When it comes to promoting good mental health children and adolescents need guidance, instruction, and positive role models. When parents interact in a loving and accepting way toward their children, set and enforce appropriate boundaries, communicate regularly, take interest in their child's activities, and promote healthy habits they can be assured that they are giving their children important advantages that will go far toward facilitating good mental health.

Our September Snapshot is a recap of our most relevant Snapshots over the past two years under the categories of mental health, relationships, connection and technology.

Being mentally healthy during childhood means reaching developmental and emotional milestones and learning healthy social skills and how to cope when there are problems. Mentally healthy children have a positive quality of life and can function well at home, in school, and in their communities.

Loving, stable and responsive relationships are fundamental to children's development. It is through relationships that children learn how to think, understand, communicate, behave, express emotions and develop social skills.

Connection is putting yourself into a child’s experience; imagining what it’s like to be them. Connection is enjoying, savoring, being grateful for being in their presence. Connection is paying attention, being sincerely interested. When you tune into your children, it gives them the message that they matter, they are important, they are loved and that they are worth your time.

In today's day and age, it isn't uncommon for kids to grow up using high-tech devices like smart phones and tablets. So naturally, parents want to ensure that their children develop healthy, safe habits while utilizing the Internet and technology. The widespread adoption of smartphones and tablets and the rise of social media has added a new challenge to being a parent