National Movement for America's Children

Thriving families have high levels of parental resilience. Parents who have high levels of resilience are able to nurture their children day to day. They are also more able to get through difficult circumstances, recover and even grow from the experience.

Here are some tips you can use to increase parental resilience…

...in your own family:



Learn techniques to help you stay calm in times of stress (meditation, deep breathing, etc.)

All families go through times when they need support, whether they get it from their extended families, neighbors and friends, faith community or formal systems. Providing concrete support in times of need helps parents to continue to support their children’s development as they go through family transitions or rough times.

Here are some tips you can use to increase concrete support in times of need…

...in your own family:



Let people know when you need help

hildren are more likely to thrive when their parents have positive, supportive social connections. Partners, extended family, and friends give parents opportunities to discuss parenting challenges, see other parents in action, and arrange supports like informal child care and carpools. 

Here are some tips you can use to build social connections…

…in your own family:

Offer to provide free child care for a family member who seems to need a break so that they can make a trip to the grocery store or other errands that need to be done – alone

…with families you know:

Invite a friend to join you for a parenting class or other activity

…for families in your community:

Strike up a conversation with other parents at a playground

Building social connections is one of five protective factors – characteristics that help families and children thrive - identified in the Strengthening Families approach developed by the Center for the Study of Social Policy.

Learn more about the Protective Factors Framework here.

The National Movement for America’s Children is sharing tips every day in April for building protective factors in your own family and with the families around you.

Follow the Movement on Twitter or Facebook to see this daily content.

Sign the pledge to become a member of the Movement and you can choose to receive weekly emails summarizing the past week’s…

Families are more likely to thrive when parents have knowledge of parenting and child development. That means they know what to expect as their children grow and they have a variety of tools to nurture their children, manage their behavior and promote their development.

Here are some tips you can use to build parents’ knowledge of parenting and child development…

…in your own family:

Sit and observe what your child can or cannot do - Discuss any concerns with your child’s teacher or doctor

…with families you know:

Share child development websites like ZeroToThree.org through Facebook or Twitter

…for families in your community:

Volunteer at a family resource  center

Knowledge of parenting and child development is one of five protective factors – characteristics that help families and children thrive - identified in the Strengthening Families approach developed by the Center for the Study of Social Policy.

Learn more about the Protective Factors Framework here.

The National Movement for America’s Children is sharing tips every day in April for building protective factors in your own family and with the families around you.

Follow the Movement on Twitter or Facebook to see this daily content.

Sign the pledge to become a member of the Movement and you can choose to receive weekly emails summarizing the past week’s posts.

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