Social Connections – Positive relationships that provide emotional, informational, instrumental and spiritual support.

Caregivers with a social network of emotionally supportive friends, family, and neighbors often find that it is easier to care for their children and themselves. Most parents need people they can call on once in a while when they need a sympathetic listener, advice, or concrete support. Research has shown that caregivers who are isolated, with few social connections, are at higher risk for child abuse and neglect. A 2023 report by the U.S. Surgeon General, outlines the damaging impact of social isolation and greater need for social connections and community.

Networks of support are essential to caregivers and also offer opportunities for people to “give back”, an important part of self- esteem as well as a benefit for the community.

Resilience Buffers Adverse Childhood Experience

When caregivers and especially children have supportive relationships, concrete supports, and social and emotional competence, they are better able to cope with adverse experiences they may encounter.

Knowledge of Parenting and Child and Youth Development – Parents Know How Children and Youth Grow and Learn

Parents who understand the basics of child development have more realistic expectations of their children. These parents are better equipped to provide an appropriate amount of nurturing, supervision, and guidance. When parents understand their roles in their children’s lives and learn about specific parenting techniques and strategies, they can form positive relationships with their children and have options for appropriate responses to typical child behaviors.

Healthychildren.org is a great resource to learn about each stage of child and youth development. They provide helpful information from prenatal to teen. Click Ages and Stages to learn more.

Social and Emotional Competence of Children – Family and child interactions that help children develop the ability to communicate
clearly, recognize and regulate their emotions and establish and maintain relationships. A child’s relationship with a consistent, caring adult in the early years is associated later in life with better academic grades, healthier behaviors, more positive peer interactions and an increased ability to cope with stress. Set the example by using words and having conversations in stressful moments, replace negative communication with neutral, problem solving, and empathetic encouraging ones (YES, this takes practice!)

Empathy is a social-emotional skill and protective factor that develops throughout a child’s life, and an early start can help children be more successful friends, students, and family members. Resources to build children’s empathy and social-emotional skills:

• Help Your Child Develop Empathy 
• Educators Can Foster Empathy
• Kids Who Care About the Common Good 
• Managing Emotions PBS Kids toolkit
• Connections Matter Georgia, Training for Adults 

Helping Students Have the Conversation About Social Emotional Well-Being
Promoting the social emotional well-being of children and youth is a primary concern of both educators and families. As we work to develop practices and make programmatic decisions that support positive school climate, it is important to remember that helping students enhance interpersonal relationships is also critical. The infographic, “Seven Super Skills to Help a Friend in Need,” was created for Mental Health First Aid by the National Council for Behavioral Health. Developing expectations that promote internal competencies of this nature can empower students to care for others as well as themselves.