School Psychology - Resources

The UC Berkeley School Psychology Program invites you to explore this collection of web-based resources to support the well-being and mental health of adults and children. We have been curating this list since the COVID-19 crisis first hit. It represents the collective sharing of information by our national and local professional organizations, faculty members and trainers across the country, and our local partners in practice. We will periodically update this list.

A free-to-use website with helpful resources for students, parents, and educators. The site is curated by the 2019-2020 first-year cohort of the School Psychology program at UC Berkeley.

A website with guidance for schools about how to reopen, with an equity lens. Based at Johns Hopkins University, with contributions from GSE School Psychology doctoral student Nicole Faraci.

Additional Resources

Managing Emotions and Behaviors

In this podcast, Dr. Fischoff explains why we worry about new risks more than familiar ones, how to calm our anxiety and what are the psychological effects of being quarantined.

Tips for nurturing and protecting children at home

The Child Mind Institute put together this amazing list of books to help children of all ages facing emotional or learning challenges.

Positive Parenting Strategies from the organization End Violence Against Children

PBS Kids for Parents article, "How You and Your Kids Can De-Stress During Coronavirus"

Supporting Challenging Behaviors during COVID-19: A video interview (“coffee chat” with Dr. Ross Greene by UCB SP Alumi Rebecca Branstetter)

Parenting

Self care: Parents have to take care of themselves in order have the energy to deal with their children in a patient and positive manner.

Simple ways to stay healthy — TED talks that address both physical and emotional health are offered here.

Tools to Help you Talk With Your Child About the Virus

A book written by a child psychologist, that helps explain the virus to children. Here is the book in Spanish; and a narrated version in English on YouTube.

National Association of School Psychologist, general guidelines for parents - Helping Children Cope With Changes Resulting From COVID-19

A book for children to help them cope with the current global pandemic that validates the distress children are experiencing and uses mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) strategies to help them manage discomfort. Written by Daniella Owen, Assistant Director, San Francisco Bay Area Center for Cognitive Therapy. There is an illustrated book (regular, and a narrated version) and a coloring book version as well.

Watch Sesame Street together. There are several episodes tailored to the COVID-19 situation.

Children’s books about Mental Health

Kimochis: Toys with feelings inside, plus feelings posters and activities for educators, clinicians and families to use.

Free Kids Bingo game for Social-Emotional Learning; and Feeling Reflection (printable)

Academic Support

Scholastic Magazine learning-from-home website, with specific resources for parents

Free tutoring by UC Berkeley teachers-in-training

Math

YouCubed (based on the work of Stanford University Professor Jo Boaler)

Reading

An online game that teaches pre-reading skills to young children

Resources for supporting children's reading at home with remote teaching and online supports (endorsed by the International Dyslexia Assn)

Enrichment and Leisure Activities

Ways to keep kids busy, without technology

Family game night with a free, online (printable) family-friendly version of Cards Against Humanity

Activities to keep kids busy at home

Free animated lessons from TED-Ed

Helpful round-up of TED-Ed lessons about understanding the outbreak of a virus

Museum trip to Paris, France - images, videos from different museums

The Met Opera (New York) is offering free streaming of some of their shows

Learn to draw Baby Yoda

Supporting Vulnerable Populations

Teaching Tolerance article, "How to Respond to Coronavirus Racism"

Stop Bullying offers tips on how to report cyberbulling

Individuals can report incidents of hate crime through Standing Against Hatred. Reporting is also available in Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese.

Self-Care Advice for Asian Americans Dealing with Racism Amid COVID-19

  • Pull yourself away from the TV and headlines once in a while.
  • If you have to go to the grocery store, steel yourself.
  • If you’re discriminated against, put your safety first.
  • Lean into literature written for and by Asians.
  • Remind yourself that this is part of a larger story.