets and policy briefs.
Looking for some recommended storybooks to help parents and caregivers skillfully guide babies and toddlers through challenging times? Zero to Three has curated this list of books to help little children handle big emotions by providing the vocabulary that children need to share feelings, foster connections, and help build resilience.
Procure some powerful tools addressing fresh ways to support children and yourself during COVID-19 from the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University! Resources include a video on how practicing "serve and return" helps build brains and resilience in young children; a mini parenting master class; tips and resources on maintaining social connections, dealing with toxic stress, and more!
Love, Life & The Virus
Watch this short, powerful documentary from PBS/Frontline revealing a mother's fight to survive COVID and see her newborn baby.
