The headlines concerning parents and children during the COVID-19 pandemic have been alarming. Researchers are only just beginning to understand the effects of this pandemic on families empirically. However, many predict that the disruptions and aftermath of the pandemic will be felt for years, if not generations, to come. In August 2020, Drs. Amanda Zelechoski and Lindsay Malloy launched Pandemic Parenting, a nonprofit organization and web platform designed to share science-based resources with parents in a free and accessible way, with the overarching goal of helping to mitigate some of these consequences for families. Since then, they have hosted a series of webinars and a podcast on a variety of relevant and urgent issues for parents who are navigating this ongoing and unprecedented crisis, as well as developed additional resources, blogs, videos, and media appearances to translate and disseminate information to parents in real time.

In this webinar, the co-founders of Pandemic Parenting will discuss the self-doubt, anxiety, and uncertainty that has accompanied pandemic parenting and strategies for overcoming it. They will also discuss some of the benefits and challenges associated with "giving psychology away" directly to parents and those who care for children. As a critical aspiration of many Division 37 members and the field generally, they will share what they have learned about knowledge translation in less traditional formats through this Pandemic Parenting endeavor.

Presented by:
Dr. Lindsay Malloy, Ph.D., and Dr. Amanda Zelechoski, J.D., Ph.D.

Learning Objectives:
1. Recognize the challenges associated with parenting and working during a pandemic
2. Identify strategies for coping with or addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on parents and children
3. Identify ways to more broadly share psychological knowledge with target audiences

Bios:
Dr. Lindsay Malloy is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Ontario Tech University, specializing in developmental and forensic psychology. She is the Director of the Development, Context, and Communication Lab and her research addresses how, why, and to whom children and teens disclose negative or traumatic experiences.

Dr. Amanda Zelechoski is a licensed clinical and forensic psychologist and attorney, specializing in trauma. As an Associate Professor of Psychology at Valparaiso University, she directs the Psychology, Law, and Trauma Lab, where she conducts research on the impact of childhood trauma.

References:
Calarco, J.M., Anderson, E., Meanwell, E., & Knopf, A. (under review). “Let’s not pretend it’s fun”: A mixed-methods analysis of increased time with children and mothers’ well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. Retrieved from: Click here

Calarco, J.M., Meanwell, E., Anderson, E., & Knopf, A (under review). “My husband thinks I’m crazy”: COVID-19-related conflict in couples with young children. Retrieved from:
Click here

Craig, L., & Churchill, B. (in press). Dual-earner parent couples’ work and care during COVID-19. Gender, Work, & Organization. doi: 0.1111/gwao.12497

Lamb, S. (2019). The not good enough mother. Boston, MA: Beacon Press.