COVID-19 Resources for Kids

Kids will inevitably have questions about the global pandemic. Luckily, there are many resources out there specifically designed to answer their questions, and more are being created every day. Find below several free resources made for children all about COVID-19.

Book

Jones, Malia
A Kids Book About COVID-19
https://akidsbookabout.com/products/a-kids-book-about-covid-19
Simple in style, this freely downloadable book comes from a social epidemiologist. It expertly breaks down the basics of coronavirus to be digestible for kids, and adult readers might learn something too! This book is also available in Spanish.

Comic

Gharib, Malaka
Just For Kids: A Comic Exploring The New Coronavirus
https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/02/28/809580453/just-for-kids-a-comic-exploring-the-new-coronavirus
This silly and informative comic from NPR is accompanied by a three-minute audio snippet from Morning Edition directed specifically at children. Both do a great job of explaining about the virus and how it spreads, and give suggestions on what kids can do to help and stay safe. Also available in Chinese and Spanish, the comic can be printed out and folded into a zine.

News Article

Scholastic News
5 Big Questions About Coronavirus
https://sn56.scholastic.com/issues/2019-20/031620/coronavirus.html#On%20Level
Kid-friendly magazine Scholastic News may be familiar to those who had access to it in school. This particular article seeks to answer some common questions about the coronavirus. The text is available in two different reading levels and has a text-to-speech function.

Podcasts

Brains On!
Staying home: How social distancing helps fight coronavirus
https://www.brainson.org/shows/2020/03/24/staying-home-how-social-distancing-helps-fight-coronavirus
American Public Media’s award-winning science podcast, Brains On!, tackles kids’ questions about the coronavirus in 35 minutes. Listen to actual kids share their questions and concerns, which are then answered by scientists.

Pineapple Street Studios
The Kids are All…Home
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kids-are-all-home/id1503542662
By kids, for kids, listeners are encouraged to submit their own mini segments to this fun podcast that showcases what children are doing while stuck at home. Topics covered vary from astronomy, to coronavirus facts, to a very silly rendition of Old Town Road. For more information on how to record your own segment for this podcast, check out Pineapple Street Studios’ website here: http://pineapple.fm/stuck-at-home

Santa’s Podcast
Santa says hello and shares why his workshop has closed for a little while
https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/santas-podcast-2/santas-podcast/e/68177854
Worried about Santa Claus? Have no fear; he and the elves are doing just fine. In this charming 8-minute podcast, the jolly man himself explains what he and his workshop are doing to maintain social distancing, and offers suggestions to kids on what they can do to be good (and still have fun) during this novel time.

Videos

BrainPOP
Coronavirus
https://www.brainpop.com/health/diseasesinjuriesandconditions/coronavirus/
Many kids already know and love Tim and his robot pal Moby, but anyone can learn from their witty and informational video on the coronavirus. This video not only covers the basics of what the virus is and how it spreads, but also encourages kids to think critically about sensationalist news stories, talk to adults if they feel scared, and avoid judging others based on their appearance.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Elmo & Rosita: The Right Way to Sneeze!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QW1yodZJpG8
This catchy little ditty from a couple of Sesame Street favorites explains how to sneeze properly to avoid spreading germs. Posted over ten years ago and only about 30 seconds long, this cute song, which is also available in Spanish, is more apt than ever. (Parents might also enjoy browsing the PBS parents website for more coronavirus resources: https://www.pbs.org/parents)

Other

Schoolman, Autumn
Hey kids, coronavirus has changed everything. Here’s what you need to know
https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/graphics/2020/03/20/coronavirus-kids-has-changed-everything/2864140001/
This article from USA Today is essentially an incredibly interesting infographic that reads like a picture book. Of special note is a fantastic swimming pool analogy that shows the value of social distancing.

‘Gruffalo stayed in the cave’: Axel Scheffler and Julia Donaldson’s coronavirus cartoons
https://www.theguardian.com/books/gallery/2020/apr/04/gruffalo-axel-scheffler-and-julia-donaldsons-coronavirus-cartoons
Fans of The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom will adore Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s new illustrations of their beloved characters explaining how they are social distancing. Each page comes with a caption in the form of a couplet.

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