Since 1992
Print and digital marketing
By Somerset Public health
SKOWHEGAN — Connecting with children each day lowers the chance of them to engage in risky behavior later in life.
Read a book – Set a regular time in your child’s schedule. It has benefits outside of creating shared time together: you help set rules and routines.
Eat dinner together – Taking time to eat dinner together isn’t about the food on the table, but the conversations around it.
Ask them questions – Conversations build brain power. When kids talk seriously about what they are doing, their skills grow and their self-confidence blossoms.
Manage technology – Set limits on the use of devices. Excessive or unrestricted use can lead to challenges and reduce the quality and amount of family time.
Give praise – Praise a child for at least one thing they are doing right, even if it’s small. When children feel good about themselves it benefits their mental health and wellbeing.
Find 10 minutes to play – When children get love and support in a fun environment, they are better able to take on the childhood tasks for exploring their world and learning new skills on their own.
Put down the phone – Take time to connect face-to-face with your child.
Join a playgroup – Having friends, family, and neighbors who help out and provide emotional support with kids of similar ages can provide strong social connections for you and your child.
Take care of you – Parenting can be stressful. Find time to re-energize by taking a bath, writing in a journal, laughing, talking with a friend, or exercising.
Get support – Reach out to friends or call places for support. Dial 211 to find out about organizations that support families in your area.
See the Be a Hero social media campaign at facebook.com/SomersetPublicHealth. Find Somerset Public Health online at somersetpublichealth.org or on Instagram at @SomersetPublicHealth
Somerset Public Health is a coalition of staff members, community members, organizations, and businesses working together to improve health in Somerset County. Our goal is to make Somerset County a healthier place to live and work for the families we serve. We strive to make this happen by improving nutrition, increasing physical activity, stopping tobacco use, preventing substance misuse, promoting the responsible use of alcohol.
To do all of this, we need your help. We work with community members, schools, workplaces, child-care centers, service groups, and other community groups to make the places we visit every day healthier.
