Mental Health Resources for Parents and Families
There is just so much going on right now for us all! Did you know that as many as 1 in 5
Canadian children and youth will experience mental health problems at some point in
their lives? It is important to reach out if you need support, we are here for you and we’d
like to offer these resources as a way to further support you in taking care of your
mental health during the pandemic and beyond. And remember to check out our
Instagram page, it is full of fun strategies and tips!
COVID-19 Resources:
“Coronavirus: A book for Children,” by Elizabeth Jenner, Kate Wilson, and Nia
Roberts, Illustrated by Axel Scheffler:
o Book download (free): https://axelscheffler.com/books-for-older-children/coronavirus
o Read aloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCjDo9SskQU
COVID-19 Managing the next wave: Self-care during COVID-19 by the Planning Network:
https://www.planningnetwork.ca/resources/self-care-during-covid-19
“Tolerance for Uncertainty: A COVID-19 Workbook” by Dr. Sachiko Nagasawa:
https://e30dbbbc-aee2-4154-a130-a7daf3807c34.filesusr.com/ugd/a49ad7_24e4626f9000401882bf5409e349371c.pdf
“5 Ways to Help Teens Manage Anxiety About the Coronavirus” by Lisa Damour:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/11/well/family/coronavirus-teenagers-
anxiety.htm
What to Say To Your Child About the Coronavirus — and How To Cope As a
Parent” by Dr. Laura Markham:
https://www.ahaparenting.com/BlogRetrieve.aspx?PostID=641509&A=SearchResult&SearchID=11445523&ObjectID=641509&ObjectType=55
Pleasant Activities List – Pandemic Edition by Dr. Laura Gollino: https://e30dbbbc-aee2-4154-a130-a7daf3807c34.filesusr.com/ugd/a49ad7_748a300e6186419ea8cdab25bc06c07c.pdf
“COVID-19: Resources to help parents and their children get through these difficult times by
Lianoa Lowenstein: https://e30dbbbc-aee2-4154-a130-a7daf3807c34.filesusr.com/ugd/a49ad7_0513d3d174c14e12abf4ea8b72a742b4.pdf
Resources for Parents and Families by Dr. Angela Fountain and Associates:
https://www.drfountain.ca/copy-of-services
“Mind Control: Managing your Mental Health During Covid19” by Dr. Steven
Joordens, a University of Toronto psychology professor has created a free online
course to help people manage anxiety as they cope with increased isolation and
the loss of normal professional interactions:
Course Link: https://www.coursera.org/learn/manage-health-covid-19?
Article about the Course: https://globalnews.ca/news/6748804/coronavirus-toronto-online-
course-mental-health/
“Empowering and Protecting your Family and Friends During
Covid19” by Dr. David Price, Weill Cornell Medical Center:
https://vimeo.com/399733860
Books Related to Emotion Regulation and Mindful Parenting
1. The Whole-Brain Child by Daniel Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson
2. Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain by Daniel Siegel
3. The Explosive Child: A New Approach for Understanding and Parenting Easily
Frustrated, Chronically Inflexible Children by Ross Greene
4. How to Talk so Kids will Listen & Listen so Kids will Talk by Adele Faber and
Elaine Mazlish (Teen version now out as well)
5. Parenting From The Inside Out by Daniel Siegel
6. Parenting your Stressed Child by Michelle Bailey
7. Turning NO to ON: The Art of Parenting with Mindfulness by Beth Gineris
8. Everyday Blessings by Jon and Myla Kabat
9. Mindful Parent Happy Child by Pilar Placone
10. Mindful discipline: A Loving Approach to Setting Limits and Raising an
Emotionally Intelligent Child by Shauna Shapiro and Chris White
Children’s Mindfulness Practice books:
1. Sitting Still Like a Frog by Eline Snel
2. Breathe like a Bear by Kira Willey
3. Mindful Kids card deck by Whitney Stewart and Mina Braun
4. Mindful Games by Susan Kaiser Greenland with Annaka Harris
Children’s Mindfulness-related Storybooks:
1. The Magical Yet by Angela DiTerlizzi
2. Hey Warrior by Karen Young (also check out Hey Awesome and But We’re not
Lions by same author)
3. Peaceful Piggy Meditation, Moody Cow Meditates & Peaceful Piggy Yoga by
Kerry Lee MacLean
4. I Think, I am! By Louise Hay and Kristina Tracy
5. How Full is Your Bucket? By Tom Rath and Mary Reckmeyer
6. No Ordinary Apple and My New Beset Friend by Sara Marlowe
7. Silence by Lemniscates
8. Visiting Feelings by Lauren Rubenstein & Shelly Hehenberger
9. Steps & Stones: An Ahn's Anger Story by Gail Silver
10. Ahn's Anger by Gail Silver
11. A Quiet Place by Douglas Wood and Dan Andreasen
12. The Three Questions, Zen Shorts & Zen Ghosts by Jon J Muth
13. Take the Time: Mindfulness for Kids by Maud Roegiers
14. The Listening Walk by Paul Showers
15. Westlandia by Paul Fleischman
16. Charlotte & the Quiet Place by Deborah Sosin
17. What does it mean to be Present? by Rana DiOrio
18. The Kid’s Yoga Book of Feelings by Mary Humphrey
19. Oh the Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss
20. Oh, The Thinks You Can Think by Dr. Seuss
21. My Many Coloured Days by Dr. Seuss
22. Silly Billy by Anthony Browne
23. Mindful Monkey, Happy Panda by Lauren Alderfer and Kerry Lee MacLean
24. A Boy & a Bear by Lori Lite
25. The Children’s Book of Yoga: Games 7 Exercises Mimic Plants, Animals &
Objects by Thia Luby
26. Walk like a bear, stand like a tree, run like the wind: cool yoga, stretching and
aerobic activities for cool kids by Carol Bassett
27. The Yoga Adventure for Children by Helen Purperhart
28. Storytime Yoga: Teaching Yoga to Children through Story by Sydney Solis
29. Babar’s Yoga for Elephants by Laurent de Brunhoff
Helpful Links for Families:
1. Family Better: https://www.participaction.com/en-ca/everything-better/family-
better
2. For younger children: Elmo’s Belly Breathe video and “Just Breathe” video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mZbzDOpylA&t=34s and
https://amysmartgirls.com/short-film-just-breathe-helps-kids-deal-with-emotions-
1b4f91dac5ad
3. For teens: http://mindfulnessforteens.com/guided-meditations/
4. Anxiety: https://www.anxietycanada.com/learn-about-anxiety/anxiety-in-youth/
5. Mindfulness Apps: Calm, Head Space
6. Yoga and mindfulness for kids: Cosmic Kids
7. CHEO toolkits for parents and youth: http://www.shared-care.ca/toolkits
8. Lives in the Balance: https://www.livesinthebalance.org/
9. Challenging Kids (has various resources on Anxiety and Behaviours):
http://www.challengingkids.com
10. Children’s Mental Health Ontario: http://www.kidsmentalhealth.ca
11. Child Mind Institute: http://www.childmind.org
12. Caring for Kids: http://www.caringforkids.cps.ca