Family Files

May is Mental Health Month, and University of Illinois Extension is joining Mental Health America (MHA) to focus on a simple, shared goal: helping people have more good days, together. MHA’s More Good Days, Together campaign is about meeting people where they are and recognizing that “good” looks...

We use technology in many ways during everyday routines, and young children don’t want to be left out. The Illinois Early Learning Project has a tip sheet that shares some ways families and caregivers can find a healthy balance...

Think about a fond memory you have. Think about how you felt, the excitement or happiness you may have felt. Think about how this memory smells or tastes. It could be the smell of your family home or the taste of a particular food. Think about what you heard during this memory. It could be a...

Habits are repeated — and often subconscious — actions that are triggered in response to contextual cues. Wearing a seat belt is an example of a habit. For many people, the action of buckling a seat belt is triggered by the contextual cue of shutting the vehicle door after you get in. Research...

Stress can be caused by normal life changes such as the addition of a baby or pet into the family or moving. Major family events or community disruptions like divorce or natural disasters can also cause a great deal of stress. Despite the cause of stress, all family members can benefit from special...

According to Google’s English Dictionary, the word “resolution” means a firm decision to do or not do something. So many of us feel that the beginning of a new year is a great time to set resolutions or goals to work on, but how successful are we? A recent study on New Year’s resolutions found that...

Growing up, I had two distinctive impressions of pumpkin pie. Both of my grandmothers made homemade pies each year, but each was a different experience. One created a delectable homemade crust with a light, pumpkin filling. My grandma on the other side made a pie that was equally flavorful but...

Each year during the winter holidays, watching It’s a Wonderful Life by Frank Capra is a tradition for me. The holidays are a natural time to reflect on one’s life. For some, the season feels exciting, fun, and refreshing. However, for others, it can be one of the most difficult times of...

Like many things, there are positive and negative effects of screen time for all of us, and it can be hard to come up with that magic amount of time that should be spent interacting with a screen. We do know that too much time spent on screens can be detrimental to youth – they can experience sleep...

The holiday season is right around the corner. When we think about this time of year, words like fun, stress, excitement, busy, grief, and family time may come to mind. We want to make the most of the time we spend with friends and family, engaging in activities, and creating memories that will...