The COVID-19 crisis has closed down schools around the world, leaving parents and guardians to educate their children at home. In this way as in others, the crisis will not affect all families equally, but will cause particular harm to children from low-income and less-educated households. This column suggests that socio-emotional issues in children will be amplified if their home environment is stressful, and suggests some ways that governments can mitigate that stress and support struggling families.