Parents and Caregivers

The resources provided below include activities, strategies, videos, and articles to help you and your child promote healthy practices both in home and at school.

Category

 CDC Foundation

How Right Now is a communications campaign designed to promote and strengthen the emotional well-being and resilience of people disproportionately impacted by mental health challenges. Support for the campaign is provided by CDC and the CDC Foundation.

 CDC Resources

Information about youth connectedness - an important protective factor for health and well-being.
2020 has been a difficult year for many. In addition to the pandemic, our nation has faced an unprecedented hurricane season and historically bad wildfires, as well as earthquakes and tornadoes. Supporting mental health through these challenges is critical, for people of all ages.
Suggestions for how to motivate and incorporate physical activity into daily life, including special considerations for children and adolescents with disabilities.
Parents for Healthy Schools

Parents for Healthy Schools
A set of resources to assist schools, school groups, and school wellness committees with encouraging parent involvement in school health. Parents for Healthy Schools uses evidence-based strategies for parent engagement.

Parents for Healthy Schools: Making a Difference in Your Child's School PowerPoint Presentation
A PowerPoint presentation with ideas for how parents can get involved in school health.

Resources for promoting positive parenting to help adolescents make healthy choices.
Information for parents and families on engaging in school health.

 General Health and Safety

An interactive map where families can get directions to nearby sites that provide meals for students who rely on free or reduced-price meals.
Team Nutrition Cooks! is a series of cooking-based nutrition activities for out-of-school and afterschool programs, for children around ages 8 to 12 years old. These activities can spark children’s interest in trying new foods and help empower them with skills for independence. Cooking can also help kids become more interested in making healthy food choices that can help build and support good eating habits throughout their lifetime.
Call the USDA National Hunger Hotline at 1-866-3-HUNGRY or 1-877-8-HAMBRE to speak with a representative who will find food resources such as meal sites, food banks, and other social services available near your location.

 Mental Health and Stress Management

An article with accompanying lessons and activities around managing stress, regulating emotions, and responding positively to setbacks.
Finding Personal Space
Alliance for a Healthier Generation
A video describing how you can turn any space into your very own "zen den" or "quiet corner."
A series of developmentally-appropriate social and emotional learning (SEL) resources for parents, families, and caregivers to use at home. These lesson ideas facilitate the development of SEL skills in children, from infancy through high school.
A few guided exercises to help build gratitude into your life.

 Distance Learning

A library of free resources including printable worksheets, online games, guided lessons, lesson plans, and more organized by age and subject. Requires account creation.
Creating a Daily Schedule
Nebraska Department of Education
Steps to create a schedule that has the flexibility to meet individual and household needs.

 Physical Activity

Move More Together
American Heart Association
A collection of virtual workouts and streaming events for the family.
Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
A comprehensive text that discusses the proven benefits of physical activity and outlines the amounts and types of physical activity recommended for different ages and populations.
Pro Athlete Fitness Breaks
Wasserman Foundation
Videos of professional athletes leading different 1–2 minute physical activities.