Parent Resources Archives

Should I Expect My 6-Year-Old to Do Their Own Laundry?

When parenting school-aged children, we tend to think about if we are preparing them for independence in adulthood. Hear from Ashley Wagner, Director of Occupational Therapy at FamilyForward on how she has gauged a child's readiness, interest, and capability to determine appropriate developmental expectations. Read More5

What Can I Expect from My Child?

Child development is tricky. Each milestone—from learning to walk to mastering social skills—requires patience, practice, and sometimes setbacks. It's crucial to respect each child's unique journey, providing support and guidance tailored to their individual needs without pushing beyond their current capabilities to foster healthy development. Read More5

Strengthening Family Bonds

May 15th marks the International Day of Families, a moment to reflect on issues impacting families around the world and to promote ways to strengthen familial bonds and support systems. Read how the FamilyForward team likes to strengthen bonds with their loved ones. Read More5

Healing Hearts

Trauma experienced by children in foster care disrupts their sense of security and affects their brains, behaviors, and emotions. Learn strategies foster and adoptive parents can use in their journey to heal the hearts of the children in their lives. Read More5

Isolation and Desolation: The Need for Connection

Following the spread of COVID-19, schools and workplaces closed and Americans were faced with daily decisions about where and how to spend their time. Engagement in social supports like community centers, extracurricular activities, and the houses of worship sharply declined as people sought to avoid the risk of spreading the new virus. The internet offered an ability for many to work remotely, and staying at home became the norm for millions of people. Researchers in the areas of sociology and mental health have been studying the effects of decreased in-person social contact over the past decade and a half. These studies have indicated that having poor social relationships can influence detrimental health outcomes. Read More5

Dating on a Dime

Finding alone time with your partner can be challenging, but there are plenty of ways to creatively, intentionally, and affordably spend time together to strengthen the partnership and parenting relationship. Read More5