Help with parenting & child care

Parenting is one of life’s most rewarding challenges

The demands of life and parenting can feel overwhelming, but with the right support, parenting can be one of the most meaningful experiences of your life. Our Student and Family Assistance Program offers guidance every step of the way, including reliable referrals for in-home and community child care.

Explore the tips and resources below, or call us at 800-236-3231 to learn more about the help we offer.

Address your stress

Tired and tense? Snapping at the people you love? Not eating or sleeping like normal? When the daily stress of parenting increases too much, the joy of parenting decreases – which is not only difficult for you and your family, but can also be harmful to your health.

  • Lowering stress is not a matter of willpower – it’s a healthy practice. Go for a walk, do some deep breathing, call a friend, and swap unhealthy coping habits (like coffee and soda) for healthy choices that make you feel good.
  • Look ahead to a less stressed future. Consider preparing for the next morning the night before (lunches, clothes, homework, etc.), jotting things down to help your memory, or just giving yourself permission to leave less important tasks for later.
  • Outsmart stress before it happens. Establish routines and rules to encourage your children’s cooperation and help them learn to handle responsibility. Set limits and boundaries, and be consistent in enforcing them, so everyone knows what to expect.
  • If your stress feels like too much to handle, don’t be ashamed to ask for help. Join a local parenting support group, or call SFAP at 800-236-3231 for additional support.

Find trustworthy child care

Finding reliable, reputable child care can be an exhausting and stressful process. Your Student & Family Assistance Program offers Childcare Consultation & Referral services to save you time and take the anxiety and guesswork out of the equation.

Whether you’re looking for in-home care or community care options, our partner Work-Life Specialists can work with you to identify your needs and help you find licensed, affordable providers with verified referrals, including:

  • Nannies
  • Child care and family daycare centers
  • Preschools and nurseries
  • Before- and after-school programs

Call us at 800-236-3231 to ask questions or enroll in these services, or just complete the Child Care Assisted Search form online to get started.

Set healthy boundaries

When it comes to topics like screen time and social media use, it can be tricky to know what’s best. Today’s children spend 7-11 hours in front of digital devices each day, on average, and the consequences can be serious.

Research from the American Academy of Pediatrics shows that excessive screen time can interfere with social interaction, decrease creativity, and lead to problems like childhood obesity, interrupted sleep patterns, and behavior problems.

So where to draw the line?

  • For preschool-aged children (3-5), limit screen time to 1-2 hours per day of age-appropriate material, and be mindful of your own habits – children at this age tend to mimic adult behaviors.
  • For school-aged children (6-12), set concrete limits on the ratings allowed for movies and video games, and use parental controls on specific devices. Keep total screen time to 2-3 hours per day.
  • For teenage children (13-18), start a dialogue about technology to help with awareness of their habits. Don’t ban social networks or texting (the average teen sends 6+ texts per waking hour!), but do stay involved in your child’s social media activity.
  • Parenting and Social Media [PDF] and Screen Time and Kids [PDF] offers more guidance for setting healthy boundaries around screen time and social media use.

Be prepared for challenges

While no one wants to imagine their child struggling with drug or alcohol abuse or dealing with bullies at school, it’s important to be proactive about talking with your child and helping them develop the knowledge, confidence, and skills to cope with common challenges.

  • Embrace communication. Teens who learn about the risks of drugs from their parents are 54 percent less likely to try them. When it comes to tough topics, starting the conversation early helps you build trust and confidence with your child.
  • Get to know your child. Taking the time to understand your child’s normal personality, habits, and behaviors can help you spot potential problems like drug use or bullying.
  • Recognize the warning signs that a child is being bullied. Look for unexplained injuries, frequent headaches or stomach aches (or faking being sick), suddenly declining grades or loss of interest in school, changes in eating habits or difficulty sleeping, increased irritability, or decreased mood and self-esteem.
  • Keeping Youth Drug Free [PDF] offers a wealth of useful tips and guidance for cultivating honest communication dynamics with your child – and starting a constructive dialogue about drugs and alcohol before they’re a problem.
  • Bullying: Tips for Parents [PDF] offers more detailed advice on supporting a child who is being bullied or is bullying others, as well as coping skills to help your child focus on at different ages and grade levels.
  • 5 Things Kids Need to Know About Bullying [PDF] provides a simple framework for starting the conversation.
  • Protection from Cyberbullying [PDF] gives specific instructions on what to do when the bullying occurs online.
  • Resources about Bullying [PDF] lists a range of online resources for help with bullying for both parents and kids.

Additional resources

Find more education and resources from these trusted organizations.

  • Kidshealth.org includes articles, animations, games, and health resources for parents, teens, and children.
  • Loveandlogic.com provides simple and practical techniques to help parents and teachers have less stress and more fun while raising responsible kids.
  • The Parenting Network (theparentingnetwork.org) offers articles and information to help parents and caregivers of children respond positively to the stresses of parenting.
  • Focus on the Family (focusonthefamily.com) offers advice for Christian parents of all stages and covers topics like discipline, protection, safety, and sexuality.
  • Helpguide.org provides expert information and non-commercial resources for mental and emotional health, active healthy lifestyles, and aging issues.
  • AAP Point of Care Solutions (patiented.solutions.aap.org) offers downloadable health and safety information from the complete American Academy of Pediatrics library.
  • BabyCenter (babycenter.com) offers information about pregnancy and parenting young children.