The COVID pandemic shook the world. As hard as it has been for adults to comprehend, it has been just as difficult, if not harder, for kids. Suddenly we yanked them from school, told them they had to stay home, and didn’t let them see their friends (other than on a screen). To make matters worse, we didn’t give them any indication when it would end. As I write this, life still isn’t back to normal, and may never be the same as it was before. To help kids understand the lockdown, and encourage them to do their part to help, I am thrilled to share a beautiful children’s book about the pandemic and the time we had to stay home.

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When We Stayed Home

When We Stayed Home was written by Tara Fass, LMFT and Judith A. Proffer and illustrated by Yoko Matsuoka. This beautiful book follows a young boy and his dog as they tell the reader all about the time that they have been home. The focus in this story is less about the virus and more about the emotional effects the pandemic has had on us. The conversational text doesn’t even use the word “COVID”, instead referring to it as “a scary virus”. Kids may recognize some of their own feelings in the book, as the child tries to make the best of the situation.

The text frames the lockdown as all of us helping the helpers. We stay home, wash our hands, and wear our masks because we are “super-helpers”. Framing the lockdown in this way not only teaches kids that they can make a difference, but also inspires them to be super too. Since my daughter is all about super heroes and saving the day, this was a big draw for her.

Remembering what happened when we stayed home

The beautiful illustrations are soft and colorful, showing all of the fun things that the young child did during the lockdown. Kids will especially love his adorable dog, and the funny mask that gives him a smile. There are lots of fun activities in the story that you may or may not have already done, giving the reader inspiration for more time at home. The story also touches on the ways that we can still connect with loved ones while we are apart, either by waving out the window or seeing them on video calls. It doesn’t shy away from the fact that seeing your loved ones on the screen isn’t the same as seeing them in person, but it reminds us how lucky we are to have the technology to still connect.

Overall, this children’s book about the pandemic is a great way to talk to little ones about the many emotions they have been feeling during the pandemic, and remind them of this historic time years from now.

Super Helper Coloring Pages

This book teaches kids that they can be super helpers by staying home and staying healthy. Wearing masks and following all the new rules can be a lot easier if kids understand that they are helping by doing their part. So I created these Super Helper coloring pages. Remind kids that they have power and they can be superheroes too.

Check out these printable superhero coloring bookmarks for more Super fun!

Writing Letters

In the book, the young boy talks about how much he misses his loved ones. During this time, my daughter and I have been working on her handwriting, and writing letters has been a great way to do this. Encourage your kids to write letters or cards to loved ones to stay connected. Letter writing has decreased over the years, but who doesn’t love getting handwritten notes in the mail? Especially from children. Set out a bunch of cards or papers, stickers, markers, and other art supplies, and have kids create letters and art for friends and family that they miss.

You could also take this one step further and encourage your kids to write letters and cards for all the helpers who are fighting the pandemic on the front lines. Write cards for the doctors and nurses at your local hospital. Or make a card for your letter carrier or delivery person. Spread some love and make connections, even when we have to be apart.

Related Post: How to Talk to Kids about the Pandemic

Stayed Home Handprint Art

One of the nice things about this book, is that it shares all of the fun things that the child did during lockdown. Since schools closed in March, my daughter and I did a lot of things at home that I will want us to remember. While she swung on her swing set, we read over 100 chapter books together. We wrote letters and had dance parties. We baked and delivered treats to neighbors. All of these things I want her to remember when she looks back on this time.

Commemorate your time at home together with a new piece of art for your home. Trace the handprints of every member of your family in a different color. Cut out the handprints and layer them so the largest is on the bottom and the smallest is on top. Fan them out a little so you can see everyone’s handprint. Next, cut out a heart shape and place it in the palm of the smallest hand. Glue this pile onto a white piece of cardstock and mark the year. I added the phrase “While the world stayed home, I’m glad we stayed together”.

COVID journal

Like it or not, this is a historic event. Hopefully our children won’t see another situation like this in their lifetime. So it is important to take note of this time and have them write down their memories and feelings while they are fresh. To help my daughter remember this time, I created this printable Pandemic Journal for us to fill out together. This journal includes pages to draw on, and pages with fill in the blank sections that allow kids to think about this time and the things that they want to remember.

Click here to download the printable COVID journal!

This children’s book about the pandemic is a great way to talk to your kids about this historic time. How are your kids handling staying home?

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