Family and Child Development
America's youth thrive when their needs, hopes and visions are supported by a network of caring adults, families, services and organizations. At K-State Research and Extension, our team of experts are committed to providing resources, tools and connection to enhance youth development work and help build strong, stable and resilient families.
Children and adults with stable and satisfying family relationships experience greater emotional stability and health than do individuals who live with constant family tension and negative interactions.
Our programs focus on healthy relationships, strong and resilient families, child and adolescent development, parenting and addressing adverse social determinants of health including trauma, poverty and behavioral health.
We invite you to explore our resources and discover helpful tools and information that can support you in your daily life, whether that is with family, friends, co-workers, or others in your community.
Resources
Below are helpful resources relating to family and child development. If you have specific questions, please contact your local extension office.
Learn how to intentionally build pre-reading skills in children through reading and participating in other related activities. Learn how dance can provide physical, mental and behavioral benefits to health in this informational fact sheet. This fact sheet is a great resource for teaching children how to regulate their emotions, appreciate the emotions of others around them and control behaviors linked to strong emotions. This program helps teens and tweens navigate roles where they are taking care of younger children. Programming Materials: These resources help you understand and hone essential skills relevant to everyday life. Each lesson discusses a new skill and offers insight into how you can utilize different tools to master it. From how to effectively communicate as a family to understanding your child's development, these fact sheets offer knowledge for to many different life stages. Learn how to improve everyday communication in families by emphasizing skill building and mindful communication techniques for optimal family relationships. Assists those who are feeling overwhelmed, facing changes, or who lack management experience, to use time wisely. Focuses on child development milestones with suggestions for soothing a crying baby and identifying illness in your infant. Focuses on safety issues many parents encounter, and outlines safe sleep practices, car seat safety and the importance of immunizations. Fit and Healthy Kids is a team of Early Childcare experts from across the United States who offer online training opportunities. The programs feature diverse experts sharing evidence-based practices, resources, ideas, and the latest research. Our goal is to foster quality early learning experiences for children from birth until 8 years old. This program consists of early childhood classes that fit your time schedule. To learn more, visit the Fit and Healthy Kids website. Kansas Child Care Training Opportunities, Inc. (KCCTO) is a state-wide training office dedicated to providing quality, accessible professional development opportunities to family childcare providers, childcare center staff, and other early education professionals throughout Kansas. To learn more about resources offered by KCCTO, visit their website. The mission of the KIDS Network is to serve those who are or may be touched by the tragedy of infant death or SIDS by providing supportive services, community education, professional training, and supporting research. Need safe sleep education, professional training, or support? Find a Safe Sleep Instructor by visiting this website. Need help installing your car seat? Your best resource is the car seat manufacturer's website.
Most have videos showing you how to install your child's car seat properly. Used with your car seat manual, you will be able to install the car seat safely. You can also go to cert.safekids.org and find a technician in your area or look up your closest Fitting Station through this helpful website.
Programs
K-State Research and Extension provides programming that educates, supports and motivates Kansans to make healthy lifestyle choices that support total wellness.
Bonding Through Board Games
This one time or series of classes promotes family quality time and face-to-face interaction. Board games help develop the six traits of strong families and build vital interpersonal skills needed at home, school and the workplace.
- Bonding through board games: Soft skills
- Bonding through board games: Soft skills (en español)
- Bonding through board games: Traits of a strong family
- Bonding through board games: Traits of a strong family (en español)
Strengthening Families Program (SFP) (Ages 7 - 17)
The family skills training program effectively addresses two of the largest predictors of juvenile delinquency. Parents and youth attend weekly SFP skills classes together, learning parenting skills and youth life and refusal skills.
Strong Couples Coaching
Having a strong relationship with your romantic partner can be hard, and when you need help, finding trustworthy support can be difficult. The Strong Couples project can help. The Strong Couples project is: Six self-paced online modules. Topics include communication, commitment, problem-solving, fun and friendship. Five brief video calls with a trained coach. This program is for couples together six months or longer in all life stages. This educational program is NOT counseling. The program teaches couples to use tools that improve their relationship. Contact Bonnie Brewer at bjbrewer@ksu.edu for more information.
Better Brains for Babies
Overall health in infants and young children is an important factor in brain development. There are many things that can be done to support healthy growth and development in children. Read the fact sheets below to learn more about infant health and the steps you can take to make sure your child is growing and developing in a healthy manner.