Tip-of-the-Month
In preparation for the new school year to begin, our August Tip-of-the-month focuses on the importance of returning to a regular sleep routine as we kick-off the new school year. Children ages 5-12 need 9-12 hours of sleep per night while older students 13-18 years old need 8-10 hours of sleep to support their growing bodies and minds. Getting enough quality sleep is essential for health, learning, mood and behavior.
To help your children establish good sleep habits at any age, encourage activity during the day – especially outdoors – like playing outside, riding their bike or taking a walk. Turn off screens at least an hour before bedtime and create a calm environment and routine that signals to their body that it is time to settle and fall asleep. Keep bedtime and wake-up time the same every day, even on weekends. This helps the body get into a rhythm and makes falling asleep easier. Remind them that if they are worried or anxious to talk to someone they trust to help them get a good night’s sleep.
Talking tips with kids:
- Ask your kids about their sleep habits.
- Discuss how, as a family, you can support healthy sleep.
- Create a family plan that supports better sleep habits together.
Learn more about the importance of sleep and how to help your child get the sleep they need with BStrong Together’s Tips for a Good Night’s Sleep (en Espanol).
As the new school gets underway, helping students to feel like they belong is critical. Our September Tip-of-the-Month is all about how adults and students alike can help to build a community where everyone feels connected, accepted, valued and appreciated for who they are both at home and in the world around them.
Nurture belonging by listening and showing interest in what your child says and asking open-ended questions to truly engage. Celebrate their uniqueness and help them to embrace their individuality. Model inclusiveness, kindness, and respect and remind them that the words that they use matters. Teach them how to support others and help them to feel like they belong.
Talking tips with kids:
- What does belonging feel like?
- What does it feel like when you don’t belong?
- What does belonging look like?
- How do you know when you feel like you belong?
- Why do you think belonging is so important?
- What actions can you take to help others feel like they belong?
Learn more about building belonging in your family and community with our Building Belonging handout (en Espanol).
Our October Tip-of-the-Month is all about technology. Technology is a huge part of modern life. From schoolwork to social connections, kids use devices and apps every day. Teaching children of all ages how to use technology wisely is essential for their growth, safety, and success. Here’s why these discussions matter:
- Builds Healthy Habits Early
When kids learn how to balance screen time with other activities, they are more likely to carry those habits into adulthood. - Protects Their Safety
Guidance on online privacy, digital footprints and safe communication helps prevent risks such as cyberbullying, scams or inappropriate content. - Supports Learning
Technology offers amazing tools for education. Teaching kids how to use them responsibly ensures that devices support their growth rather than distract from it. - Promotes Digital Citizenship
Children need to understand respect, kindness and responsibility online. Learning about digital behavior helps them become thoughtful and considerate community members. - Encourages Critical Thinking
Teaching kids to question sources, recognize bias, and fact-check information develops lifelong media literacy. - Strengthens Family Connections
Conversations about technology use create opportunities for trust and open communication between parents and youth. - Prepares Them for the Future
Digital skills are necessary for school, work and life. Helping kids learn how to use technology safely and effectively gives them an advantage in our technology-driven world.
Teaching kids about technology isn’t just about limiting screen time—it’s about preparing them to be safe, balanced, and responsible digital citizens. Learn more about our BStrong Together 10 Tech Tips for Parents (en Espanol).
As we head into Thanksgiving, our November Tip-of-the-Month is focused on gratitude. Gratitude is a feeling of being thankful and appreciative, affirming the goodness in our lives and acknowledging the role that others play in that goodness.
Simply put, gratitude is noticing and appreciating the good things in life — big and small!
Research shows that gratitude has wide-ranging benefits for our physical and mental health, happiness, and success. Gratitude builds connections and deeper relationships with others, increases self-esteem, builds resiliency, and reduces depression. Gratitude practices encourage pro-social behavior leading to greater kindness toward others and research shows that grateful people are both more likely to reach out to others in times of need as well as help others and provide support to those who are struggling. And gratitude makes us happier, too!
When children and teens practice gratitude, they grow happier, kinder and more resilient.
Talking tips with kids:
- Ask your kids about what gratitude feels like and what or who they are grateful for and why.
- Discuss ways you can express gratitude towards someone and why it’s important to show your gratitude to others.
Join our 30 Days of Gratitude Challenge (en Espanol) today!
During the holiday season, remember to keep your focus on what is most important – taking time to connect with family and friends.
Building strong connections with others is vital for the well-being of people of all ages. It helps to improve both mental and physical health and leads to greater happiness and sense of purpose and support.
Strong family connection based on love, care, respect and time together helps children and teens to thrive. It fosters emotional stability and a sense of security, improving resilience and boosting self-confidence and self-esteem. Healthy connections act as a protective factor from risk-taking behavior and provides youth a secure base to explore the world and develop a strong sense of self.
Talking tips with kids:
- Ask your children and teens when they feel most connected to you and to others. Ask what are their favorite ways to connect with you, other family members and friends.
- Play with them, cook with them, watch movies or read together, have a dance party, go on a 5-senses walk, reach out to other family for a video call, create a family scavenger hunt, plan an adventure or volunteer together.
Check out our Building Strong Bonds: Supporting Attachment from Birth Through Early Childhood handout (en Espanol) for more ways to connect with your young children or our Staying Close Through the Teenage Years handout (en Espanol) for building connection with tween and teens.
JANUARY
As you kick-off the new year, it’s a great time to think about ways to incorporate healthy lifestyle habits in your family.
Family healthy lifestyle habits are important because they support physical health, emotional well-being, and strong relationships for everyone in the household.
When families eat well, move regularly, rest and manage stress together, children are more likely to develop habits that last into adulthood. These shared routines help improve energy, sleep, mood, focus and overall health.
Healthy habits also strengthen family connection. Spending time together, communicating openly, and supporting one another builds trust and emotional safety, which are key to mental well-being.
Most importantly, family habits don’t have to be perfect. Small, consistent choices made together create a supportive environment where everyone can grow, learn, and thrive.
Family Reflection Questions:
- What is one healthy habit that we already do well as a family?
- What is one small change that we could try this week?
- How can we support each other in feeling our best?
FEBRUARY
The idea of “love languages” describes different ways people most naturally give and receive care, connection, and reassurance. While everyone appreciates all of these at times, most people—children included—tend to respond more strongly to one or two.
The five common love languages are Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Acts of Service, Physical Touch, and Receiving Gifts.
Children and teens express and experience connection differently based on their personality, developmental stage, and emotional needs. Understanding love languages helps adults meet kids where they are.
This month, talk as a family about the 5 love languages.
Family Reflection Questions:
- What helps you feel most cared about?
- Do you like words, time, help, hugs or surprises best?
- When do you feel closest to our family?
- How can we show love to each other better?
- What language helps you to know that you are loved and how do you show your love to others? Note: for some people, their receptive love languages (how they like to others to show love) and expressive love languages (how they show love to others) are the same, but for others they can be different.
Learning how your child best feels cared for strengthens connection, reduces conflict and helps to build emotional security.
Fostering independence in children and teens is one of the most valuable ways to:
- Build confidence in their abilities.
- Learn problem-solving and decision making skills.
- Become more responsible and resilient.
- Feel a greater sense of purpose and capability.
Key strategies include setting clear expectations, allowing for safe mistakes, teaching life skills, and fostering confidence. This builds resilience and self-reliance.
Remember to grow with them as they grow, allowing for greater autonomy as they mature. For more tips for helping tweens and teens become more independent, check out our Teen Scaffolding handout.
Reflection Questions for Parents:
- Am I allowing my child to try or am I stepping in too quickly?
- What is one responsibility I can shift to my child this week?
- How can I encourage problem-solving instead of giving answers?
Support them, guide them, and then step back – independence grows when children are trusted to try.
Teaching children and teens how to be a good friend helps them build healthy relationships, strengthen empathy, and develop lifelong social skills. Parents play an important role by modeling, guiding, and creating opportunities to practice friendship skills. Here are practical tips you can use.
Parents can guide and support their children and teens to create healthy, positive friendships by:
- Modeling positive friendships in your own life.
- Creating safe spaces to talk about friendships.
- Emphasizing kindness and respect.
- Helping to guide problem-solving instead of fixing every issue – coach, don’t control.
- Encouraging group activities, teamwork and social opportunities.
Talking about digital friendships and responsibility in online interactions.
Reflection Questions for Parents:
- How do I show my child what respectful friendship looks like?
- Do I listen calmly when my child shares friendship struggles?
- What opportunities can I create for my children to practice social skills?
Small conversations and everyday moments can shape lifelong friendship skills.