--- title: "Valuing Connectedness: Implementing Supportive Strategies for Educators and Families During COVID-19 | Kaplan Early Learning Company" description: In this blog, Dr. Angela Eckhoff offers guidance on implementing practical strategies that support the needs of families and educators during the COVID-19 pandemic. image: https://blog.kaplanco.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/valuing-connectedness-COVID-strategies_a-1-1.jpg --- # Valuing Connectedness: Implementing Supportive Strategies for Educators and Families During COVID-19 AdminSeptember 17, 2020[Family Engagement](https://blog.kaplanco.com/dev/tag/family-engagement), [Wellness](https://blog.kaplanco.com/dev/tag/wellness), [Social and Emotional](https://blog.kaplanco.com/dev/tag/social-and-emotional)5 minute read ![Read full post: Valuing Connectedness: Implementing Supportive Strategies for Educators and Families During COVID-19](https://blog.kaplanco.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/valuing-connectedness-COVID-strategies_a-1-1.jpg) ![Valuing Connectedness: Implementing Supportive Strategies for Educators and Families During COVID-19](https://blog.kaplanco.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/valuing-connectedness-COVID-strategies_a-1-1.jpg) In this blog, Dr. Angela Eckhoff offers guidance on implementing practical strategies that support the needs of families and educators during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the COVID-19 pandemic runs its course, we are seeing an ever-changing myriad of health and safety measures and recommendations that are locality specific. It is also clear that establishing one-size-fits-all recommendations for educators and families would not be effective as responses are best tailored to the needs of local communities. However, families and educators continue to rely on our collective support as they make the best possible decisions for children while navigating through this health and economic crisis. What remains consistent during this uncertain time is that connectedness — the intentional linking of schools, homes, and communities — is vitally important for children. By valuing our connectedness, we can show support for each other and for our children so that, when we are eventually able to join together in person, we have positive mindsets and relationships in place. To support connectedness, it is important that the adults in children's lives have support in managing stress. Experts at Johns Hopkins1 outlined valuable recommendations to manage stress during the COVID-19 crisis.   Families and early childhood educators caring for young children should be supported in: 1. **Identifying the onset of a strong emotional response and anxiety.** We can support ourselves and others by recognizing the signs of strong emotional responses and anxiety. It can be easy engage in the constant "what ifs" of child care or education decisions so it is very important to remind both families and educators that there is not one "right" response or decision during this time and that they are only responsible for making informed choices based upon what they believe to be best at the given time. The Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence2 provides further guidance for managing healthy reactions to anxiety. It is important to understand that, as caretakers, both early childhood educators and parents/guardians need to take care of their own thoughts and feelings before they can effectively help children. Calming strategies — breathing exercises, self-care practices, reaching out for support or a friendly shoulder to lean on — are important daily practices. Being mindful about developing a strong knowledge base about COVID-19 is also important for quelling anxiety and the fear of the unknown so it is important to consult reliable and up-to-date sources of information such as the [Center for Disease Control](https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fcases-updates%2Fcases-in-us.html#cases) and your local information sources for updates on current guidelines. Finally, open and clear communication practices are centrally important to build connectedness: - Remember that what is best for you, your family, or your school may not work for others. Supporting the differences between us will build connections and understanding. Working through the many uncertainties dealt to us during this time is difficult for everyone which makes it all the more important to be a source of support for each other. Our early childhood community has always excelled at the ideals of care, inclusion, equity, and knowledge because of our strong, interconnected networks of educators, families, and community. As we work to support each other through this crisis, we can be assured that we will continue to honor that legacy during this time. ### About the Author **Dr. Angela Eckhoff** is an associate professor of Teaching and Learning—Early Childhood Education and director of the Virginia Early Childhood Policy Center at Old Dominion University. She holds a dual PhD from the University of Colorado—Boulder in educational psychology and cognitive science. She is a coeditor of the Full STEAM Ahead column for Teaching Young Children from NAEYC. Dr. Eckhoff studies the role of creativity in child development and learning, arts-based research and pedagogical practices, and early STEAM learning in both classroom and museum settings. She is also the author of the *Creative Investigations* Series ([*Creative Investigations in Early Science*](https://www.kaplanco.com/product/92755/creative-investigations-in-early-science-paperback), [*Creative Investigations in Early Engineering'Technology *](https://www.kaplanco.com/product/90591/creative-investigations-in-early-engineering-and-technology-paperback), [*Creative Investigations in Early Art *](https://www.kaplanco.com/product/92918/creative-investigations-in-early-art-paperback), [*Creative Investigations in Early Math*](https://www.kaplanco.com/product/88401/creative-investigations-in-early-math-paperback)) and [*Provoking Curiosity: Student-Led STEAM Learning for Pre-K to Third Grade*](https://www.kaplanco.com/product/33471/provoking-curiosity-student-led-steam-learning-for-pre-k-to-third-grade-paperback). **References** 1 Nguyen, Jaclyn, Kevin MacKrell, Neda Gould, and Karen Swartz. "Managing Stress and Coping with COVID-19: Johns Hopkins Psychiatry Guide." *Johns Hopkins Psychiatry Guide*, 2020. [https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_Psychiatry_Guide/787387/all/Managing_Stress_and_Coping_with_COVID_19](https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_Psychiatry_Guide/787387/all/Managing_Stress_and_Coping_with_COVID_19). 2 "Managing Anxiety Around COVID-19." RULER Approach, 2020. [https://www.rulerapproach.org/managing-anxiety-around-covid-19/](https://www.rulerapproach.org/managing-anxiety-around-covid-19/). ![listing conversion panel image](https://blog.kaplanco.com/hs-fs/hubfs/KELC/Insights%20and%20Inspirations/listing%20conversion%20panel%20image.webp?width=1924&height=1430&name=listing%20conversion%20panel%20image.webp) Resources at your fingertips ### Get Learning Center Updates Subscribe to get email updates whenever new resources are available in our Learning Center. 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