Effective Communication with Your Teen

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By Staci Chambers, MSW, LSW – January 23, 2024 –

For parents and caregivers, it’s often challenging to find a balance between keeping the door open for communication with our children and being overbearing. Fostering a compassionate, protective, and comfortable relationship with our kids is the key to maintaining that positive bond that allows us to communicate effectively with them. 

The following are some tips to help establish this type of relationship with your adolescent or teen.

Providing love and support establishes the foundation of a healthy relationship with your child to keep the lines of communication open. As we all know, ways of showing love and support vary from person to person. However, consistent expressions of love, care, and concern demonstrate a deep bond and unconditional love toward your child.

Taking interest in their activities can help the bond with your child grow. Taking time to truly check in with your child about their latest goals, accomplishments and their personal interests is a way to show care and connection.

Consistent communication is quite possibly the most imperative component of connecting with your child. Opening doors for communication with frequent check-ins as part of your daily routine can help encourage the line of communication to remain open. Consider finding time in your family’s daily schedule to engage in these conversations to stay up to date with your child.

Dinner time, car rides to and from school, a phone call when they get home from school, etc. are examples of easy ways to consistently check in and have these conversations with your children.

A willingness to be open with your child about your strengths and challenges can also help establish a level of comfort with communication. Helping our children learn alongside us can be beneficial for both parent and child.

Maintaining clear rules and boundaries with your child can help set them up for success. Allowing them to take part in establishing some of these expectations and answering questions about why certain rules are set in place helps encourage children to follow established rules.

Give grace when grace is needed. Understand that children are going to make mistakes and staying consistent in your responses and follow through can be key. Non-judgmental and minimal reactive responses can help encourage your child to be more open and willing to share. Responses that communicate support and willingness to help resolve an issue encourage children to open up more to their parents with positives and when challenges arise.

Finding ways to effectively support, encourage, and protect our children will always be a challenging task for parents. Understanding that there is no “one size fits all” approach to parenting is key.

Taking the time to communicate regularly and understand your child for who they are is the best way to work towards protecting your child. Utilizing outside resources may also be necessary and helpful to protect your child. Be open to suggestions from professionals in the community and schools to help improve your communication with your child.

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Winter Wellness: How to Encourage Physical Play in the Colder Months

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By Katie Cox, MSW – January 15, 2025 –

As the temperature drops and the days get shorter, it’s tempting to avoid physical activity and stay cozy indoors. But cold weather doesn’t have to mean the end of active playtime for children.

In fact, winter presents opportunities for unique, creative ways to encourage and facilitate movement for children. Whether they are bundled up outside or busting out their best dance moves indoors, physical activity can be fun while still making a positive impact on their health. Encouraging physical activity is not only important for physical health, but it also helps to boost mood, support social and emotional wellbeing, and keep energy levels steady.

In this article we will explore exciting ideas and strategies to make sure your child stays active, engaged, and healthy all winter long!

Outdoor Adventures: Embracing the Winter Weather

While temperatures may be chilly, winter also brings a host of exciting outdoor activities that are impossible to replicate in warmer months. Outdoor play in the winter boosts vitamin D levels, strengthens the immune system, and invites children to use problem solving to explore the different conditions. Your children may enjoy playing in the snow, building snowmen, sledding, or having a classic snowball fight. These are all free activities that will not only keep your child moving but incorporate all members of the family, allowing extra time for bonding.

Indoor Activities: Staying Active When it is Just Too Cold Outdoors

When the temperatures are just too frigid for outdoor play, here are some ideas for keeping children active indoors. Dance parties are an engaging way to keep children moving. YouTube can be a great resource for this type of activity with channels such as GoNoodle and Danny Go. Another indoor option is creating obstacle courses using furniture, pillows, and blankets to create tunnels, balance beams, and jump stations for your child to race through. You can turn this activity into a challenge by using a timer to see how fast they can go.

Tips and Tricks to Encourage Engagement

The key to encouraging physical activity for children is to make it fun and engaging. They are more likely to be engaged if they are truly having fun. Some ways to make activities more engaging are to set up challenges or create goals for play. Children love to “win” and complete challenges. Some examples include challenging them to complete a certain number of jumping jacks or cartwheels or to hop on one foot for one minute. Getting the entire family involved can also boost engagement. When children see parents and siblings joining in the fun, they are more likely to stay motivated and engaged in the activity.

Beyond just burning off extra energy, staying physically active during the winter boosts endorphins, which improves mood, reduces anxiety, and helps fight off the winter blues. Physical activity has also been linked to improved focus, memory, and cognitive functioning, which can boost academic performance.

Winter doesn’t have to be a season of hibernation for children. With a little creativity and planning, physical activities can help children thrive. Whether you are embracing the cold outdoors or keeping warm inside, the winter months offer plenty of opportunities to stay active, healthy, and happy. Let’s bundle up, get moving, and make this winter your most active one yet!

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The Negative Impact of Social Media and Electronics Use

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By Audrey Bowlds, MSW, LSW – January 8, 2025 –

It is no secret that access to technology has grown exponentially in the last decade. The internet holds a vast amount of knowledge on many different topics, and technology has invaded every aspect of life.

While advancements in technology can be valuable to us, electronics can also be harmful to adults and children. We use technology when playing video games, video chatting with others, watching videos and movies, researching, calculating the tip at a restaurant, setting an alarm, and using the GPS app for a road trip. Children as young as preschool age are using iPads and laptops.

So, what do parents need to be aware of?

Social media can be a way for people to interact with each other in creative ways. People can also use social media as a platform to spread awareness on a topic they feel passionate about or educate and exchange knowledge with one another. Social media can also be used to spread awareness about mental health and what resources are available for those who are struggling or looking for help.

However, studies have also shown that social media can cause mental health issues, especially in children and young adults. The danger of being exposed to content that is not age appropriate combined with the negative impact of social media can cause addiction, depression, cyberbullying, self-esteem issues, and social isolation. According to the National Institutes of Health, social media and excessive screen usage can cause mood changes, trouble sleeping, physical changes in overall brain function, and “tuning out” when having conversations with others.

Research tells us how harmful technology and social media can be for a child’s growing brain. It is important to be aware of your child’s screen time and what they are using it for. Setting a screen time schedule for your child can be difficult at first, but it will be worth it for their mental health and brain development in the future.

A screen time schedule includes setting limits on how long, and when, your child can use their device. You can use technology for this with a parental control app to help monitor your child’s screen time. Encourage your child to do other activities outside of electronics, such as social interaction, hobbies, physical play, relaxing or even napping.

Creating tech-free zones around the house that your child knows are “technology free” can be a tremendous help in cutting down their electronics usage. Most importantly, stay consistent with a screen time schedule if you decide to implement it. Consistency is key with any new routine presented to a child. Show them you are consistent and eventually they will be too.

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Ascension St. Vincent Evansville Awards $20,000 to Youth First

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Grant to Provide Mental Health Support and Substance Misuse Prevention
for Youth in Evansville Catholic Diocese Schools

Ascension St. Vincent Evansville has awarded $20,000 to Youth First, Inc., to invest in the health and well-being of youth and families. The award will provide mental health support and substance misuse prevention through social work services and prevention programs in over 20 Catholic Diocese of Evansville schools.

Ascension St. Vincent Evansville is dedicated to advancing compassionate, patient-centered care within their statewide ministries. Charitable contributions from supporters fund programs and projects focused on holistic care that extends beyond traditional healthcare services, allowing new ways to improve outcomes and create positive experiences for those served.

Alex Chang, Ascension President, South Region, states: “We recognize the vital importance of mental health support for students in the Evansville Diocese, particularly at school, where our youth spend so much of their time. Through our support of Youth First, we are not only addressing the immediate needs of these young individuals but also helping to foster a community of compassion, resilience, and understanding.”

The grant to Youth First will allow for continued mental health support for students in selected Catholic Diocese of Evansville schools. Youth First partners with 125 schools across 14 Indiana counties to embed prevention programs and over 90 skilled mental health professionals (primarily master’s level social workers) in school buildings, where they provide caring mental health support for students and prevention coaching for parents and teachers. Youth First Mental Health Professionals build caring relationships, foster readiness for positive change, and boost resiliency, along with other valuable life skills.

Research shows these protective factors are the keys to effective prevention of negative outcomes for young people. The organization’s positive work and strategies are driving growth, with more schools seeking Youth First’s help to address the growing need for mental health support for students.

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Helping Kids Manage Big Emotions

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By Hannah Smith-Quirey, MSW, LCSW – December 23, 2024 –

Disappointment, failure, pain, and stress are normal parts of life. But as parents, it is difficult to watch our kids go through tough moments without becoming stressed ourselves or jumping in to fix things.

Co-regulation is connecting with our kids to help them remain calm, manage distress, and learn effective and healthy ways to manage emotions. Parents have to first understand their own emotions and obstacles in regulating their emotions. We can share our calm, and we can also share our own distress.

Self-regulation consists of many skills. These include being able to identify and communicate emotions, empathy (seeing things from another’s perspective), social skills, the ability to pay attention and focus, self-soothing, problem solving, flexibility, time management, and setting goals.

Self-regulation is developed through a nurturing and warm relationship with the child, where boundaries and structure are present. Routines and consistency are essential. Kids learn to regulate emotions in an environment where the consequences and expectations are clear.

There are many self-soothing regulation activities that kids can practice. Some examples include breathing exercises, playing with fidgets or squeezing a stress ball, exercise, imagining a favorite place, listening to calming music, and completing mindfulness activities.

Dysregulation occurs when someone is not able to handle stressors. There are several things that can trigger dysregulation in kids, such as change in routine, increased sugar or junk food, not getting enough sleep, lack of exercise, new situations with other kids or unfamiliar people/environments, certain smells, bright lights, and loud environments.

Signs that a child is experiencing dysregulation include arguing, increased sleepiness, impulsivity, mood swings, using angry words/behavior, and a large amount of difficulty doing typical/simple things. Other signs of dysregulation: low frustration tolerance, inattention, difficulty listening, having a hard time remaining or sitting still, difficulty getting along with peers, trouble with simple problem solving, and inability to separate from electronics.

When trying to help our kids regulate their emotions it is important to be calm and validate your child’s feelings. Important things to remember include what causes your child to feel stressed, your child’s ability to express/communicate their feelings, and what self-regulation skills your child may already know and use.

Self-regulation is being able to manage feelings and respond to what our bodies need in any given situation. You are the greatest example for your child and can practice self-regulation in many ways. You can listen to calm music when feeling stressed or upbeat music if you are feeling down. Remember to eat healthy foods and get plenty of rest. Deep breathing practice can help decrease stress, and don’t forget that laughter is some of the best medicine.

Pause and think before responding or acting to be present in the moment. Try to name and validate your emotions, but don’t ruminate or judge yourself. You can always reassess new and better ways of handling situations, because of course we are ALL always a work in progress.

The following are ideas for helping your child regulate their emotions: Remain calm, show empathy and validate their emotions. Support your child with positive words and encourage them to use relaxation skills. Life can be very busy and chaotic, so try to avoid overloading their schedule and keep them in a routine. Kids are calmer when they know what to expect; this is why consistency and structure are key. Prioritize sleep, healthy foods, and regular activity for your child.

Self-regulation takes time to learn; remember to be patient with your child and yourself. Make sure you are working on your own emotional regulation and self-care. Practice calming techniques with your child in the calm moments, not just the heightened moments. You’ve got this!

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CenterPoint Energy Foundation to Award $100,000 to Youth First, Inc.

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Gift to Provide Mental Health Support for Students at Youth First Partner Schools in Vanderburgh, Posey, and Gibson Counties

Youth First is celebrating CenterPoint Energy Foundation for investing in Indiana youth. The organization will award $100,000 to Youth First, Inc. to strengthen the mental health and well-being of students in eight Youth First partner schools across Gibson, Posey, and Vanderburgh counties.

In attendance will be EVSC Superintendent Dr. David Smith, Washington Middle School Principal DeVon Simon, EVSC Youth First Social Worker Molly Johnson, MSW, LSW, CenterPoint Foundation President Amanda Schmitt, CenterPoint Senior Community Engagement Specialist Patricia Jackson, and Youth First President & CEO Parri Black, along with others.

This significant gift from CenterPoint Energy Foundation, along with funding from other sources, will enable Youth First to provide its school-based student assistance program and family and community prevention programs at Washington Middle School and McGary Middle School (Vanderburgh County), North Elementary School and West Elementary School (Posey County), and Wood Memorial High School, Wood Memorial Middle School, Wood Memorial Intermediate School, and Wood Memorial Primary School (Gibson County).

Youth First embeds highly trained mental health professionals in school buildings, partnering with 125 schools across 14 Indiana counties. Youth First Mental Health Professionals build caring relationships, promote healthy choices, foster readiness for positive change, and boost resiliency along with other valuable life skills.

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What Kids Really Need this Holiday Season

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By Jana Pritchett – December 18, 2024 –

The holidays are here, and kids everywhere are hoping to be on Santa’s good list. Popular toys like AI robots and flying orb balls are on many kids’ wish lists, as are classics such as bikes, LEGO sets, and Barbie.

We all hope to give our children the presents they want, but what do our kids really need from adults this holiday season? What other gifts can mom, dad or grandparents provide to help them become happy, healthy, and successful adults?

Here is my list of the essentials:

  1. Security and stability. Kids need the basics: food, shelter, clothing, medical care and protection. In addition, a stable home and family environment make them feel safe, and being part of a family gives them a sense of belonging.
  1. Full attention. Be present. Turn off your phone, the TV and all electronics and listen to them, especially at mealtimes and bedtime. Removing distractions lets them know they’re special and there’s no need to compete for your attention.
  1. Time. Spend quality family time together. Take the whole family to pick out a Christmas tree or to see a ballgame or holiday concert. Take each child on mom and dad “dates” to create special memories and boost their self-esteem, especially if they’re used to sharing parent time with siblings. Spending quality time together encourages deeper conversations and strengthens the bonds between parent and child.
  1. Love. Saying and showing your kids you love them can help overcome just about any parenting “mistake” you might make. Even when your kids have disappointed, frustrated, angered or disobeyed you, they must know you will always love them.
  1. Affection. Don’t wait for your children to come to you for hugs. Regular physical affection helps strengthen and maintain your emotional connection with kids of any age. When that bond is strong, kids act out less often and know they can come to you for support.
  1. Emotional support. Through good and bad times, kids must know you are there for them. According to Dr. Harley Rotbart of Children’s Hospital Colorado, “Parents’ words and actions should facilitate kids’ trust, respect, self-esteem and ultimately, independence.”
  1. Consistency. Parents need to work together to enforce rules. Important values should not be compromised for the sake of convenience or because the kids have worn you down. If parents are no longer together, mom and dad should still try to communicate and work together whenever possible to maintain consistency.
  1. Positive role models. Parents are their kids’ first and most important role models. Kids see plenty of bad behavior in the media. Be the kind of person you want them to become and don’t just give “lip service” to good behavior.
  1. Education. Give your kids the best possible shot for their future by stressing the importance of education. Providing guidance and teaching them life lessons during the time you spend together is also important.

Spending quality time with your kids is the best solution for just about any parenting dilemma. This holiday season and in the New Year, don’t stop with what’s on your child’s wish list. Give them what they really need — the gift of being the best parent you can be.

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The Weight of Grief During the Holiday Season

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By Breanna Dudley-Wissel, MSW, LSW – December 11, 2024 –

Unfortunately, grief is a normal part of life. We all experience grief, whether it is the loss of a job, a divorce or breakup, or the death of a loved one.

Most of the time, grief feels anything but normal and is far from comfortable; quite frankly, it is incredibly overwhelming. These uncomfortable feelings may lead us to suppress the feelings of grief that we need to welcome in to start the grieving process.

Elizabeth Kubler-Ross developed the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. What can be misleading about the five stages of grief is that we do not necessarily go through these stages in order. In fact, our grief tends to bounce around the stages. One day we might be in denial, and the next we might be at acceptance and then step back to anger. This is normal.

Grief is not a linear process. It is not something where we work through the steps and then magically feel better. Sure, the heaviness of grief eases up over time, depending on what we have lost, but there will still be days when we feel it very intensely, especially when it comes to grieving a loved one.

Grief can make us feel multiple things, and pretty commonly those feelings can be felt physically throughout the body. The National Institute of Health has recognized that some of these physical symptoms include tightness or heaviness in the chest or throat, nausea or upset stomach, headaches, weakness, tension, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, loss of interest in activities, increased irritability and hostility, difficulty concentrating, restlessness, unexplained anger, and guilt. Usually, physical symptoms occur most intensely at the beginning of the loss, but these feelings can creep back unexpectedly at any time.

Our grief can be triggered by multiple things, some of which include important dates such as birthdays, anniversaries, holidays; a certain smell, show, song or article of clothing that reminds you of the person; or a place that holds many memories. We are not always aware of our grief triggers, and that may make it hard for us to recognize why we are feeling a certain way. This can be especially hard for children to identify and explain.

As the holiday season approaches, you and/or your children may find yourselves feeling extra weighed down by grief. Please know that you are not alone. I encourage you to embrace grief in any healthy way you can. Talk about your own grief with your children to open up the space for them to share their own feelings.

Acknowledge and validate their feelings of grief, as well as your own. Share fond memories of the loved one who is no longer with you. Look through photos. Carry on traditions you had with your loved one, but do not be afraid to start new traditions as well.

In the words of Donna Ashworth, “You don’t move on after loss, but you must move with. You must shake hands with grief, welcome her in, for she lives with you now. Pull her a chair at the table and offer her comfort. She is not the monster you first thought her to be. She is love. And she will walk with you now, stay with you now, peacefully. If you let her. And on the days when your anger is high, remember why she came, remember who she represents. Remember, grief came to you my friend because love came first. Love came first.”

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The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

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By Jordyn Bryant, MSW, LSW – December 5, 2024 –

As the saying goes, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” the holiday season. Holidays can bring joy, happiness, and special times. But for so many people, the holidays can bring sad feelings and emotions to the surface, such as grief, loss, and loneliness, as well as mental health concerns and financial concerns.

Regardless of our opinions surrounding the holiday season, it is important to remember to take care of ourselves and our needs during this busy time. According to UC Davis Health, there are many different strategies we can employ to reduce stress during this time.

First, it’s important to enjoy family on our own terms and respect each other’s boundaries. Have a plan in place if you need space from your family, whether it is finding quiet time in another room, having someone you can call for a few minutes to talk, or leaving altogether. It is okay to take time for yourself, even if the belief is that holidays are meant to be spent with others.

Prioritize yourself and your health, mental and physical. Don’t overschedule yourself to please others. Maintain healthy habits. Make sure you get enough sleep, eat the things that are best for your body, and attempt some type of movement every day. Write down what you have planned, decide if it is too much for you, and eliminate some activities if necessary.

When giving gifts during the holiday season, the amount of money spent is not what is important. Give what is within your budget. A small, homemade gift is just as special as the newest, biggest, “must have” item. You can show you care about someone without putting yourself in a tight financial situation. As they say, “It’s the thought that counts.”

Lastly, if you are alone, please reach out to someone. Send a message to a friend or family member for support. If you are in crisis, help is available by calling or texting 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Hotline.

During this time when it’s easy to get overwhelmed by shopping, events, and long to-do lists, let’s prioritize ourselves this holiday season.

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Game Nights Build Family Connection

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By /Beth Thomas, MSW, LSW – November 27, 2024 –

Growing up, and to this day, game nights have been a regular activity my family enjoys. Whether it is our annual “Game Day” in the winter season where we all gather for a day of playing our favorite card and board games or trying out new games together when visiting out-of-town family, playing games has been a fun way for my family to bond.

Reflecting on all the time my family has spent together playing games, I recognize how strongly it impacted our relationships, without actually realizing it in the moment. Along with strengthening relationships, there are countless hidden benefits that come from family game nights.

Focusing on the benefits for children, playing games has a strong influence on a child’s development. Playing games strengthens hand/eye coordination and fine motor skills. Games that are especially good for fine motor skills include Jenga, Operation, and any games that involve rolling dice or shuffling cards.

When a child plays games, there is a high likelihood their grades will improve. Games entailing academic elements can help students prepare for and excel in school. Examples of games with academic elements include Uno, Scrabble, and Chutes and Ladders.

Problem-solving is another developmental skill that can be improved by playing games. Certain games help with the growth of memorization skills as well as assisting children in solving problems on their own. Examples of games that promote problem-solving include Chess, Trouble, Connect 4, and Monopoly.

Additional benefits of game playing include growth in vocabulary and reading skills, building math skills, and encouraging strategic thinking. At school, motivation levels increase, and students have stronger relationships with their peers. Children learn how to take turns, develop patience, practice playing fair, follow rules, and gain the ability to predict outcomes. From watching their family win and lose, children can also develop good sportsmanship.

Playing games has benefits for all members of the household. No matter how young a child is, they are positively impacted by this time together. Two- to three-year-olds have the skills for beginner games or to participate some, and infants enjoy the noise of conversation. Games promote family bonding through communication, working together, and making memories.

For adults, laughing and playing games can reduce stress and lower blood pressure though the release of endorphins. Not only are games an amazing way to help children develop in all aspects of their lives, spending this time together also creates unforgettable memories you will have forever.

While it can be a challenge to add playing games to the mix of work, sports practices, homework, school, and other family commitments, there are creative ways to make time. Some ideas include playing a game right after dinner, scheduling dates in advance, playing games at birthday celebrations, or even working in a short game for ten minutes. Grab a game, your family, and start your own family game night tradition! The benefits will continue for a lifetime.

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