Daily Conversations with Your Child
As the school year begins, you may find that making time to truly connect with your child is difficult. Communication is the foundation for a strong parent-child relationship, but you may wonder how, when your time is limited due to scheduling demands, you can find moments to connect with your child. See below for some …
When Fathers Struggle, Families Feel It
When family members and/or healthcare professionals consider who, in a family that is expecting a new baby, might develop mental health challenges in the months before and after a baby’s arrival, they often focus on mothers and their risk for experiencing postpartum depression. While healthcare professionals understand that maternal health is critically important, they are …
Is Plant-Based Milk Enough for Toddlers? What Parents Need to Know
Today, families have more options regarding the different types of milk available for them to buy. Plant-based milk has grown in popularity as more people explore alternatives that align with various dietary needs, lifestyle choices, and environmental values. But, if you’re thinking about swapping out cow’s milk for a plant-based substitute in your toddler’s diet, …
More Veggies, Please! How to Encourage Your Child to Eat More Vegetables
Vegetables play an important role in supporting your child’s growth and long-term health. Eating a variety of vegetables early in life can help your child develop a healthy gut microbiome that supports digestion and can promote lifelong well-being. Since eating habits formed in childhood often continue into adulthood, encouraging vegetable consumption early can help your …
Applied Neuroscience for Helping Professionals
Professional-development opportunities and information, such as learning modules and handouts, are available through the Thrive portfolio, as valuable resources and educational materials professionals, who work with families, can easily access and use. These resources are free and are immediately available for public consumption. Professionals who work in human-service agencies may be working with clients who …
Supporting Families Facing Challenges
Professionals who work with families facing adversity can play a crucial role in supporting children’s development and well-being. The Raising Children Network (2024) provides a comprehensive guide for professionals to use to help them efficiently and realistically engage with families who are experiencing various challenges, including financial hardship, social isolation, and health issues. Understanding Family …
Spring into Action: Fresh Ideas for Keeping Children Moving at Every Age
The longer days and warmer weather of spring offer a natural opportunity for families to refresh their routines and build healthier habits. Staying active can feel challenging after months of cooler weather spent mostly indoors with, potentially, limited movement. However, making deliberate but small, everyday choices during this time of year can set the tone …
How Childhood Habits Shape Teen Mental Health
A new study published in JAMA Network Open highlights that early lifestyle habits can be powerful in shaping healthy adolescent mental health outcomes. Researchers followed children ages 6 to 9 for 8 years and tracked their eating habits, physical activity, and overall well-being (Haapala et al., 2025). Researchers found that children who consistently practiced healthy …
