The Importance of Family Traditions

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By Jordyn Bryant, MSW, LSW – November 12, 2025 –

In today’s busy world, families are often pulled in many directions with work, school, sports, and endless to-do lists. It’s easy to feel disconnected from one another, even while living under the same roof. One powerful way to strengthen connection and support mental well-being is through family traditions.

Family traditions are more than just routines. While routines are about efficiency and getting things done, traditions carry emotional meaning. They are recurring activities that foster a sense of belonging and stability, such as bedtime stories, Saturday morning pancakes, or weekly movie nights. These shared practices bond the family and send a message, “We are in this together.”    Even the smallest traditions, like a goodnight phrase or a special handshake, can become treasured symbols of family love and unity.

Research shows that traditions benefit mental health in several ways. They provide comfort and predictability, which helps children feel secure in an unpredictable world. They strengthen relationships by giving families regular opportunities to connect, laugh, and share joy. Traditions also create a sense of identity and resilience, reminding children that they are part of something larger than themselves. For parents, traditions can reduce stress by offering intentional pauses from the rush of daily life and opportunities to slow down together.

The best part is that traditions don’t need to be complicated or time-consuming. A gratitude check-in at dinner, reading a book together before bed, or a Sunday walk can all serve as powerful anchors. What matters most is consistency and the emotional connection attached to the tradition, not perfection. Families don’t need to compare their traditions to others; what matters is finding practices that feel natural and meaningful in your own home.

If your family doesn’t have many traditions yet, start small. Choose one activity you can realistically commit to and invite your children to help shape it. When kids take part in creating a tradition, they feel a sense of ownership and pride. Over time, these simple practices can become cherished memories and lasting sources of comfort. In moments of stress or uncertainty, it is often the smallest traditions that children remember most, the ones that remind them they are loved, secure, and connected.

Family traditions are powerful, not because they are elaborate, but because they are consistent, meaningful, and shared. In a fast-paced world, they serve as reminders to slow down, connect, and celebrate being together. Those moments of connection are not just pleasant; they are essential to the mental health and well-being of both children and parents.

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Community Foundation of Morgan County Awards $10,000 to Youth First

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Grant to Provide Mental Health Support for Morgan County Students

Youth First is celebrating the Community Foundation of Morgan County (CFMC) for investing in Morgan County youth and families. CFMC recently awarded $10,000 to Youth First, Inc. to strengthen the mental health and well-being of students in Youth First partner schools Bell Intermediate Academy, Martinsville High School, Paul Hadley Middle School, and Mooresville High School.   

This grant will enable Youth First to provide its school-based student assistance program and family and community prevention programs to help students build valuable life skills and healthy mindsets as they grow into thriving adults.  

Youth First embeds highly trained mental health professionals in school buildings and partners with 130 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.

Kim Cole, President of the Community Foundation of Morgan County, stated: “Community Foundation of Morgan County is proud to support Youth First and their mission of helping our youth. Now more than ever, we need these front-line mental health professionals in our schools. We know the grant dollars will be put to great use. Thank you, Youth First, for your commitment to Morgan County!” Youth First President & CEO Holli Sullivan shared, “Our kids and families are dealing with busier schedules, greater stress and more complex challenges than ever. That’s why it’s so important to have easy access to skilled mental health support and prevention programs in school buildings, where students, parents, and teachers can take full advantage of it. We are grateful for a partnership with the Community Foundation of Morgan County to build strong futures for Morgan County kids.”

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Guiding Your Child Through the Journey of Loss

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By Hailey Hagan, MSW, LSW – November 6, 2025 –

Coping with a loss can be challenging for anyone, but helping children navigate the complex emotions that come with grief is particularly daunting. If you are a parent or caregiver, it is challenging to see the little ones you love in pain.

Here are some gentle ways to support your child during a time of grief:

  1. Foster Open Communication: Create a safe space for your child to express their feelings openly. Encourage them to share memories and feelings, and assure them it’s okay to feel a range of emotions, from sadness to confusion.
  1. Share Stories and Memories: Celebrate the life of the person or pet they lost by sharing fond memories and stories. Reminiscing about happy times can bring comfort and help your child remember the positive impact their loved one had on their life.
  1. Validate Their Feelings: Let your child know that their feelings are valid and normal. They need to understand that grief takes different forms, and everyone processes in their own way and on their own timetable.
  1. Maintain Routine and Stability at Home: In times of loss, routine can provide a sense of stability and comfort for children. Stick to familiar schedules and activities to create a reassuring environment for your child.
  1. Encourage Healthy Coping Skills: Assist your child in finding healthy ways to express their grief. This could include using art or play as a vehicle for expressing hard and painful emotions. Other healthy ways of coping might include spending time in nature and engaging in shared family activities.
  1. Seek Professional Support if Needed: If your child is struggling to cope with the loss, consider seeking professional help. You can reach out to your school’s Youth First Mental Health Professional or your child’s family physician for additional support and resources.

Helping a child cope with loss is an ongoing journey. By providing love, understanding, and the necessary tools to express their emotions, you can help your child navigate the path to healing with resilience and strength.

Youth First is offering Camp Memories, a free bereavement program for children ages 6-18 who have experienced the death of a family member or loved one, on Saturday, November 22. Please contact Heather Miller (hmiller@youthfirstinc.org) for more information.

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Letting Go of Perfectionism

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By Niki Walls, MSW, LSW – October 29, 2025 –

When’s the last time you tried something new without worrying about whether you would be good at it? As children, we would happily play and try something new; we were not consumed with thoughts of failure. However, as adults, we often avoid hobbies unless we believe we can master them.

At what point in our lives does this change-up happen? How can we be successful role models to students, expect them to improve, and not add to the pressure of perfectionism? 

We live in a society that thrives on performance, productivity, and perfection. This can be harmful when dealing with children. Students often feel pressured to be perfect at everything they do. If they are unsure if they will be good at something, they may avoid it altogether. The way society has made “good enough” seem like “not enough” will often push students to the point of not trying at all.

The message students need to hear is that they do not have to be perfect, or even good, at something to help them grow. Even without perfection, a hobby, physical activity, or passion can greatly support a student’s mental well-being. The fear of failure is holding many students back from reaching their full potential. Studies show that trying new activities boosts creativity, lowers stress, and even helps build resilience. 

When students only do what they are already good at, they may miss out on experiences that could bring them new joy, diverse friendships, and valuable life skills. When students try something new without the added pressure of being perfect, they can build resiliency, boost their confidence, encourage creativity, and have a positive outlet for stress. It also takes the pressure off for them to feel like they must perform well to be worthy of love or attention. Children need to learn the art of normalizing mistakes, not fearing them, while also shifting their brain from fight-or-flight to a state of calm. 

As adults, we can encourage this mindset by praising their effort over the mastery or perfectionism. Teachers and parents can also model imperfection. Try something new, give yourself grace when you fail, and laugh it off when things do not go as planned. This will model just how safe it is to take risks without fear of embarrassment.  

Growing up can be stressful and full of pressure for students, but not everything has to be about perfect grades, scores, or achievement. Encourage students to “fail” so they can explore who they really are while discovering new passions and building confidence. When we let go of being perfect at something, we permit ourselves to enjoy it. That joy can be a surprisingly powerful tool for our mental health. Maybe the shift starts by picking one thing you can do “badly” on purpose. Not only will it lighten your mood, but you might just have more fun than you have had in a long time. 

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Tim Hollander Named 2025 Champion of Youth First

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EVANSVILLE, IN – Youth First honored long-time advocate Tim Hollander at its 2025 Breakfast of Champions, presented by Toyota Indiana, on Tuesday, October 21, at Friedman Park Event Center in Newburgh. Hollander received the Dr. William Wooten Champion of Youth First Award. Hollander’s tireless passion for helping young people recognize their full potential has made him a distinguished community leader who values education, a strong workforce, and thriving families.

Hollander, an Evansville native, currently serves as President of Toyota Canada. Before assuming this position, he was President of Toyota Indiana and General Manager of Toyota West Virginia. He is a former Youth First Board Member and currently serves on the Youth First Advisory Council.

“Tim’s passion for Youth First is both evident and infectious. Youth First cares for people; they empathize with others and their perspectives to act with kindness and compassion and improve their well-being. At Toyota, we call that the Toyota way. Respect for people and continuous improvement are the foundation of Toyota and are at the core of all we do…These principles that are so intrinsic for Toyota can be seen in the values of Youth First,” said Jason Puckett, President, Toyota Indiana. 

In 2023, Tim was instrumental in championing Youth First as a partner in the Driving Possibilities initiative with Toyota USA Foundation, deepening Youth First services in Gibson and Vanderburgh County schools.

In addition to recognizing Hollander, the organization celebrated its donors, school partners, and volunteers, with over 300 guests in attendance. Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry proclaimed October 21, 2025, as “Tim Hollander, Champion of Youth First Day.”

Along with his service to Youth First, Tim has served on numerous boards while at Toyota Indiana. Most recently, he served on the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership, Evansville Regional Business Council, Southwest Indiana Regional Development Authority, University of Southern Indiana Board of Trustees, and Signature School Foundation.

Youth First partners with school districts across Indiana, embedding licensed master’s level mental health professionals in school buildings and providing family programs in communities. Youth First’s presence contributes to healthier, safer, and more vibrant schools and communities.

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Raising Confident, Independent Kids

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By Ashley Underwood, MSW, LCSW – October 22, 2025 –

Allowing your child to have independence and responsibility can be challenging. It’s difficult for some parents and guardians to acknowledge that their little ones are growing up. Just a small amount of ownership and responsibility, however, can have a big impact on your child’s development. Independence builds self-confidence, helps prepare them to complete tasks on their own in the future, and has benefits for parents as well.  

Your child’s independence will grow as they complete simple tasks. Easy tasks are best for little ones. A common example of building independence in your young child might include asking them to put their backpack and lunchbox away after they get home from school. Older children may be given the responsibility of preparing their backpack for school in the morning and hanging it up properly when they return home. While taking care of a backpack may seem like a small task, it promotes responsibility and independence.

Another way to foster independence is by allowing children to make choices. The decision can be as simple as, “Do you want to wear your Spider-Man pajamas or your Mickey Mouse pajamas to bed?” or “Would you like apples or strawberries with your sandwich?” There are countless opportunities for building independence. In the morning, let them choose their hairstyle for school or which socks they want to wear. In the evening, ask them to complete a small task such as setting the table for dinner or choosing which book they’d like to read before bed.

Making simple decisions such as this builds independence and responsibility while also developing problem-solving and decision-making skills.  

Along with completing tasks and making decisions, there are other ways you can build your child’s independence. Being consistent with a specific routine or schedule allows children to grow in this area. Consistency helps a child know what to expect each day and what will happen next. An inconsistent routine can cause confusion, create struggles, and potentially cause reactions such as a tantrum or outburst.  

Taking a step back as a parent also promotes independence in your child. Of course, parental supervision is important, and the child’s safety should always come first. It’s essential to be present while still allowing your child to explore their independence. Mistakes are inevitable, but they help both children and adults learn more about themselves, others, and the world.  

Independence should be a daily part of a child’s life. You may find that some tasks your child helps with take additional time, but they will be thrilled when they are allowed to help. Their confidence will grow with each little step they take toward independence. 

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Assisting Your Anxious Teen

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By Angel Wagner, MSW, LCSW – October 15, 2025 –

Anxiety is a common mental health condition that many people deal with. We all experience various levels of anxiety, often characterized by worry, fear and nervousness. Symptoms can range from visible shaking, agitation, and explosiveness to complete shutdown.

Anxiety affects children and teens as well as adults. For example, for many teenagers, starting high school can be a very stressful experience. Everything is new and rushed, and students have homework, extracurricular activities, and many things to do in a short amount of time, increasing their anxiety.

If your child suffers from anxiety, below are some tips and tricks to help. 

Grounding, not Grounded

Grounding exercises are a physical or verbal interaction used to remove oneself from an anxiety-inducing moment. Grounding centers the person, allowing them to focus on the task at hand, rather than the symptoms caused by the triggering event. Think about placing horse blinders on yourself. You can ignore the chaos around you and stay focused on one thing. Grounding exercises may include counting the number of objects of a certain color in a room, rubbing circles or tapping on your hand, or counting. 

Breathe, Darling, Breathe 

Breathing exercises are also a form of physical grounding. They can help calm the body and prevent hyperventilating or holding breath. There are many breathing exercises you can try to determine which works best. A go-to is box breathing. Breathe in for a count of four, hold for four, exhale for four and finally, hold again for four. Another popular breathing method is the four – seven – eight method. Breathe in for four, hold for seven and breathe out for eight. Similar to the horse blinders analogy, the focus point is narrowed to your breathing with these exercises.

A Mama Mantra 

A mantra is a repeated sound or phrase often used in meditation. Meditation is a great relaxation technique if you’ve had an anxiety-filled day. Think of the “ohm” sound often used by monks. A mantra can be a phrase repeated by your child when they feel their anxiety rise. Repeating “It’s okay,” “Live and let live,” or “This too will pass” are a few examples. A silly favorite of mine is “Goosefaba.” Try saying that without a smile emerging. Repeating a mantra, again, shifts your focus from everything around and inside of you to a familiar catch phrase.  

Many different things can spark someone’s anxiety at any time throughout their day. For example, high school students often experience stressful situations, whether it’s new classes, tests, peer situations, life at home or romantic relationship issues.

The next time your child is struggling, have them practice one of the grounding, breathing, or counting exercises mentioned above. And don’t forget about mantras to get your child through stressful moments. With proper management, teens can reduce their anxiety symptoms and significantly improve their quality of life.  

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The Importance of Labeling Emotions

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By Brooke Skipper, MSW, LCSW- September 8, 2025 –

One of the hardest things for a parent is to see their child struggle and not have the power to “fix” it. We all want happy, healthy children. In order to achieve that, however, we must allow kids to experience and understand a whole range of emotions.

When children learn that all emotions are acceptable and a normal part of human life, they can begin to cope with those emotions in healthy and positive ways. This helps them build empathy, resilience, and more positive self-esteem. When we talk openly with children about their emotions, we also teach them that we are a supportive, safe space, regardless of what they are experiencing.

Here are some simple ways to support your child’s emotion identification skills:

  1. Talk about emotions daily. Make it a habit to check in with your child about how they are feeling, and then really listen to what they have to say. Don’t rush to resolve or soothe their feelings. Be a safe support before you offer to help with solutions.
  2. Recognize your child’s emotions and respond with compassion. Again, it is easy to offer reassurance, but this may come off as dismissive to your child. If they tell you they are scared and you respond with, “There’s nothing to be scared of,” you are not hearing them as they express their emotions. One of the easiest ways to respond with compassion is by repeating your child’s emotion back to them. “I can see you are feeling sad. Do you want to talk about it?”
  3. Model, model, model. The best thing we can do as parents is to demonstrate healthy ways to respond to emotions. Kids learn by observing the world around them. When we continually show our children that hard emotions can be handled in positive ways, they will follow suit.
  4. Help your child develop a range of tools to use when coping with difficult emotions. There is no “one-size-fits-all” solution for emotional regulation. If deep breaths work for one person, they may not work for the next. Some skills can be used at home but not in a classroom. Brainstorm several different strategies for your child to have available.
  5. Ask your child to identify emotions in others, as well. As your child learns to recognize their own feelings, help them recognize feelings in those around them. What does a sad, happy, scared face look like? How can you tell your friend is angry? This helps build empathy and an understanding of how to support the emotions of others in a healthy way.
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Kids Need Boundaries

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By Audrey Angermeier, MSW, LSW – September 24, 2025 –

As any parent or guardian knows, setting boundaries with children can be challenging, especially when it comes to following through. Let’s face it, it would be so much easier to give your child what they want or let them do whatever they please all the time. There would probably be fewer arguments, less eyerolling, and fewer tantrums or meltdowns, which always seem to happen at the worst possible times.

If kids are getting what they want, there shouldn’t be any pushback from them, right? Wrong! Children crave and thrive on consistency. The ironic part is that most of them don’t even know it. However, the facts clearly show that if we are not consistent in setting boundaries with children at an early age, they are more likely to struggle with self-discipline, behavior management, and healthy social interactions with peers. The likelihood of the child becoming manipulative also increases. 

Setting boundaries and sticking to them is very important for your child’s development. According to Dr. Eileen Kennedy-Moore, implementing age-appropriate boundaries at different developmental stages in a child’s life while maintaining a safe environment will help them develop their independence. While setting boundaries for children, it is important to remember the four C’s recommended by psychotherapist Elizabeth Beiderman ­— Communication, Clarity, Conviction, and Consistency.

Communication may seem obvious, but while relaying the set boundaries to the child, everyone involved in the child’s life must be notified of those boundaries as well.

This ties in with the fourth C, Consistency. Having consistency in every environment the child may be in will help them understand expectations and respect for others.

Clarity is crucial when explaining a child’s boundaries to them. Speaking clearly, breaking down why the child has this boundary (and what the consequences are if they break this boundary) will help them understand their set expectations.

That brings us to the remaining C, Conviction. It’s important to be kind and compassionate when setting boundaries, but it’s also essential to be firm and confident. Showing a child that you mean what you say, sticking to the boundaries you implemented, and following through on the consequences if the boundary is broken are the keys to long-lasting, effective boundaries.

Parents who do not set clear boundaries with their young children may experience parental burnout, anxiety, depression, and personal relationship problems. It’s no secret that when we feel tired or burnt out, it is harder to carry out activities in our everyday lives.

Taking care of yourself mentally, emotionally, and physically is one of the most important things you can do to help your child. You are modeling healthy behaviors and helping your child understand the importance of taking care of the whole body. When taking care of yourself, you are also more likely to react with thought and purpose when dealing with negative or positive behaviors. This means fewer arguments, eyerolling, tantrums, and meltdowns. Isn’t that the kind of family harmony we are all striving for?

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