It's severe weather season here in the Midwest. All families need a plan for what to do in the case of an emergency or natural disaster.
Be Prepared
Preparation for any emergency or disaster is key. First, you need to look at what could affect your family home. Illinois is prone to many weather-...
When parents possess six protective factors, the risk for abuse and neglect diminish. These factors are: Nurturing and attachment Knowledge of parenting and of child and youth development Parental resilience Social connections Concrete supports for parents Social and emotional...
The Week of the Young Child is an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) to shed light on the needs of young children (birth through age 8) and their families. In support, the Family Files blog articles for April will focus on...
You may have noticed that all of the Family Files blog entries this month have been about brain health and memory in honor of Brain Awareness Week. We have emphasized that exercise, a healthy diet, good sleep, socialization and stress management are all major contributors for a healthy...
"The name of the restaurant is on the tip of my tongue and it is just not coming to me." Does this sound familiar? Everyone experiences trouble now and again recalling information when needed. It is most often proper nouns like the name of a person or place. Usually the more anxious you are in...
Recently a woman in one of my programs asked me about a diagnosis that her husband had received - Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). According to the Alzheimer's Association website, MCI "causes cognitive changes that are serious enough to be noticed by the individuals experiencing them or to...
Coloring – It's not just for kids! The benefits of coloring were first recognized by Carl Jung back in the early 20th century. Recently we have seen a rise in the availability and popularity of adult coloring books. Adult coloring books often have more...
Happy March Everyone! This month the Family Life Team is going to focus our blogging efforts on brain health. Brain health is one of my favorite topics to teach about or talk about. I like learning both about keeping our brains healthy as well as understanding more about Alzheimer's and...
Everywhere around us, we see people constantly checking their smartphones. You might wonder "what could be so important that would have people tied so closely to those little devices?" Are they checking texts from friends? Facebook or Instagram updates? Work e-mails? I have become...
Rituals are an important part of life. Think of the pleasant rituals from your childhood. They generally make us feel loved, warm, and safe. Set aside a night in February to start a monthly "family night in" ritual with your family. What is a family night in? It's...
