We have an interconnected generation where (for better or worse) we have a hyper awareness of everything that's happening around us. With social media, cable news and the constant pings and notifications of technology we are aware of many things beyond our control and far away from us. Our brains, bred for survival, struggle to differentiate between those immediate and far away threats. The result is we are more aware, and more afraid. And our in...
Growing up, I was fortunate to have my grandparents in my life. My relationship with each of them was as different as each of their personalities, from the grandpa who lived out of state but was a "snowbird" and traveled through Utah each fall and spring and treating us to dinner at a local buffet to the grandma who passed on her love of Welch's grape juice and the color purple to me. With Grandparent's Day just around the corner on September 12,...
If your child's bedtime is a struggle, you're not alone. Whether it's asking for a drink of water every 5 minutes, hearing "I'm not tired", or a meltdown in general, bedtime can be chaos. We all know that sleep is important, but for children, getting enough sleep helps with things like behavior and learning . Studies show that poor sleep habits in childhood can lead to difficulty sleeping as an adult . To help bedtimes go smoother, you can try th...
When 2-year-old Liam* started crying, his mother Sadie went to investigate. Her two children were playing in their room together and Liam was crying and obviously in distress. After questioning her older daughter, Abigail, who insisted she didn't know what happened, Sadie decided to check the video feed from the baby monitor. Much to her surprise, Abigail had kicked Liam as they were both on the ladder of the bunk bed. When Sadie showed her daugh...
It's August, which means it's time to get ready to go back to school. When I was growing up, getting ready to go back to school meant shopping for school clothes, going to bed earlier, getting up earlier and of course new school supplies. There was always excitement in the air as I met my friends at the bus stop and we talked about our summers and wondered if we would have the same teacher in class that year. The beginning of the new school year ...
Around 50% of young kids have severe nightmares that cause them to wake up their parents. I had a nightmare every night as a kid, and even though it was distressing to me, it was equally distressing to my parents. My bedtime routine became a battle because I was so terrified to get into bed. And even when I finally did get to sleep, I would wake up from a nightmare and refuse to go back to sleep. This goes without saying, but it isn't very fun wh...
In a world where around every corner we are faced with diet advertisements and messages of what "health" is, it can be hard to navigate healthy eating with your kids. If you're looking for some pretty basic tips on what to feed your kids, here is a great resource. That being said, your child's healthy eating habits go beyond what is on their plate every day. A healthy relationship with food helps guide children into these healthy eating habits th...
We teach our children about stranger danger, stop drop and roll, and fire safety; but do we teach our kids about keeping their bodies safe? Think back to your childhood--did you have the aunt who plopped a slimy kiss on your cheek or an uncle who gave a rib-cracking hug? Were you told it was rude to say no, so you bore the awfulness until you could escape and go play with your cousins? I know I did. We hated this experience, so why are we teachin...
If the 4th of July snuck up on you this year like it did for me, you'll likely need some last-minute ideas on how to entertain your children and make the holiday special. There are so many fun and creative ways to celebrate with your kids that don't require copious amounts of time and money. Crafts: Holidays are exciting for your kids! Crafts are a great way to work on your child's fine motor skills as well as give them an outlet for creativity. ...
Around 6.1 million children in the U.S. have been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD, also known as ADD). That means that 9.4% of children between the ages of 2-17 have been faced with the challenges associated with an ADHD diagnosis. So if your child has been diagnosed with ADHD, you are not alone. ADHD is a complex disorder that requires treatment from professionals. That being said, there are some strategies that you...
Divorce is a common challenge many children face, and though this decision may be best for your family, you as a parent may worry about how this change will affect the little ones. How you break the news to your child and how you each cope with it will affect how well your child adjusts to the divorce. Children might struggle with finding out about the restructuring of their family, and being clear about what's going on will help them take it bet...
We live in a time of political turmoil, disease, and natural disasters. At home, we may be enduring trials such as divorce, the death of a loved one, or mental illness. These difficult subjects are hard enough to talk about with other adults. Attempting to explain these events to children can be a daunting task. So, how are our kids feeling about and learning about the difficult things around them? Explaining difficult subjects to young children ...
Children's television shows can be hit or miss. Some of them make you smile and think about the wonder of childhood. Some of them make you want to pull your hair out whenever you hear the main character speak. How careful do you need to be when deciding what your child views? Here are some helpful tips for selecting the shows your little one watches and learns from... Avoid shows where the main character exhibits a lot of bad behavior. Chances ar...
Most parents know how important it is for their children to be active, but they also know how hard it can be to pull their kids away from screen time and other sedentary activities. Active kids are more likely to have: ·a healthy weight ·stronger bones and muscles ·healthy hearts and brains ·better memory, attention and problem-solving skills ·lower stress levels ·fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression ·better mental health and self-esteem The ...
Fostering creativity helps children grow mentally by providing new opportunities for self-expression, problem solving, and trying out new ideas. Parents can have a vital role in creating an open environment where children can be free to explore and self-express. There are some simple yet rewarding ways you can promote creativity in your child. Here are 5 ways to spur creativity in your child. 1. Get outside! Nature can be the best teacher sometim...
Personal boundaries are more than just standing 6 feet apart from strangers. Some children are too shy to engage with many of their friends, so they don't have a lot of practice with appropriate boundaries. Some children are best-of-friends with everyone they meet, and parents may worry this will put their child in danger someday. Here is a short list of helpful reminders when teaching children about personal boundaries --no matter how experience...
While allowing kids to fail feels messy and frightening, letting them learn from their mistakes helps them to become empowered, releasing the controlling hold of fear that paralyzes decisions and helps develop lasting, deep rooted accountability along with, ironically, building the self confidence that comes with personal autonomy and recovery from failure. Failure is a part of life. Some of the most successful people in this world have seen the ...
When you think about communication skills, you probably think about words and pronunciation, but communication begins even before a baby starts babbling. Communication encompasses what we understand and body language as well as what we say. There are two kinds of communication - receptive and expressive - and it's important for children to develop both. Receptive communication has to do with how one processes and understands what's going on in he...
We have probably all heard the saying: "Children thrive in structure." The Centers for Disease Control states:"Consistency, predictability, and follow-through are important for creating structure in the home". The AAP has developed a wonderful program to help parents create new bedtime structure with oral health care routines. This program includes information for families to establish a structured night time routine for their children which incl...
For the past 137 years, Children's Service Society of Utah has been involved in child welfare throughout the state by empowering families, caregivers and professionals through services supporting the safety and well-being of children. During this time, advocates have engaged with children and families in various settings, promoting healthy attachment and bonding and working hard to ensure every child feels safe and cared-for. In 2002, Children's ...
