Get Outdoors! But, Leave No Trace!
Though the pandemic we are living through has created many challenges for people, there have been some positive consequences! One positive result is the increased interest of individuals and families in participating in outdoor recreation activities and enjoying natural lands and trail systems. While it’s always a good choice to head outdoors, if you’re going …
Teaching Children Life Skills
Just as learning how to read and write is vital to functioning in society, mastering life skills, such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and displaying empathy, is also crucial to operating and advancing in our complex world. Life skills are abilities that help one cope with situations and challenges that arise each day. Starting to learn …
Teens and COVID-19
Schedules, routines, our very lives have been changed by COVID-19. Entire families have been affected, but social distancing may be especially difficult for teenagers who aren’t able to visit friends and are missing important milestones, such as graduations, proms, and sporting events. Parents may find it difficult to motivate teens to complete school work or …
Tips for Working at Home with Kids
With the recent COVID-19 outbreak, school-aged children have received a break from attending schools and, in some cases, classes, and this break could last a few weeks or even longer. Many parents have shifted their work responsibilities to an in-home environment. Balancing the demands of telework and regular life with school-aged children at home, in …
Managing Anxiety and Stress during the COVID-19 Outbreak
Routines can be essential for positive family functioning, such as maintaining daily school routines, participating in after-school activities, sharing mealtimes with family members, and getting adequate sleep. But, sometimes routines are disrupted, which can cause feelings of anxiety, stress, and insecurity (Spagnola & Fiese, 2007; Yoon, 2014). The current national crisis surrounding the novel coronavirus, …
Talking to Children about Germs, COVID-19, and Practicing Proper Hygiene
With the recent outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), many children may have questions about the virus or germs in general. What are Germs? Germs are everywhere! They are small and can enter our bodies without us knowing. Some germs can live on surfaces (e.g., doorknobs, countertops) for a short period of time. Once they …
Thrive Online Parenting Programs
Parenting is a complex responsibility that requires large amounts of emotional labor. It can be exciting, but stressful, and managing emotions can be difficult. The Thrive Initiative can help! The online Thrive Initiative parenting programs are based on science and seek to strengthen positive parenting skills, teach parents strategies for managing stress in themselves and …
Emotional Impact of Food Allergies on Parents and Children
Food allergies can be frightening, and they are becoming more prevalent especially in children. Supporting children who have food allergies and learning new ways to help families manage these allergies has become vital as currently 32 million people in the United States suffer with food allergies, and 5.6 million are children.2 Food allergies are increasing. …
