The kids are home, and you can’t go anywhere! Talk about cabin fever. Sure, keeping everyone happy and occupied will be a challenge, but here’s a hefty list of creative resources you can use to entertain everyone and make some long-lasting memories.

There’s no doubt that many people will face financial hardship during the Coronavirus situation, but help may be easier than you think! Although assistance may vary depending on where you live and what companies you use, the bottom line is that some of the financial anxiety of keeping utilities turned on can be mitigated by a simple phone call. Various utilities (water, gas, electric, cellular/fiber optics/internet providers) have new, or very flexible, generous payment options – minimum. Many say they will not disconnect service for set periods of time regardless of payment and are automatically reconnecting service to people that have been disconnected. Often, companies are willing to work with people through a variety of programs. It’s well worth your time to call and see what works best in your individual situation.

How Do I Know if My Teen is Depressed?

Your teen has been much more quiet and withdrawn lately. They aren’t very talkative, are easily agitated and their mood has consistently been down. The big question in your mind is, “Is my teen depressed?” The teen years are filled…
Read more
,

My Spouse and I Disagree About Parenting

I have good news and bad news if you disagree about parenting. First, the bad news. Marriage researcher, therapist, and author, Dr. John Gottman has found that there are several issues couples will NEVER 100% agree on. Parenting is one of them.…
Read more
,

What To Do When Your Spouse Is A Bad Parent

If you see a difference in your parenting styles (and you will), let’s go ahead and throw out the “bad parent” moniker. This would be an inaccurate appraisal, and it’s much easier to work through parenting differences than it is to…
Read more

Why Do Secure Relationships Matter for Children?

Do you want to increase the likelihood that your child grows up to make emotionally healthy decisions?  Would you like to increase the likelihood that your child will perform well academically in school? Do you want to increase the…
Read more
,

4 Fun Ways To Connect With Your Family This Fourth Of July

Ready or not—here comes the 4th of July! But what if this year you really connected with your family, not just got the grill out and some sparklers? Holidays are a great opportunity to connect, strengthen family bonds, build your family identity,…
Read more

Why Does My Family Ignore Me?

This is totally workable. It may not feel this way now, but this situation is a great opportunity—to learn about yourself, to learn about your family, and even possibly grow closer than ever before! The fact that you are asking “why”…
Read more

VIDEO RESOURCES

HOW TO PARENT IN A WAY THAT BENEFITS YOUR WHOLE FAMILY

Not sure how to keep things “normal” for your kids during this time? Setup a routine, guide them to learn something new and helpful, and teach them how to be more aware of others and do things for the people who need it. FTF Facilitator Chris Ownby will give you creative ideas to put your parenting plans into action and benefit the whole family during the COVID-19 Outbreak.

SCREAM-FREE PARENTING (EVEN IN QUARANTINE)

Parenting is hard enough when you’re in a routine, let alone when everything is thrown out of whack and everyone is stuck in the same house together until who knows when! Join FTF President & CEO Julie Baumgardner and author & parenting expert Hal Runkel to hear some words of advice for any parent wishing they could be “Scream-Free.”

HOW TO NOT BLOW UP ON YOUR KIDS DURING QUARANTINE

Parents everywhere are feeling way overwhelmed and stressed right now. And oftentimes, that stress can lead to an explosion of frustration that comes out on your kids. So as a parent, how can you avoid blowing up on your kids? Reggie Madison, FTF Facilitator and father to 7 kids, has a few pieces of advice for you! Join him and FTF President and CEO Julie Baumgardner as they walk through lessons learned and wisdom to share.

ARE YOU SETTING A GOOD EXAMPLE OF SELF-CARE FOR YOUR FAMILY?

We all know that self-care is important. Getting good sleep, drinking enough water, eating nutritious foods is all pretty ingrained in our heads. But what about taking time to be by yourself? Or reading a book for fun? Or indulging in a hobby every once in a while? Join Reggie Madison and Chris Ownby as they talk through the importance, and the challenges, of setting a good self-care example for your family.

HOW DADS CAN CONNECT WITH THEIR DAUGHTERS DURING COVID-19

The eye rolling… The emotional rollercoasters… The miscommunications… Being a dad of daughters is not for wimps! Chris Ownby, FTF Facilitator and dad of 2 daughters, is here with some tips you can use to strengthen your bond with your daughter now, and after the quarantine is over!

HOW TO INCREASE HAPPINESS IN YOUR HOME DURING COVID-19

Right now, families worldwide are feeling a whole lot of extra pressure. And with extra pressure comes stress and tension. But is there a way to bring happiness into your home, even during the COVID-19 outbreak? Join Reggie Madison and Chris Ownby, First Things First Facilitators, as they talk through some tips on how you can bring happiness to your family!

HOW TO HELP KIDS PROCESS FEAR AFTER STORMS

We are right in the middle of storm season, and with that can come a lot of stress, fear, and anxiety. With homes being damaged and lives interrupted, many children can be feeling worried and scared as well. As a parent, how can you help your child process these emotions while going through them yourself? Join Julie Baumgardner, FTF President and CEO, as she gives a few tips for handling storm anxiety for both adults and children.

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR KIDS ARE BORED DURING QUARANTINE

Have they watched everything on Netflix? Reached the bottom of TikTok? Read every book in your house and finished every puzzle? This quarantine has left many of us without the day-to-day distractions that we normally have, which has made us… pretty bored. But how can this “time off” be used for good? Join Gena Ellis and John Daum as they talk through the concept of boredom and how to combat it!

WHAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THEIR TEENS DURING THE COVID-19 CRISIS

Angst is amplified. The tension is somehow thicker than ever. What’s really going on with teens while they’re dealing with the effects of COVID-19? FTF Facilitators John Daum and Sara Ham deal with teens on a daily basis through our RELATABLE program. In this video, they give parents an inside look into what teens may be experiencing emotionally and mentally, but not sharing.

HOW TO HELP KIDS PROCESS THEIR EMOTIONS DURING COVID-19

Your child may be acting out a little more, or maybe they’re more clingy than usual. Maybe their temperament is just a little off. We’re all affected by the COVID-19 crisis. In this video, FTF Program Director, Reggie Madison, and FTF CEO, Julie Baumgardner, share practical tips you can use to help your child process their emotions during this pandemic and beyond.

3 WAYS TO HANDLE ANXIETY ABOUT NOT FINISHING YOUR WORK AT HOME

Working from home can be a challenge, especially with young children at home. How do you overcome the anxiety of not getting your work done and potentially underperforming?

3 WAYS TO BE MORE INTENTIONAL WITH YOUR FAMILY

If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a million times… BE MORE INTENTIONAL WITH YOUR KIDS AND YOUR SPOUSE! But, what does it actually look like to be intentional? Here are three practical ways we can be intentional with your family every day without having to add one more thing to your already hectic schedule.

HOW TO MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD KNOWS YOU LOVE THEM

Is saying “I love you” really enough? Join John and Julie as they talk through how kids perceive love, how love can be shown in different ways, and how you can make sure your child knows you love them!

HOW TO HELP YOUR CHILD PROCESS WHAT THEY’RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS SUMMER

This summer looks a little different for many families. No summer camps, no sports, etc. Here’s how you can help your child process what they’re not going to get to do this year.

HOW TO TALK TO YOUR CHILD ABOUT RACE

Watch as Julie Baumgardner and Reggie Madison talk about the 9 keys to having great conversations with your children about race, from recognizing your own perspectives to being willing to learn with your kids.

WHY SECURE RELATIONSHIPS MATTER FOR CHILDREN

What if we could tell you the ONE thing that will help your child develop the skills they need to be able to face and succeed with challenges, failure, and struggles in life? In this video, Caroline and Reggie talk about the 5 ways secure relationships help children develop well and what you can do to grow a secure relationship with your child!

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

ASL VIDEOS FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED

ASL TRANSLATION PROVIDED BY

Looking for a specific parenting topic?

Drop us a line and let us know what you’re interested in. We are constantly updating this resource page with the latest research-based relationship content.

CONTACT US