KLRN’s Education Team has curated a list of resources to help adults (parents, caregivers, educators) discuss emergencies, news headlines during a crisis. When something difficult or unexpected happens, kids may experience many different feelings. Here are emergency kits, video clips and activities to help families cope in these challenging times.
Grades PreK-3
Many children have questions and can feel uneasy when emergencies occur in their communities. The Meet the Helpers toolkit is designed to introduce “helpers” and explain the role they play in emergency situations. Included in the toolkit are videos and hands-on activities that provide educators and families with developmentally appropriate resources for young children. For more information on this WUCF initiative, visit the Meet the Helpers website.
Resources to Help Families Cope in Emergencies and Other Challenging Times
We cannot fully “newsproof” our home when unsettling events happen in the world but we can help kids navigate what they hear through simple, responsive, reassuring conversations.
In times of crisis, children want to know, “Who will take care of me?” Here are some tips to help reassure children during a crisis.
In times of community or worldwide crisis, it’s easy to assume that young children don’t know what’s going on. But one thing’s for sure, children are very sensitive to how their parents feel.
Empower parents by giving them an easy way to remember important strategies to use with children during stressful times.
- Bilingual Resource M es de manos que ayudan
Fortalezca a los padres dándoles una manera fácil de recordar estrategias importantes para usar con los niños durante tiempos estresantes.
Help parents and caregivers speak with children about difficult events.
What can we say to children when public tragedies, natural disasters, and upsetting events occur? How can we support our children during challenging times? And how can empathy build social skills? Here are some resources, activities, and videos to help you and your child cope and build resilience.
- Arthur "Helping Children Become Resilient" Educator Guide
This guide provides school staff with a toolkit to use when scary events happen—in the school, the community, and the world.
Grades 6-12
PBS NewsHour Extra helps teachers and students identify the who, what, when, where, and why-it-matters of major national and international news stories. In partnership with PBS LearningMedia, we are proud to bring you the Daily News Story which takes the best of the PBS NewsHour news program and pairs it with discussion questions, lesson plans, and stories developed specifically for students.
A collection of video prompts to discuss current issues of interest with teens. Above the Noise host Myles Bess takes viewers along on his journey to cut through the hype surrounding controversial topics in the news to find out what's really going on.
Other blog posts that might be helpful are:
Use these resources from KLRN and PBS LearningMedia to support parents in discussions about race and racial justice.
Help the children in your life with their social emotional development using these resources for parents, caregivers and teachers.