Family Resiliency
A strong family relationship provides a sense of belonging and security to all family members. Spending time together can further build emotional stability, increase self-confidence, and improve social skills.
On this page, Penn State Extension has compiled a list of educational resources on children and families, including family resilience and diversity, family meals, and bonding activities. Information on adolescence and parents as role models is included, as well.
Family Relationships and Spending Time Together
Spending time as a family has many benefits. It creates fond memories, strengthens sibling bonds, and builds positive parent-child relationships. This, in turn, leads to higher levels of adolescent self-esteem and life satisfaction, as well as lower risks of alcohol and drug use.
To build a strong relationship with your children, begin by planning and setting aside designated family time. This can help create a calming environment and make kids feel an important part of the family. More to that, spending quality time together will encourage positive social behavior and instill a sense of responsibility.
One simple way to strengthen your family relationship is by having meals together. Family mealtimes have positive effects on children’s behavior and academic performance. Dinnertime conversations reinforce positive communication patterns and provide a sense of security and togetherness.
Other family activities to consider include scheduling move nights, going on day trips, volunteering, and cooking together.
Device and Social Media Usage
Be it dinnertime, vacations, or after school activities, spending tech-free time together with your kids maximizes the potential for real-life bonds.
Nowadays, approximately three-quarters of teens own a mobile device. While it’s a great way for parents to communicate with their kids, placing boundaries on device usage is also important. Setting ground rules and providing clear expectations can minimize possible problematic situations and feelings of frustration and distrust.
When discussing cell phone usage, parents should place emphasis on children’s social media use, as well. Guiding kids to be good digital citizens and teaching them to treat others with respect is essential. Topics to discuss include sharing information and photos, dealing with online bullying, and handling offensive or sexual messages.
Strengthening Families and Building Resiliency
From making friends to coping with divorce or death in the family, children can face a range of challenges. The ability to cope with adversity often arises from the family’s resilience skills.
At the core of every highly resilient family lies a safe and nurturing relationship. To build a solid foundation for facing obstacles, it’s important to prioritize family bonding and collective efforts for dealing with stress.
Acknowledging and meeting your child's need for belonging is a good way to strengthen your family bonds and build resiliency. Parents should remember to encourage positive risk-taking and discuss the outcomes and lessons learned from failing.
Scheduling regular family meetings is another way to improve family resilience. These meetings can be an excellent tool for resolving issues and brainstorming solutions together.
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QPR Gatekeeper Suicide Prevention Training
When Multiple Options AvailableLength 2 hoursQPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) teaches you to recognize the warning signs of suicide, how to offer hope to someone in need, and how to get help. - Workshops
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Real World Training: Guiding Youth in Financial Decisions
When 08/08/2024Length 3 hours, 30 minutesLearn how to equip youth with money management and decision-making skills to succeed in their chosen career path in this train-the-trainer workshop. - Webinars
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QPR Gatekeeper Suicide Prevention Training
When Multiple Options AvailableLength 2 hoursQPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) teaches you to recognize the warning signs of suicide, how to offer hope to someone in need, and how to get help. - Articles
Desensitization to Violence: A Parent's Role
Learn how effective parenting requires monitoring media use, promoting literacy, encouraging positive content, modeling empathy, and maintaining open communication to combat desensitization to violence. - Webinars
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Smart Choice | Smart Use Health Insurance™: Farmers and Small Businesses
When 09/05/2024Length 1.5Explore crucial insurance choices for farmers and small businesses (under 50 employees), factors to weigh when choosing health insurance, and sources for more information on available options. - Articles
Everybody Walk Across Pennsylvania Program Information
Free walking program for individuals or teams from workplaces, schools, community groups, and more. Each participant is encouraged to walk 10 miles (or do the exercise equivalent) each week for eight weeks. - Articles
Helping Your Child Navigate Social Mistakes
Discover how parents can assist children in navigating social interactions, learning from errors, and cultivating empathy and communication to tackle life's hurdles. - Webinars
Kinship Family Forum: Introduction to the Seed to Supper Program
Length 1 hourDiscover essential gardening tips with Kinorea Tigri, Penn State Master Gardener. Grow your family's food economically and skillfully! - Articles
Mental Health First Aid Webinars
Individuals and groups interested in learning about mental health and supporting others in the community are encouraged to attend a webinar or contact the team to find out how you can schedule a private workshop for your organization today! - Articles
Compassion: A Strategy for Caring for Yourself and Your Children
Parenting can evoke intense stress, triggering biological fight-flight responses. Learn about compassion-based strategies like mindfulness and meditation alleviate stress, promoting well-being and healthier parenting. - Articles
Exercising Intelligence
Learn how how physical activity nurtures brain development in children. - Articles
Celebrating Heritage and Diverse Cultures
Learn how parenting involves fostering cultural pride in children, encouraging respect for diverse backgrounds, and celebrating the richness of heritage while embracing differences in others. - Articles
Decluttering with Less Hassle
Learn how to take back space in your home with these tips to organize and declutter. - Articles
What is Kinship Care?
Most people picture families as parents and children, but in some cases, parents may not even be present in the home. Kinship families and grandfamilies are relatives taking charge of grandchildren or other kindred. - Articles
Know the Signs, Ask a Question, Save a Life
Recent data indicates a concerning trend, showing an increased risk of suicide among farm families. Fortunately, there are specific, proven ways we can help those struggling. -
Farm Stress Real Talk: A Podcast from Penn State Extension
The Farm Stress Real Talk podcast focuses on supporting farmers, farm families, and workers in the commercial agriculture industry who are experiencing stress. - Videos
Connecting Children with Nature
Length 3:39This video presents the importance of adults helping young children enjoy and appreciate nature. Three tips are presented on how to guide the process of connecting kids to nature and the outdoors. - Articles
Real Talk: Farm Succession Planning
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Why Can't We All Just Get Along?
Helping your child understand and navigate complicated relationships. - Workshops
Smart Choice | Smart Use Health Insurance™ In Your Senior Years
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Mental Wellness Series: Building Resilience
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Mental Wellness Series: Fostering Mental Health in Youth
When Watch NowLength 1 hourRecorded Nov 27, 2023Learn tips on ways to develop positive coping skills for helping youth through difficult times. - Articles
Learning Through Failure: How You Can Help Your Child
Parenting nurtures resilience in children through challenges. Learn strategies to foster independence, vital for growth and learning from setbacks. - Webinars
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Mental Wellness Series: Understanding Addiction
When Watch NowLength 1 hourRecorded Nov 20, 2023Discover the science and the human story behind addiction during this live webinar.