Engage, Encourage and Praise

Spend undivided time with each child

Take a Spanish-only grocery store outing together and let your child build their food vocabulary. Bike ride to the park and identify tropical flowers en route. Concoct that power ball snack of honey, oats and peanut butter.

With frenetic modern life, many parents struggle to balance work and family life and feel guilty as precious childhood rolls onward. But whether working full time or staying at home with the children, create meaningful one-on-one time with children to boost their confidence and development and foster independence. Try weaving quality time into daily routines and also planning monthly (or quarterly) excursions, according to family logistics, budget and interests.

Things Parents Said They Would Never Do; and Then Do!

And how to keep the spirit of those ideals alive even when facing reality

Many parents remember the days before their children were born when they viewed their impending parenthood with complete confidence and certainty about the parents they would become. And then the baby is born. And everything changes. 

Many of those ideals are gone before a baby becomes a toddler. The trials and tribulations of parenting can be long and hard, so bending on things they thought they never would is not necessarily a bad thing, as long as they don’t break completely. They can always revisit them in the future.

Uber Voucher Can Get You to The Family Expo

More big news on meals and resources

Once again The Children’s Trust Family Expos are spread out across the county to ensure that families and children from different neighborhoods will have access to all the resources, giveaways and entertainment that these annual events provide. Getting to these events to be held on July 22 at Booker T. Washington Senior High School in Miami, July 29 at Miami Dade College Kendall Campus, and August 5 at Florida Memorial University in Miami Gardens, is easier than ever thanks to a partnership between The Trust and Uber.  

Suicide Prevention: Keeping Kids Safe

Signs to look out for, safety plans and resources

By Julia Green, with Julia Belkowitz, M.D., M.P.H., Lyse Deus, M.Ed., and Oneith Cadiz, M.D., InjuryFreeMiami.org

 Losing a child to suicide may be the worst imaginable tragedy. Unfortunately, over 25% of youth deaths in the United States are suicide. In 10-to-24-year-olds, suicide is the second leading cause of death.

Suicide is a complicated topic and impacts young people of all races, ethnicities, gender identities, sexualities, and communities.

Book of the Month: Almost Always Best, Best Friends Teaches Kids How to Handle Big Feelings About Friends

Looking for a summer camp program for your child? The Children's Trust funds different programs that stress engaging, active and educational summer camp programs.