For Parents and Families

Great Kids helps you make our world a better place for kids.

For Parents and Families

We provide family-strengthening resources and tools derived from decades of child-development research to help shape a world where all parents and caregivers become competent in their ability to nurture children in their early childhoods today, tomorrow, and for generations to come.

Join our community and help make the world a better place for kids!

It’s Child Abuse Prevention Month! Nelson Mandela reminds us of the importance in protecting children and raising awareness for this cause.

Let’s be sure, as a society, to help prevent child abuse this month and every month, and ensure that every child feels safe, valued, and loved. #preventchildabuse #preventchildabusemonth @pcaamerica

Grief comes in all shapes and sizes.

Trainer and Success Consultant Laura Joyal explains the importance in acknowledging this fact and allowing ourselves and others to feel this emotion. In the end, allowing ourselves to feel grief and all of it's impacts is both a part of life and a way to be kind to ourselves.

To learn more about how to process grief and all of the emotions that come with it, check out our Growing Great Families Next Generation curriculum at the link in our bio!

Stronger attachments build stronger futures!

With stronger attachment relationships, children are better protected against neglect and abuse and grow up feeling loved, nurtured, and valued.

Our Science of Attachment Course teaches the importance of building these strong, secure attachments and how you can help families start building them today!

To learn more about The Science of Attachment, check out the link in our bio! #preventchildabuse #preventchildabusemonth @pcaamerica

Relationships are the most important factor for recovering after a trauma and to help us get through difficult times.

In times of need, it's important to have someone to turn to. Trainer and Success Consultant Zoe Lemme explains that this can be with a friend, parent, family member, trusted adult, or even a pet. To learn more about how trauma-informed professionals can help relationships and a sense of trust, check out our Hope at Home curriculum at the link in our bio.

Rebuilding relationships during recovery is essential for both the parent and child. Rebuilding and fostering that connection can allow the family to feel more connected and the child to feel safe and nurtured while the parent is on their journey to healing.

Our substance use disorder recovery curriculum, Hope at Home, recognizes this need and provides support to those looking to rebuild those connections.

To learn more about Hope at Home and how it can help YOU help your families, check out the link in our bio! #preventchildabuse #preventchildabusemonth @pcaamerica

For years, researchers have been studying the factors that may put families at a higher risk for child abuse and neglect, as well as the conditions that prevent abuse. One of these six Protective Factors is social and emotional competence to promote well-being and safety for children.

This factor supports healthy connections for children and their families, which is the main focus of our group parenting curriculum, GK Together.

To learn more about this curriculum and how it can help promote healthy connections through conversation guides, developmental activities, and more, check out the link in our bio! #preventchildabuse #preventchildabusemonth @pcaamerica

Recent Articles From Our Blog

Sparking HOPE for the Future: Supporting those experiencing substance use disorder

by Great Kids | Sep 14, 2023 | GKI Blog

“What is addiction, really? It is a sign, a signal, a symptom of distress. It is a language that tells us about a plight that must be understood.” Alice Miller. I think it’s fair to say that, just like other illnesses, no one wakes up and decides to have a substance use disorder.

Sparking HOPE for the Future: Supporting Family Systems

by Great Kids | Aug 14, 2023 | GKI Blog

So much for lazy summer days! If your family is like mine, the hustle and bustle of summer is in full swing. There are activities to go to, yardwork to keep up with, and general maintenance tasks to get done.

Travel Into Deeper Connections

by Great Kids | Jul 21, 2023 | GKI Blog

My trip of a lifetime was in a small town on the coast of Croatia that was once a part of the Venetian trade route. It has a beautiful coast for summer visitors and ancient buildings for tourists.

The city of Split was where I spent my 50th birthday with a group of friends. We had a tour guide to take our group through Diocletian’s Palace. Tour guides in Europe often have to be trained and licensed. They must prove their knowledge, and they have to be certified.

Individualizing Services to Support ALL Children and Families

by Great Kids | Jun 15, 2023 | GKI Blog

“We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails” – Dolly Parton

I love this Dolly Parton quote because, over the years, I’ve most definitely learned that while I can’t control the weather, I can do my best to make choices about how to adjust my sails. I’ve learned that in order to not just survive but thrive, I have to stay in a continuous state of learning. A state where I am present to observe and listen to what is needed. And when necessary, partner with others to figure out the best ways to adapt and adjust.

Blazing New Trails with a Strengths-Based Approach

by Great Kids | May 15, 2023 | GKI Blog

Recently, my friend and I completed a much-anticipated hike along the Billy Goat Trail in Maryland. We’ve been hiking together for years. And to date, this was the most physically challenging and picturesque trail we’ve ever completed. It required more preparation than usual, and during the planning process, I realized this was about something more than just a hike. My friend reached out because she was going through some difficult life changes and needed to talk to someone.

Communication Inspiration

by Great Kids | Apr 19, 2023 | GKI Blog

HOW WE ARE with people is as important, and perhaps more so, than what we say or do. Let me give you an example of what I mean. Imagine you’re approaching the checkout at your small local grocery store after grabbing a few items. There’s only one cashier working, and the line is long.