Strong Families, Happy Kids

Imagine that you’re in a public restroom, and when you’re done using the toilet, you realize there isn’t any toilet paper. From inside the stall, you can hear two people chatting and washing their hands at the sink.

Do you ask for help?

If not, you’re not alone. Asking for help, even in this simple, very human situation, can be hard.

Many children go through hard things like bullying, losing a parent to divorce or death, witnessing domestic violence, and even abuse. Experts refer to these things as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and childhood trauma.

During the holiday season, our schedules ramp up. With everything from holiday parties to Christmas concerts and gift shopping (and wrapping!) to community events, it’s hard to find a moment of peace—especially if you have children.

In our last column, we focused on social and emotional competence of children—how children feel about themselves and their place in the world. It’s one of five Protective Factors outlined in the Strengthening Families™ Framework (the others are parental resilience, social connections, concrete support in times of need, and knowledge of parenting and child development).

As the school year hits its stride and we welcome the official start of the holiday season, we become busier. The fall months provide a great opportunity to focus on knowledge of parenting and child development.

It’s that time of year: summer break is coming to an end and kids are going back to school. No matter how ready parents and children think they are, the transition from carefree, unstructured summer days back to scheduled school hours can be a bit jarring.