CANFIELD — When 6-year-old Harrison Roman heard he had a new cousin, he immediately wanted to visit the baby.

But his mother, Lauren Hake Roman, had to explain that with the coronavirus pandemic, no visiting can happen — not just with the baby, but with anyone.

To explain the importance of social distancing, Hake Roman of Canfield said she told Harrison “you have to be a superhero” to protect his new cousin from infection.

Earlier in the week, Hake Roman saw a posting from the Canfield Police Department’s social media page, announcing an event encouraging the community to decorate sidewalks and driveways with chalk.

“We’re all going a little batty,” she said of families staying at home.

When she saw the post, she added her photo of Harrison, flying with his cape.

Josh Wells, sergeant with the Canfield Police Department, said after a conversation with Judge Molly Johnson, he decided to make an event, encouraging the community to participate.

“I scrounged up chalk packs and we dove in,” Wells said, adding that if Canfield city residents reach out and ask for chalk, an officer will drop it off while on patrol.

The idea is to help keep kids busy while school is out, and it’s a way to bring the community together.

Hake Roman said that it has been difficult to keep Harrison, a student at Ursuline Preschool and Kindergarten, busy.

When they went outside to draw with chalk, he asked his mom to draw all kinds of things, to which Hake Roman said, laughing,”I can’t draw all of that, buddy.”

That’s when she said they decided on the superhero theme.

Another way Harrison has spent his time is by video chatting his buddies from school.

During the virtual conversations, Hake Roman said the friends will show each other their toys and play with blocks. “It’s so cute,” she said.