Help Me Grow | United Way of Utah County

Help Me Grow Utah Blog

Tips for a Successful Transition Back to School

Can you believe it’s almost that time of the year again? That time where your kids are under someone else’s supervision for 8 hours of the day? Well, your kids definitely can’t believe it, that’s for sure. The afternoons at the pool, the late summer nights, and the freedom of having minimal responsibilities have come

Read More »

Guest Post: How to Get Your Kids to Dig Gardening

Looking to get your kids connected with something besides a small screen? How about communing with nature in the form of a garden? In this era of satisfaction on demand, watching and waiting for something to grow can be incredibly valuable for kids. It also gives them an excuse to get outside and get a

Read More »

Guest Post: Family Volunteering Tips

 As I was growing up, my parents were always looking for ways to help support our neighbors and community. Whether it was cleaning up yards for people in our neighborhood or helping pick fruit at the local orchards, my parents signed us up to help. While I complained about this a great deal at the

Read More »

Guest Post: Weaning from the Bottle & Cup Introduction

Many parents do not realize that it is recommended to wean babies from the bottle by 18 months. Getting rid of the bottle can turn into a frustrating experience for both parent and baby! However, there are some things that you can do to make it easier. Here are some ideas on how to wean your baby off

Read More »

Guest Post: What Is TikTok?

In 2018 the most downloaded iPhone app in the world, was a Chinese export: TikTok. Formerly the apps musical.ly, Byte Dance acquired the older lip-synching video app and TikTok (known as Douyin in China) was born. Social media giants have tried hard to capture the attention of younger children and preteens. Facebook created Messenger Kids, YouTube has

Read More »

Tips for Making Homework Time Easier

School is back in session and with that comes homework. Homework can be stressful for a variety of reasons and there are days where it may seem like the fight to get homework done just is not worth it. No parent wants to expend all their efforts and energy on getting their children to do

Read More »

How to Help Your Child Have a Good Night Sleep

Growing up I always loved summer. I loved being able to play in the sun, spend more time at my grandparents and most importantly not having to go to bed early! It was always a sad time when my parents started putting us to bed early to prepare for school. With school approaching quickly I

Read More »

How to Develop a Family Safety Plan

At the beginning of every school year, my family had a tradition of sitting down together and making a plan for our safety. I felt safe knowing that my parents had a plan in case of an emergency. Now as an adult I still review my own safety plan each August and consider what I

Read More »

What is Day of the Dead?

Day of the Dead, otherwise known as Día de los Muertos, is a celebration of life as people remember their ancestors. During this holiday, it is believed that past relatives return as spirits to the land of the living to spend time with their loved ones. Although this holiday originated in Mexico, it is celebrated

Read More »

Early Childhood: Sexual Behavior: Part 1

 We all know it’s part of human nature and development, but many questions are associated with self-touch and sexual behavior in young children. It’s a sensitive topic for parents for many reasons: religious beliefs and personal values, inexperience in explaining body development and appropriate behaviors with children, uncertainty around what is typical at this young

Read More »

Early Childhood: Sexual Behavior Part 2

 If you have already read Part 1 of Early Childhood: Sexual Behavior, you know that two very big topics were left to Part 2: How to promote healthy boundaries and communication with trusted adults, and What you (the parent) should do when something is troubling regarding your child’s sexual behaviors. Since these topics can be

Read More »

How to Break the Cycle of Gender Stereotyping

 Have you ever heard the saying “boys will be boys”? Or “girls are so emotional”? These may seem like harmless phrases that explain our parenting experiences, but they may actually be limiting our children’s potential. Gender Differences We are always hearing about another new finding on the “many” differences between boys and girls – whether

Read More »

Guest Post: Kid Friendly DIY Herb Garden for Your Kitchen

Finding meaningful activities to share with the kids in your life can be a challenge. With so many attention-grabbing screens to compete with, it might even be intimidating to suggest something like gardening. But make no mistake! Kids can get every bit as excited about growing plants as they do about a video game or TV show.

Read More »

Alternatives to T.V. Time

I remember babysitting my young niece not too long ago. All evening she asked, “Cars?” This was code for, “Could we watch the movie Cars?” Soon I turned on the TV and sat with my niece as she watched intently. I became intrigued as I started to notice she did not take her eyes off

Read More »

Guest Post: The Power of Meditation for Mothers

 I never considered myself a particularly emotional person. Well, that is, until I had kids. Becoming a mother has a way of helping our emotions to “blossom.” And of course by that I mean, all the wonderful emotions, like deep love, elation, pride, real joy. . . but let’s be honest– most of us have had

Read More »

Networking in Parenting

Dixie Sevison has been working with students her whole career. Currently, her focus is on all female students at Brigham Young University as the director of Women’s Services & Resources. I got a chance to sit down with her and talk about the resources available to young mothers, some of whom might still be in

Read More »

Postpartum Depression in Men: Helping Dads Cope

Most of us have heard of postpartum depression in women, but did you know it can also affect fathers?! Figures vary depending on the source, but it’s estimated that for every two women that have postpartum depression, one man will have PPPD (paternal postpartum depression), and approximately 25% of new fathers (though only 10% of

Read More »

Desiring and Preparing for Pregnancy

As a desiring future mother myself, I often wonder if I am preparing in the right way for this transition into pregnancy. When should I see my doctor? What foods should I eat/avoid? What vitamins should I be taking? When should I be concerned I am not pregnant? If you find yourself asking similar questions,

Read More »

Child Care: Should I Work or Stay at Home?

I remember sensing the guilt my mom had as she dropped my siblings and I off at the neighbor’s house where she traded babysitting services. Both of my parents have worked full time since I can remember. Making the decision to have child care versus staying home can be a taxing choice for parents. There

Read More »

What’s So Important About Developing Fine Motor Skills Anyway?

You may have heard your neighbor talk about how a certain toy is helping Sally develop her fine motor skills and wondered “What does that really mean?” or “What’s the big deal with fine motor skills?” The reality is that the beginnings of fine motor skills lay the foundation for necessary everyday abilities later on.

Read More »

It’s Okay to be Bored

During this time of the “Stay home, Stay safe” directive, You or your child (or both!) might find yourself feeling bored. Just know it’s okay to be bored! In fact, we need people to get bored. It’s while we’re bored that our minds are free to create. Creativity is the heart that moves us forward

Read More »

Guest Post: How to Make a Free, DIY Terrarium

There are numerous benefits to having plants or “green space” in your home. For example, green space has been shown to decrease stress, anxiety, blood pressure, and can even purify the air in your home. Building a terrarium is a perfect way to bring green space into your home and enjoy the benefits that come with it. It’s

Read More »

Guest Post: Tech for Kids and Healthy Downtime

It is safe to say that right now we are all using technology a lot more than we used to. This is not just because we are bored and don’t have a lot of options. Using tech is how we are all functioning, socially and economically. We connect with others for schooling, work, socialization, and

Read More »

Window of Tolerance

Know your limits As parents, we get pushed to our limits. The rollercoaster of parenthood takes us up, down, around, backward, and sometimes through flaming rings of fire. Often we may ask the question: am I going to survive this? The Window of Tolerance offers perspective into understanding one’s own personal limits. Knowing one’s own

Read More »

Working towards the ideal: Affection in the Home

Memories and physical pictures remind me of my relationship with my dad. From sitting in the pew next to him in church or on the couch for a movie, dad wanted to squeeze my ears, arms and fingers. As I grew up and became more aware of my dad’s way of loving, I grew to hate

Read More »

5 Tips for Developing Financial Wellness In Your Kids

As a parent, worrying about your finances every now and then is probably second nature, however, it is also something that you probably never want your child to experience. If you’re hoping to instill financial wellness in your child at a young age, there are plenty of places for you to start. Consider the five

Read More »

5 Tips for Improving Family Mealtime

Children in today’s hurried, high-tech world need structured, routine times when they can connect with their parents and siblings. One of the best ways to do that is family mealtimes. Many of us are so busy that we may feel if we are not multi-tasking all the time, we are not productive enough. We often

Read More »

How to Support Your Child’s Education from Home

Whether you’re considering homeschooling this coming year or plan to have the kids back in private or public school, there are a few important aspects to consider regarding their education. Often, I hear parents worry about their child’s attention span. Some child development experts suggest that the average child should be able to concentrate on one task

Read More »

Teaching Kids To Handle Embarrassment

I remember when I was 12 my family went to a restaurant and the waiter asked me the classic question, “Do you want soup, or salad?”. I had just graduated from the kids menu and wasn’t used to that question, so misunderstanding what he said I responded very confused with, “yeah I’ll have the super-salad…”.

Read More »

Vaccines and COVID-19

“Vaccine ” is a hopeful word during this pandemic. We hope for a vaccine that will dramatically reduce the spread of COVID-19. Development of this vaccine is a top global priority; countries are working tirelessly on it. But with all our focus on COVID-19 right now, it is easy to forget that there are many

Read More »

Guest Post: Screen time and toddlers: What is transfer deficit?

With the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve all been using screens more, and overall, that’s OK. Screen time is less about the hours than the content. Screens can connect and educate, and keep us all safe indoors. However, research shows that for our youngest children, under age three, we need to be more careful and deliberate with

Read More »

DIY Halloween Luminaries for Kids

Holiday traditions bond families together. Whether we realize it or not, our traditions give us a sense of belonging, importance, and security. Regardless of the changes occurring in our lives, we know that these family rituals will stay constant! Halloween will probably have a lot of changes this year. Many of us are missing getting

Read More »

5 Ways to Build Attachment with Your Baby

New parents have a million things to worry about. From finding childcare to making sure their new baby is receiving the healthcare they need, new parents can sometimes be overwhelmed by all the new responsibilities they now have to juggle. Building attachment is just one of these new responsibilities that parents face with their babies.

Read More »

Child Care and COVID-19

 Like it has done to most parts of daily life, COVID-19 has complicated the already complex search for childcare. Additional concerns may include “what should my backup child care plan look like if my center closes?” or “is it safe to take my kid to child care?” For information on creating a child care backup

Read More »

Earth Day: How to make recycling fun

 Earth Day is a national holiday celebrated in April to demonstrate support for environmental protection. There are numerous ways we can help take care of our planet. Recycling is just one of them! Let’s take a look at how children can get involved in recycling. Make it accessible. When I was young my little brother asked

Read More »

6 Phrases for Successful Interactions with Your Child

“Why didn’t I think of that?” frequently crosses the minds of parents watching other parents handle their children successfully in the grocery store, during a playdate, or out in public. Memorizing some short basic phrases and the situations in which to use them creates confidence even in doubtful parents. 1. Say yes more than you say

Read More »

4 Ways to Boost Your Confidence in Car Seat Safety

Nearly two years ago my husband and I were getting ready to bring our newborn baby home from the hospital. As I put my tiny baby in his car seat for the first time I felt nervous and unsure that I was doing everything right, even though I had spent time preparing for this moment.

Read More »

What Should I Consider When Making a Birth Plan?

Having a birth plan is a growing desire for pregnant women. First introduced in the 1980s due to increased medical births, birth plans have been a source for many women to relay their preferences during and around the time of childbirth. If you choose to have a written plan in place, take some time in

Read More »

10 Activities to Take the Gloom Out of Rainy Days

We all know the nursery rhyme rain, rain, go away, come again another day. I’ll be the first to admit that rainy days get me down, but it doesn’t have to be that way. I’m here to share both indoor and outdoor activities so that you and your children can make the most out of

Read More »

5 Benefits of Owning a Pet

Do you remember the first pet you ever owned? I remember being 5 years old when I got my first pet; a blue betta fish named Rainbow Blue. I was thrilled to have this little fish that was all mine. Every day I made sure to feed it and attend to its needs. Eventually, I

Read More »

Bigger than Bullies

​From the stepsisters in Disney’s Cinderella to Lotso in Disney’s Toy Story 3, it is not uncommon to see the role of bullies presented in family movies. Unfortunately, this behavior can happen outside of the screen. As your children take on the world, there are ways to teach them how to react to bullying, prevent

Read More »

3 Ways to Practice Self-Compassion as Parents

Parents often feel as though they do not have any time to practice any kind of self-care. Although parents know that self-care is important, they may often feel that they aren’t being a good parent if they take any time for themselves. They also may feel that with all of their parenting responsibilities, they simply do

Read More »

Fine Motor Skills Part Two: What’s Involved?

Since we learned about the importance of fine motor skills (that it affects learning skills having to do with hygiene, academic performance, how they relate to peers, and more) in another blog post, let’s look at what other types of development are involved in fine motor development, including mid-line crossing, ocular motor control, and hand-eye coordination. Read

Read More »

Buying Safe Toys This Holiday Season

We are finally arriving at the most magical time of the year, the holidays! This year has not been an easy one, and the holidays can be such a good mood-booster! Buying gifts for family members is so exciting and fun, but it’s essential to make sure that the toys you purchase for your child

Read More »

How To Help Your Child Cope With Death

Losing a loved one is always a very hard and emotional experience. As parents, you might struggle with healing from your own grief, while also supporting your children. It’s helpful to know how your child might respond and what you can do to strengthen them as much as possible. Here are a few ways that

Read More »

8 Tips for Delivering Trauma-Informed Feedback to Your Child

Children who have experienced trauma often react to both positive and negative feedback a bit differently than other children. Brookes Publishing discusses some ideas for teacher-student interactions on how to give both positive and corrective feedback. These ideas can also translate to how you respond in the home. For positive feedback, make it: Low-key and private. Use nonverbal

Read More »

​Is it Ever too Early to Start Reading to Your Child?

Some parents may be wondering when to start reading to their child. Both of my parents are educators – under their guidance, I learned the value of reading from an early age. Simply put, it is never too early to read to your child. In fact, studies have shown that introducing books beginning at 4 months increases

Read More »

DIY Valentine’s Day Fine Motor Skills Craft

We use our fine motor skills every single day, from getting dressed to eating to writing. Fine motor skills require the control of small muscles in our hands. These muscles can be strengthened and improved each day. Not only are these important skills to develop for daily activities but they also include a host of other benefits such as

Read More »

Public Tantrum Survival Guide

It’s 5:10 pm. You were supposed to be at the park to meet the babysitter 10 minutes ago. But you’re stuck at the grocery store waiting in line after rushing in to grab “just a few things”… with the 3-year old. Shockingly, Susie kept asking for candy after you specifically told her NO MORE CANDY. You’re

Read More »

Behavioral Changes to Expect When Your Child Starts School

You might not remember your first day of school – or maybe you remember it a little too well. It’s a big transition that includes new people, places, and pressures. Children experience lots of confusing emotions because of this, and if you anticipate certain behavior changes you can help your child navigate this time successfully.

Read More »

Promoting Healthy Attachment Through the Senses

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

Read More »

Helping Your Child with Personal Boundaries

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.

Read More »

Receptive and Expressive Communication Explained

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

Read More »

Benefits of Allowing Your Child to Fail

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

Read More »

How to Explain Difficult Subjects to Young Children

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.

Read More »

5 Ways to Foster a Child’s Creativity

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

Read More »

Choosing Television Shows for Your Child

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

Read More »

Family Fitness Fun

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

Read More »

Helping Children Cope with Divorce

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

Read More »

10 Tips for Teaching Body Safety

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

Read More »

Last Minute 4th of July Crafts and Snacks

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.

Read More »

How to Help Your Kids Develop a Healthy Relationship with Food

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

Read More »

5 Secrets for Back to School Success

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

Read More »

What To Do When Your Child Lies

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

Read More »

6 Ways to Help Your Child Cope with Worry and Anxiety

Is your child nervous about the start of the school year? It’s common for all kids to feel nervous about beginning school. For some though, those beginning of the year nerves turn into something more. If you’ve noticed your student is struggling with excessive worry or anxiety, there are several simple things you can do

Read More »

Parental Fears About Technology Can Make Things Worse

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

Read More »

The Importance of Grandparents

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

Read More »

How to Say “No” without Saying “No”

My 5-month-old son has recently started reaching for my face when I hold him. He enjoys grabbing my glasses and pulling at my nose. Kids his age are curious and starting to learn to use their hands and grab things. They also don’t understand that sometimes the things they do can cause pain or potentially

Read More »

How Strengthening Marriage Helps Children

In some cases divorce is necessary for the well-being of the family, for example, when there is abuse. Though when that is not the case, strengthening marriage and working through conflict avoids many challenges while at the same time supporting children in learning valuable skills for life. Why to avoid divorce when possible Divorce hurts

Read More »

4 Tips for Helping Your Child Eat a Healthy Diet

When kids eat a healthy and balanced diet, it provides them with the nutrients that they need to grow and develop in a healthy way. However, it can be hard to know what and how to feed your kid sometimes. These four recommendations can help guide you in helping your kid eat a balanced and

Read More »

Navigating Children’s Emotional Meltdowns

If there’s one thing I’ve learned about toddlers, it’s that they have some pretty big feelings, and sometimes they struggle to convey those feelings well. Sometimes, they know what they’re trying to say, but are unsure about how to express what they feel, or they may not understand what they’re feeling, and that can be scary

Read More »

A Happy Halloween: Tips to Keep Your Kids Safe

As a kid, I remember how excited I got about dressing up for Halloween. There’s just something magical about pretending to be someone or something else for an evening, having fun and getting lots of yummy treats. Carving pumpkins, trick-or-treating, and drinking warm apple cider are some of the things I looked forward to most

Read More »

Building Sibling Relationships—Family Night Idea

While doing an outreach event recently I had a wonderful conversation with a mom about sibling relationships. She told me about her hopes and dreams for her children and the friendship she hoped they would develop and keep throughout their lives. She admitted, like many parents, that fostering those good relationships was sometimes incredibly hard!

Read More »

How to Save Money For a Child

Parents pay an average of $233,610 to raise a child to the age of 18, according to analysis by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Not only does this amount include the cost of housing and education, but it also takes food costs, healthcare costs and other necessities into account. This figure works out to a

Read More »

6 Surprising Secrets about Feeding

Have you ever wondered about the best ways to encourage infants or children to eat healthy, nutritious food? Dietician and family therapist Ellyn Satter offers some advice. You may be surprised by some of what you find! Never force a child to eat. Instead, follow the Division of Responsibility system created by Ellen Satter. In this system, parents determine what

Read More »

The Fundamentals of ‘Fun’ in Parenting

Parenting is not easy – but it can be fun! Amidst the sleepless nights, the tears and tantrums, and so many other demands, we can still infuse humor, joy, and playfulness. In fact, play and silliness can make those challenging moments lighter! Imagine getting out of the door in the morning. Just as you realize

Read More »

How Fathers Can Bond with Their Babies

A few weeks ago, I was watching my husband play with our 6 month old son, tossing him lightly into the air, and I felt my heart drop from where I sat. My heart couldn’t handle the fear as I saw the potential for him to fall and get hurt, but at the same time,

Read More »

How to Support Your Child as a Single Parent

Being raised by a single parent is special but far from easy. I grew up in a single-parent household along with my younger brother. As a single mother, my mom did everything in her power to make sure my brother and I were happy and gave us the best life possible. As a child, I

Read More »

My child has a food allergy…now what?

The road to diagnosing a food allergy can be a long and scary one. Getting the official diagnosis can provide a lot of answers, but also be daunting as it sparks new questions as well. So where do you start? What should you consider? If you’re just beginning down the path of understanding how to

Read More »

What to Consider When Beginning Playdates

Playdates can offer a wide variety of great experiences for your child as they begin to grow and develop. Throughout this post, we will talk more about the benefits of playdates for your child, when to know when your child is ready, and how to set up and prepare for playdates. Playing with other children offers

Read More »

Honey Facts & Fiction For Kids and Parents

A delicious, sweet treat that comes directly from nature, honey has always been considered a tasty treat, especially for those with a sweet tooth like children. But this sticky substance has been part of the culture for so long that many myths and misunderstandings surrounding honey’s safety and use with children have persisted. Let’s look

Read More »

The Health Benefits of Gratitude

We have all heard that gratitude will improve our mental health and encourage positive thinking, but did you know that gratitude can also improve your physical health? Over the years, studies have shown that gratitude can improve psychological well-being, self-esteem, and relationships. It is linked with reducing aggression, impatience, and depressive symptoms. We have been long aware

Read More »

What Every Parent Should Know About Brain-Building

The brain develops the most rapidly during the first five years of life. During your child’s earliest years, their brain makes over 1 million neural connections—every single second. That’s a lot of brain-building! The latest science shows that when kids share positive, engaging experiences with caring adults (that’s YOU), their brains grow strong and flexible.

Read More »

Prioritizing Self-Care: How to Make YOU-time Happen!

Have you ever been on an airplane? Before the plane takes off the flight attendant reminds the passengers where the safety exits are located and how to access the overhead oxygen mask. Importantly, they instruct the passengers to put on their masks before helping another person. Why is it important to put your oxygen on

Read More »

Learning About Autism for Autism Appreciation Month

The month of April is Autism Appreciation Month! According to the CDC, 1 in 44 children are autistic, so it is very likely that your child will interact with or know someone with autism. This month is a great opportunity for you and your child to learn more about empathy. Here are a few ways

Read More »