The Importance of Rituals and Routines
Summer is over; fall has arrived, and new schedules and routines are beginning – back to school, back to work – and, in some cases, unfamiliar territory! Transitions can be hard for individuals, especially children, to adapt to, and to ease effects of these changes, some form of predictable structure at home is helpful.2 As …
Sprout Program Now Available Online!
The Thrive Initiative Sprout program is now available online! Sprout is designed for parents of 3- to 5-year-olds and includes six everyday moments: Morning Routine, Bedtime Routine, Shopping, Play Date, Rainy Day, and Dinnertime. During these sessions, you are invited into the homes of families to experience their everyday moments, to see things from the …
Fit Family: Being Active Together
Physical activity should be included in the daily lives of children, and parents should serve as active role models. Research indicates that multiple benefits of mental and overall physical health occur from being active (Moore, 2008). A simple way to incorporate physical activity in our daily routine is to plan activities that include the entire …
Sleep and the Brain
As parents, we know that sleep is essential, and it is a necessary part of our daily lives and, especially, our children’s daily lives. Just like diet and exercise, the amount of sleep one gets can influence how well we and our children function in school, at home, at work, and with others. There are …
National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day: May 9, 2019
May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, and May 9th has been designated as a special day to raise awareness about children’s mental health. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the purpose of the children’s mental health awareness day is to “raise awareness of the efficacy of community-based mental health …
April is Month of the Military Child
According to the Department of Defense, there are more than 1.7 million military children worldwide. To honor the unique sacrifices of children whose parents serve in the military, each April is designated as the Month of the Military Child. Here are some ways you can show your support for military families and military children: Read …
Jump Into Spring and Get Your Family Moving!
Spring is here, and this means warm, sunny weather is right around the corner! Spring and summer days provide us with more hours of daylight and more opportunities to be active with our families after the work day! The United States Department of Health and Human Services recommends that children engage in aerobic activities for …
Exercise Produces More Than Endorphins
Research has shown that engaging in physical activity can be beneficial for all human beings. It can reduce heart disease, combat obesity in children and adults, control blood glucose levels (Riddell et al., 2016), and enable one’s body to release hormone groupings called endorphins, which allow people to feel good and happy. As mental health …