Umatter® for Families, is a web-based resource center created for parents and caregivers of school-aged children. With content curated by the Center for Health and Learning, Umatter® for Families provides practical information, FAQs, tips, strategies, and educational resources to support family and child wellness.
Designed with best practices in family engagement in mind, Umatter® for Families can be viewed as a tool to help foster stronger home-school connections, encourage increased parent involvement, and provide up-to-date resources and ongoing support to help families and kids succeed and thrive both at home and in school.
Social and Emotional Development
Social and emotional learning (SEL) is an integral part of human development. SEL is the process that helps people develop healthy identities, manage emotions, feel empathy for others, maintain supportive relationships with friends or family members as well as make responsible decisions.
Mental Health
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.
Family Relationships and Wellness
Children feel secure and loved when they have strong and positive family relationships. Positive family relationships help families resolve conflict, work as a team and enjoy each other’s company. Positive family relationships are built on quality time, communication, teamwork and appreciation of each other.
Supporting School Success
Parental involvement, such as attending school functions like back-to-school nights and concerts or volunteering in the library, is as important as helping with homework. Many working parents find it particularly hard to be a presence in their children’s school. However, research indicates that it is worth the effort.
Physical Health and Nutrition
Good nutrition, physical activity, and a healthy body weight are essential parts of a person’s overall health and well-being.
Sexuality and Sexual Health
Being supported and safe to explore and express your sexuality can be good for your mental health. It can reduce distress, anxiety, and depression.
Internet Safety and Social Media
In our modern society, social media is one of the most common ways we communicate with one another. As parents, our main goal is to keep our children safe and healthy. One important way to help them stay safe is to teach them social media safety habits.