Imagine that you are at home with your children. You're scrolling through your social media feed while your spouse is working on their laptop. Your toddler and preschooler are watching a children's program on the television and your school-aged child is playing a game on your tablet. Suddenly the power goes out, taking the precious Wi-Fi connection with it. What do you do? How can you keep your family "entertained" without the screens that are re...
Getting our very first TV was a huge event: my sister and I could watch black-and-white shows, but only around bedtime. Fast forward a few decades, and now screens are everywhere (at work, in school, and at home; even in our bedrooms), available 24/7 and used for an endless variety of purposes. Right before the first lockdowns of 2020, a nationally representative survey found that about half of the parents said whether or not their infant or todd...
Are you tired of being stuck inside? Are you ready for spring? You are not alone! It is exciting to have warmer weather right around the corner. Children may be tired of being inside and parents are running out of ideas and activities for their children to do indoors. Here are a couple of fun and easy things to do on a beautiful spring day. Nature Collection Pick a nice sunny day to go to the park or walk around your neighborhood to do a nature c...
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 first? Simply put, if you don't have oxygen you are unable to help the person next to you. It seems intuitive, but moms a...
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 to do so! Read Books Together There are so many great picture books that can help kids learn about autism, and autistic people. Here is a list of 10 books th...
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 for recycling containers for his birthday one year. In our garage, we had a container for cans, plastic, etc. My brother...
Welcoming a new baby can be an exciting time for a couple. From putting together a nursery, buying baby clothes, and picking out a name, there's a lot to look forward to! For married couples expecting a new baby, there are certain safeguards that can be put in place to prevent a marriage from falling apart. Plan Date Nights Before your new baby arrives, take the time to plan out date nights with your spouse. These can be scheduled as frequently a...
In 2001, The Center for the Study of Social Policy ( CSSP ) began studying how education programs and early child care across the country could prevent child abuse and neglect and build healthy, happy families. They came up with an approach called Strengthening Families . Strengthening Families is a research-informed approach to increase family strengths, enhance child development, and reduce the likelihood of child abuse and neglect. The foundat...
Not many topics frighten parents more than talking to their child about sex. However, I hope to convince you if you start early, you can talk about sex bit by bit and create an even closer relationship with your child. Suggestion 1 Start early. Begin by referring to your child's body parts (genitalia included) using the correct terms. A penis is a penis, not some silly nickname. The vulva is the vulva, not "your nether regions" or "down there." W...
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 of these tremendous mental health benefits. But studies have...
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. Vroom® is an incredible tool that helps you become a better brain-builder for your kids...
It has been another year of adjustment and growth at Help Me Grow. We are grateful for the support from our donors, partners, and families like you ! Let's take a look at how we've grown over the last year. 98% of families have reported that Help Me Grow Utah has been equally helpful or more helpful during the Covid-19 pandemic the past year 1,235 community referrals were made 1,301 new families joined Help Me Grow Utah We engaged 1,318 pe...
In 2018, I started working with children on the Autism Spectrum as a Registered Behavioral Technician. Communication is critically important for children during the fastest growth phase of their lives. Children with autism are often not able to communicate as effectively as children not "on the spectrum". At first, it was extremely difficult. I caught a glimpse of what it must be like for the parents of these precious little kids. Children with a...
I recently sat down with a mom who told me her story about parenting a child who has experienced living in an orphanage, foster care, and being adopted at two different times in his life. I was moved by her strength and the lessons she has learned as she strives to become a person of stability in this young boy's life. She described using ideas from the Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) therapy model that have helped her reach her child ...
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 at the truth about honey and separate the facts from fiction. Honey that crystalizes is spoiled FICTION: It ...
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 littles the opportunity to grow in different ways that can lead to success within school and in their personal relationships with others....
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 help a child with a food allergy, and you are looking for your next steps, here are some tips to consider as you get started: Have an emergency plan The ...
Feeding a child can cause the most anxiety-inducing moments of the day... OR it can be an enjoyable experience that brings parent and child closer together. The following guidelines can empower your family to start out on the right foot when feeding your baby, or if you have a picky eater , to take steps toward positive feeding moments. Mealtime peace The foundation to success in eating and feeding is creating peaceful mealtimes. If your c...
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 never once felt unsupported in any way, despite having a single mom. If you are a single parent reading this today, I want to let you know that your child/children can be j...
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, I loved the sound of the giggles and laughter from the two of them. I was terrified, but they were having the time of their lives! I know I play and laugh with my son, but it's so different ...
