Mingo Learns Critical Coping Skills During COVID-19

Critical Coping Skills
During
A Pandemic
COVID-19
Marilyn I. James

Critical Coping Skills
During A Pandemic

Critical Coping Skills
During A Pandemic
by Marilyn I. James
CAC PUBLISHING
Washington, DC

MINGO LEARNS…
Critical Coping Skills During A Pandemic
Copyright © 2020 by Marilyn I. James
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All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed,
stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photography, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of
the author except as provided by US copyright law.
ISBN 978-0-9890128-8-1
Character Building/Critical Thinking/Personal Growth
Grade 2 and above
Printed in the United States of America.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CAC Publishing may publish this book in a variety of electronic formats and by
print-on-demand. Not all content that is available in standard print versions of this
book may appear or be packaged in all book formats.
To order copies of this book or inquire about other products, please contact the
publisher at: youthliftoff@gmail.com
CAC Publishing
Washington, DC 20009

Acknowledgements
Many people have generously given timely advice, words of
wisdom, and genuine assistance, that profoundly impacted my
academic performance, decision-making, and life choices. This
book series was inspired by my interaction with children in our
expanded learning programs that need such support and
guidance. Collaboration with the University of the District of
Columbia (UDC); Schools: DCPS, Charter, and Private;
Department of Employment Services Youth Services (DOES);
City Agencies; and local businesses, provides opportunities to
impact young lives.
Resonating with each written word is the proverb, “Start
children off on the way they should go, and even when they are
old they will not turn from it.”
Sincere thanks and gratitude to my family, and friends, who
encouraged me to write this book to benefit children during
this coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. I dedicate the book to
first responders, healthcare professionals, researchers,
frontline workers, caregivers, educators, and global citizens,
who selflessly pray, support, and motivate others during this
time.
--Marilyn James

Table of Contents
Facts about Mingo 11
Chapter One:
What is a Pandemic? 13
Chapter Two:
What is COVID-19? 19
Chapter Three:
Helpful Coping Skills
to Overcome COVID-19 Blues 25
About the Author 51

Facts about Mingo
Mingo is an orphan who spent the first 8 years of
his life in the foster care system. He lived in 4
different homes and is now cared for by family
members.
Since moving to live with Aunt Dora, Mingo has
made many friends and they are helping Mingo gain
and develop positive life skills. He is adjusting to
his community, learning to problem solve, learning
to overcome obstacles at school, and preparing
himself for a successful future.
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, has
everyone in quarantine, so Mingo cannot go to
school, visit friends or have them over. Aunt Dora
is sharing ideas and showing Mingo what he could
do to occupy himself and cope with COVID-19
blues.
11

12

Chapter One:
What is a Pandemic?
13

It is Monday morning and Mingo
wakes early as usual and starts
getting ready for school. Aunt Dora
reminds Mingo that there is no
school because of a pandemic called
coronavirus (COVID-19).
What? Pandemic? COVID-19?
What is that?
14

Aunt Dora says Mingo, the Center
for Disease Control and prevention
(CDC), and the World Health
Organization (WHO), describe a
pandemic as a global outbreak of a
disease. Pandemics happen when a
new virus emerges to infect people.
15

The coronavirus (COVID-19) is a
pandemic because it is making
people sick all over the world. Since
there is no cure right now, the virus
keeps spreading from person to
person, and sadly some people are
dying.
16

Engagement and Activities
Seek and Find
1. Find 4 words in the story that begin with the
letter P. Write them below:
__________________/____________________
_____________________/_________________
2. Find 4 new words you learned from reading
this story. Write them below:
__________________/____________________
_____________________/_________________
17

Writing skills
1. Write 3 sentences explaining how you feel
about the coronavirus.
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
2. Share your feelings with a classmate or
someone at home.
18

Chapter Two:
What is COVID-19?
19

Aunt Dora explains to Mingo, that
the Coronavirus (COVID-19), is a
serious virus that is infecting people
everywhere. People feel like they
have a bad cold or the flu.
Sometimes it makes their body hurt
and they get a cough or fever. Many
times they have trouble breathing.
20

When people catch the
coronavirus they must stay home,
get plenty rest, and drink lots of
fluid like, cups of warm tea, or some
chicken noodle soup to get better.
If they are not getting better, they
must go to the hospital so doctors
can treat them.
21

To prevent the spread of the
virus and germs we must follow
Healthy guidelines like those on the
below chart:
22

Engagement and Activities
Seek and Find
1. Find 4 words in the story that begin with the
letter C. Write them below:
__________________/____________________
_____________________/_________________
2. Find 4 new words you learned from reading
this story. Write them below:
__________________/____________________
_____________________/_________________
23

Writing skills
1. Write 3 sentences explaining how you can
stop the spread of germs.
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
2. Do you think it is a good idea to practice
healthy habits? Share your thought with
someone at home.
24

Chapter Three:
Helpful Coping Skills
to Overcome COVID-19 Blues
25

Mingo is thankful to Aunt Dora
for explaining COVID-19 but wants
to know what does the virus have to
do with closing schools.
Aunt Dora asks Mingo if he wants
everyone at his school to get sick,
and he says that would not be a nice
thing.
26

She further explains that in
order to stop people from getting
sick, and passing the virus to other
people, officials across the world
have asked everyone to stay home
for a period of time. This is called
quarantine or social distancing.
27

Mingo is now worried that if
everyone is in quarantine, how would
they get food and other items? He
asks Aunt Dora if she has enough
food and snacks.
Aunt Dora assures Mingo that
yes, she has enough food and snacks,
except she must go to the corner
28

store for some milk because people
are allowed to go out to purchase
foodstuff and get right back home.
Mingo thinks that’s great, but he
mumbles, “we still have no school.”
“Does that mean Jerry can come
over so we could play?”
29

Once more Aunt Dora reminds
Mingo that everyone must stay
home with their own families until
the quarantine is over. So Jerry
cannot come over.
“This is so boring,” says Mingo.
“What should I do with all the extra
time home?”
30

Aunt Dora tells Mingo she
understands how he feels and how
difficult social distancing will be,
but she assures Mingo that he and
Jerry could talk on the phone and
see each other by using video chat,
and she will show him how.
31

She also reminds him that he has
her, and his cousin Fred to play with.
She thinks they could play games
and exercise in the basement. Only
uncle Tom is off-limit because he
works at the hospital and must stay
away from everyone at home as a
precaution.
32

Then, you must do your school
work. Your teachers gave you a
take-home packet with various
assignments to complete. And, you
have online drills to practice so you
will not fall behind in your learning
while home.
33

Plus, I feel this is a good time for
you to be creative. Here are four
examples:
(1) Journaling. Take a notebook and make
a journal. Write what you think, how you
feel, and what you have done during the
pandemic in it. Maybe you will get to use
some of those memories in an essay when
you get back to regular school
programming.
(2) Story Telling. Think of a child who has
no one to talk to right now. Tell me a story
34

that you would read to that child to make
him or her feel better.
(3) Sharing: Don’t be selfish. Share your
ideas when talking with family, friends,
and classmates. Maybe it will inspire them
to come up with their own ideas and
solutions to problems they are going
through.
(4) Giving thanks. Every day you could
make a list of all the things you are
thankful for like clothes, food, shelter,
and for just being alive.
35

Mingo thinks Aunt Dora’s ideas
are cool, and says he will try to come
up with some cool ideas too. Aunt
Dora assures Mingo that would be
just wonderful and he could put all
the ideas he comes up with in his
journal too.
36

She then says it’s time to go to
the store for the milk before they
run out.
Mingo wonders if he could go to
the store with her and Aunt Dora
told him it was okay, but he needs to
put on a face mask. Mingo asks,
“Why?”
37

Aunt Dora says it is to protect
him. She shows him a box of masks
on the counter and tells him to take
one and put it on. She also puts on a
face mask.
Aunt Dora and Mingo go to the
store. They say hello to the
storekeeper, gets a gallon of milk
38

from the refrigerator, and pays for
it. The storekeeper complains that
foot traffic has slowed down and he
does not know for how much longer
he will keep the store open.
When Mingo and Aunt Dora
return home she keeps her promise
and shows Mingo how to call his
39

friend Jerry using video chat. Mingo
is excited. He says to Jerry; “did
you hear the Mayor says we must
stay inside? That means we cannot
visit each other right now so I am
glad to see you. How are you doing?”
Jerry says, “so glad to see you
too Mingo. I am doing well. My mom
40

says she will keep me very busy
doing schoolwork, chores around the
house, and watering her herb
garden.” Mingo and Jerry chatted a
while about other things. Then
Jerry asks, “can we talk every day
Mingo?”
41

Aunt Dora cuts in and says, “how
about every other day. You need to
spend time with your family and get
your other work done.”
Both Jerry and Mingo think every
other day will work just fine, and
end their chat.
42

Days, then weeks roll by. Mingo
gets to create and read stories to
Aunt Dora. Aunt Dora shows him
how to make simple meals and do
chores. Mingo plays and exercise
with cousin Fred. He video chats
with family and friends, but is most
43

excited to chat with his best friend
Jerry.
Both Mingo and Jerry keep
journals, and share Posters of
Thanks, and stories they create.
Each day they complete a chapter
from their schoolwork packet in
math, reading, Language Arts, and
44

social studies. They also do online
drills that help them build subject
skills, and face chat with their
teachers for any help needed.
Over the course of several
weeks, Mingo and cousin Fred
worked very hard to create a board
game called, COVID Smash, which
45

they play for fun to defeat the
coronavirus.
Everyone is using various coping
skills to overcome quarantine
stress. They are very anxious and
eagerly awaiting the day when the
virus disappears, and quarantine is
over. Mingo cannot wait to resume
46

school and be able to have his friend
Jerry come over, or visit him at
home to enjoy fun games and
delicious meals.
47

Engagement and Activities
Seek and Find
1. Find 4 words in the story that begin with the
letter S. Write them below:
__________________/____________________
_____________________/_________________
2. Find 4 new words you learned from reading
this story. Write them below:
__________________/____________________
_____________________/_________________
48

Writing skills
1. Write 3 sentences explaining what you can
do during social distancing.
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
2. Do you think it is a good idea to stay active
during a quarantine? Discuss with a classmate
or someone at home.
49

50

About the Author
Marilyn I. James is an educator who
serves as Executive Director of Children
& Charity International. Her focus is
STEM Education and Mentorship for
children and youth, and community
outreach and strengthening of families
in the United States and internationally.
She served as NASA SEMAA Family
Café Coordinator at the Science and
Engineering Center, University of the
District of Columbia where she
coordinated activities for program participants, and provided program
planning and development services. An advocate for academic
enrichment, Marilyn liaisons with government and funding agencies for
pre-college programs and community partnerships.
Marilyn provided support and services to military personnel and their
families for over 20 years. She is also a poet, playwright, songwriter,
and author of a Parent’s Guide called “The Early Years: Helping Our
Children Succeed - Tips and Resources to Improving Language and
Reading Skills”; the “Mingo Learns…” Children’s Book Series, and two
inspirational books: “Valuing Relationships” and “It’s Complicated –
Exploring the Depth of Life’s Difficulties and Finding Divine
Serendipity”. Over the years Marilyn has received commendation for
her work from: NASA SEMAA; Ministry of Education, Ghana; UNICEF;
The Kenyan Government; and the United States Army, Challenge Coin
for excellence, courageous spirit, and compassionate service.
51

THANK YOU
World Leaders
First Responders
Doctors and Nurses
Frontline Workers
Caregivers
Researchers, and
Global Citizens
for Outstanding Care
and Compassion
during COVID-19

Mingo Learns… is a series of personal growth
books with activities to help children build
self-confidence, improve academically, and
overcome challenges, so they can have a
better chance for success in life.
At present, Mingo is feeling sad because of a
Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Everyone
is advised to quarantine indoors. Since Mingo
cannot go to school, visit friends, or have
them over his Aunt Dora is sharing ideas and
showing Mingo what he could do to occupy
himself and cope with COVID-19 blues.
CAC Publishing
Washington DC
www.childrenandcharity.org