March 20, 2020
Dear Parents,

We, at the Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida, understand that you may have questions and appreciate your concerns regarding COVID-19. At this time the Coalition requests that you contact your individual child care provider for information on possible closures. Please, if you haven’t already, follow your child care provider on Facebook for their individual up-to-date information.

For more information on COVID-19 and how the State of Florida is combating this virus, visit the Florida Department of Health website. 
Parenting Pro-Tips
For free educational materials and tips on indoor activities click the logo links below!
Vroom provides science-based tips and tools to inspire families to turn shared, everyday moments into Brain Building Moments®.
By supporting the caring adults who touch the lives of infants and toddlers, we hope to maximize the long-term impact in ensuring all infants and toddlers have a bright future.
You keep them healthy, provide learning opportunities, and help them face challenges big and small. Sesame Street in Communities is here to support you in that huge and all-important effort.
Provides quality information and trusted resources to parents and caregivers of children prenatal to age eight.
By supporting your child’s reading, vocabulary and early math skills you can help them develop a strong base for all their future learning and we are here to help.
The Coalition has been in constant contact with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and Department of Health (DOH) to ensure the families of Northwest Florida have the most up-to-date information about preventative measures and possible exposure.

Please, if you haven't already, follow your child care provider on Facebook for their most current individual information. At this time, we recommend relying on the preventative measures listed below to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
  • Practice other good health habits.

For more information on how to keep your family safe, please click the blue button below.
Many parents are torn between explaining the virus or keeping it a secret. According to the Child Mind Institute, kids worry more when they're kept in the dark. Luckily for us, they compiled a list of meaningful tips and topics to reassure your children and a video of kid-friendly ways to explain the COVID-19 virus and what is happening around them! Please click the blue button below to review the Child Mind Institute's list of ways to reassure your children and/or watch the kid-friendly video.
Free Meals For Children
The following counties have enacted temporary free meals for children 18 and under. The Coalition recommends families living outside the listed counties utilize the food resource button below for access to local food banks and distribution points.
Continuity of Education
Free Educational Websites & Activities
While many large group gatherings have been suspended to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19, we at the Coalition understand that children still need to experience life and all it has to offer. Please consider utilizing the virtual field trip link below to explore over 30 different activities and sights.
Ensuring the children of Northwest Florida have access to educational resources is a top priority of the Coalition. Please take a few moments today and click on the blue button below to review over 30 websites designed for early learning. Click HERE to follow Amazing Educational Resources group on Facebook!
Maintaining healthy children and parents is the Coalitions highest priority! A very close 2nd priority is continuity of care and education. We understand your concerns and we want you to know we are here to help you. Please click the links below for free kid-friendly educational websites.
Florida Department of Health
Tips and Infographics
Parent Survival Guide
Quarantine and Home-Based Learning
Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center is dedicated to the families of Northwest Florida. They know practicing social distancing is often challenging. To ease some of the transitional discomfort, they have released an activity list filled with many opportunities for play across various age brackets. Please click the blue button below and take a Time-In!
Being cooped up in the house for weeks may not sound exciting, but with the help of a few FREE internet links you can keep your children entertained and educated while quarantined. Click HERE to learn about the one-one-and-one more technique designed to help keep things moving while time seems to stand still. Click HERE to plan out your day like a PRO and prepare for all daily activities including quiet time.
Resources for Families
The Office of Early Learning understands that families are staying at home with their children to keep them safe from the COVID-19. To ensure this experience is a pleasant one, OEL has provided families with additional activities and resources to help support their children’s learning at home as well as provide some activities for entertainment. Please click the blue button below and review the attached activities and resources.
We, at the Coalition, are proud partners of Florida KidCare. Together we offer the families of Northwest Florida high quality health and dental insurance for their children ages birth to eighteen. For information on year-round open enrollment or to see if your family is eligible for subsidized health and dental insurance, click the blue button below.
If you have applied for child care assistance and are on the Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida’s wait list, please call us at 850-747-5400 or toll free 866-277-9077 for other financial options.
We exist to grow healthy children, parents, and the relationship between them.
Sponsored by the Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida and the State of Florida, Office of Early Learning