Navigating the world of therapy for your teen or tween can feel like a big, intimidating task. You might wonder: Where do I even begin? Will my teen open up to a complete stranger? How do I know I can trust this person with my kid? The pressure to find the “perfect fit” can be overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to support your child through a challenging time. But here’s a secret: finding a therapist is a lot less like making a lifelong commitment and more like finding the perfect pair of shoes — you need to shop around, try them on, break them in, and see how they really fit!

Research consistently shows that the bond between a therapist and a teen is crucial for treatment success. A 2023 study in the Systematic Review of Adolescent Therapeutic Alliance in Mental Health Interventions revealed that the quality of the therapeutic relationship is a primary factor in improving mental health outcomes for teens, whether in school-based or outpatient settings. The study found that techniques like motivational interviewing and active listening were especially effective in building rapport and enhancing treatment success.

So, whether you’re navigating this process for the first time or you’re simply switching providers, take a deep breath, and let’s break down how to find a therapist who not only fits but also helps your teen thrive.

Finding a Therapist For Your Teen

What Are You Looking For? The first step is to identify what your teen needs support with. Do they need help managing anxiety, boosting self-esteem, or maybe coping with big changes like divorce, bullying, or even navigating friendships? Look for therapists who specialize in working with teens or tweens and have experience addressing the specific issues your child is facing.

Tip: Check out therapists’ bios on their websites, organization directories, or through referral from your current pediatric providers, to get a sense of their background, training, and approach. If you find terms like “CBT for anxiety and mood disorders,” “family systems therapy,” “family dynamics”, “conduct and behavior specialties,” or “trauma-informed care,” it’s a good sign that they’re serious about treating specific issues.

Shop Around: Don’t feel pressured to commit to the first therapist you meet. Yes, you can shop for your therapist! It’s perfectly okay to “try on” a few before settling on the right one. Be completely honest and respectful towards your clinician and explain the process you are in with your child. A true family-trained provider will understand that it is crucial for the kid to feel connected in order to embrace a therapeutic approach.

Tip: Ask for an introduction video call before committing. This initial chat can be super helpful, especially if your teen is feeling nervous or unsure about meeting a new therapist. It’s a casual way for them to get a sense of who the therapist is and how they communicate, which can ease some of those first-meeting jitters. If you’re unsure, you can start with a quick parent-to-therapist conversation to make sure their approach aligns with your family’s values and goals before introducing them to your teen. Remember, this process is all about finding the right fit for everyone involved!

Check for Credentials and Specializations: Ensure the therapist is licensed and trained specifically to work with teens and tweens. Look for credentials such as LCSW, LMHC, LPC, LMFT, or other recognized qualifications. If your child has unique needs (like ADHD, autism, or learning differences), finding a therapist who specializes in those areas can enhance treatment effectiveness.

A Family-Centered Approach is Key: Teens need their own safe space to talk freely without other family members in the room. But a therapist who has a family-centered approach will view the family as part of the therapeutic process, and will engage parents in ways that are supportive, respectful, and open. While the therapist will maintain complete confidentiality about what your teen shares in private sessions, they should also be willing to communicate with you about general progress and areas where you can be helpful.

For example: You might hear things like, “I think your teen could use some more downtime at home,” or “Let’s try to find more one-on-one bonding time.” This kind of feedback is a sign the therapist is committed to the whole family’s wellness and understands that improving the environment the child is part of is as important as exploring the symptoms they are experiencing.

Inclusivity and Cultural Competence: If your family has a specific cultural or religious background, language preference, or unique values, seek out a therapist who understands and respects these aspects. You’re looking for an ally, not just a provider. A culturally competent and inclusive therapist will be open to exploring how culture, religion, language, sexual orientation, and values shape your teen’s experiences, offering a safe space to address both personal and cultural challenges.

Tip: When interviewing potential therapists, don’t be afraid to ask questions like, “How do you incorporate cultural or religious backgrounds into your therapy?” or “Have you worked with families from similar backgrounds before?” This ensures that your teen is working with someone who sees and celebrates their whole identity, creating a truly supportive environment.

Empower Your Teen in the Process: Involving your teen from the start is one of the most powerful ways to ensure a positive therapy experience. Encourage them to participate in selecting potential therapists by reviewing profiles and discussing what therapy styles resonate with them. As therapy progresses, give your teen space to share feedback — do they feel comfortable and understood? Are their goals being addressed? Discussing and setting these goals together not only personalizes the process but also teaches important self-advocacy and self-awareness skills.

Reminder: Your role here is to support rather than control. Being in therapy is their journey. While it’s natural to want to guide this process, your teen needs room to express their needs, boost a sense of agency and confidence, and reinforce that their voice matters.

When Is a Therapist the Right Fit for Your Teen?

You’ll know you’ve found a good fit when your teen seems more relaxed, open, or engaged.They show interest in attending sessions and they start sharing small snippets of their progress, like “The therapist gave me this breathing exercise, and it actually helped. “It’s okay if it takes a few sessions to see these signs—trust is built over time, especially with teens!

How Do You Know It’s Not the Right Fit?

If it feels like a struggle for your child to open up after several sessions, or if their discomfort with the therapist isn’t improving over time, it may not be the right fit. Notice if your teen frequently dreads sessions, becomes more withdrawn afterward, or shares that they feel misunderstood. Also, look for signs like worsening behavior issues at home or school, or a growing sense of hopelessness. Trust your instincts, and theirs—therapy should be a safe space where they feel heard and supported, not one that adds stress or anxiety.

What to Do If Therapy Isn’t Working Out For Your Teen

Sometimes, even after trying, it’s clear the match isn’t right. Maybe your teen doesn’t feel connected, or the therapist’s approach just doesn’t seem to be clicking. That’s totally okay! Therapy isn’t one-size-fits-all.

If you don’t notice progress, start by having an honest chat with your teen—ask how they’re feeling about the sessions. Sometimes, a small tweak in the approach or even a different type of therapy can make all the difference. Don’t hesitate to loop in the therapist too; they might offer helpful suggestions or even refer you to another professional who’s a better match.

Above all, don’t let bumps in the road get you down! Keep searching until you find the therapist who truly “clicks” with your teen. It might take a bit of time, but the effort will be worth it. Your family deserves a compassionate therapist who sees you as part of the solution. So, lace up, be patient, and remember: your teen’s mental wellness is always worth the journey!

Welcome to Family Reset, a monthly column and must-go destination for all parents seeking guidance (and grasping for some sanity) in the wild adventure of raising children. Behind this compelling and candid read is New York psychotherapist, writer, editor, and “mommyyy” Zuania Capó, (or just call her Z), a compassionate, multicultural, and integrative therapist passionate about supporting families to thrive and connect. Armed with a touch of wisdom, insightful tips, a witty spirit, tons of honesty, and a sprinkle of humor, she is here to help you navigate the complexities of parenthood while prioritizing your well-being.

Family Reset is not just a source of advice; it’s a vibrant community where parents can find inspiration, share their stories, and realize they are not alone in the exhilarating roller coaster ride of parenting. Have questions? Want answers? Get ready to hit that reset button and connect with Z at zcmentalhealth@zuaniacapo.com.

Before you go, check out our favorite mental health apps:

Sollis Health wants to address that need. The concierge medicine provider just launched a new Family Membership plan designed to support families with kids under 18, offering access to Sollis’ ER-boarded physicians as well as allergen testing, a complimentary house call, and concierge pediatrics in some locations. The new plan, which Sollis says is the first of its kind, also comes with unlimited appointments 24/7, 365 days a year, and “expedited access” to Sollis’ network of doctors and specialists.

Sollis Health isn’t available everywhere, but for some families, the convenient service may be just what the doctor ordered. Keep reading for more info on Sollis and the new Family Membership, costs, and locations.

Our mission at SheKnows is to empower and inspire women, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Sollis Health is a SheKnows sponsor, however, all products in this article were independently selected by our editors. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

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What is Sollis Health?

Sollis Health is a concierge healthcare provider, meaning that you pay a flat fee for access to its services. A huge benefit is that you don’t need to go through your insurance to do it — you deal directly with your doctor’s office with no surprise fee. While concierge providers like Sollis may be more expensive than going through your insurance to find providers, there are a lot of perks. For example, you can get in to see a doctor much quicker because doctors see fewer patients than in a traditional office; according to Sollis, their same-day appointment waiting time is just 3.5 minutes or less, versus 3.5 hours in a traditional ER.

Sollis offers a wide range of services, from everyday and urgent care to ER-level emergency care. For the new Family Membership, benefits include the same 24/7-365 unlimited appointments, along with a complimentary house call, a consultation for each family member, and a complimentary allergy panel. For members in Los Angeles, a Family+ membership includes access to concierge pediatrics.

According to a press release shared with SheKnows, such services have been in demand. Nearly 60 percent of current Sollis members have asked for expanded pediatric or preventative care, and over half of existing members currently have children. “For years, we’ve heard from our parent members that they want to come to Sollis for any issue, emergency or common,” Brad Olson, CEO of Sollis Health, said in the press release. By combining the company’s concierge approach to emergency and urgent care with everyday family care, “we’re setting a new standard for how healthcare should be delivered,” Olson added.

How much does Sollis Health Cost?

A standard membership at Sollis Health is $290 per month, while a Select Membership (which includes unlimited X-rays, EKGs, and mobile ultrasounds, as well as three house calls per member and other benefits) is $830. The Family Membership plan starts at $10,000 a year for a family of four and covers unlimited visits for both emergency and everyday care. Before you balk at the price, know that a traditional ER visit can set you back $5,000 out of pocket with insurance — and $20,000 or more without.

Sollis Health Locations

Sollis Health offers locations in New York City, the Hamptons, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and South Florida. If you’re intrigued, check out their website for more information or email sollismembership@sollishealth.com to join and be the first to experience the new Family Membership.

Of course, it’s not like we don’t know that social media can and does have a detrimental effect on body image, but the time parameter is startling to see. It took less than 10 minutes for those unrealistic body standards to stick in users’ minds, and for them to feel worse about themselves. The study looked at women between the ages of 18 and 28, but parents reading the results might feel worried for their social media-savvy kids who are even younger. If twenty-somethings could feel those negative effects so quickly, what about teenagers?

We already know that social media can push teens towards eating disorders. An article in Frontiers in Psychiatry, published in February 2024, noted that “misuse of social media platforms is likely a significant contributing factor” when it comes to the rise in eating disorders among teens. The authors cited longtime trends like “thinspiration” or “fitspiration” on social media that can “serve as a trigger” for those already struggling — and to which we could add more recent, TikTok-led trends like the “clean girl aesthetic,” “bigorexia,” and even “what I eat in a day” videos, which invite viewers to judge or emulate a TikToker’s food intake. In one 2019 study, increased use of Instagram and Snapchat were correlated with much higher scores on the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire, as well as with disordered eating among girls.

The evidence continues to pile up that social media can do damage to young people’s body image. “Diet culture is a multi-billion dollar industry,” points out Sammi Farber, a psychotherapist, coach, and TikToker who specializes in helping clients recover from eating disorders. “Children, young adults, and teens don’t realize that what they’re watching is quite literally brainwashing them in a matter of seconds.”

That’s a scary prospect for parents, and the question becomes: when it takes so little time for teens and tweens (and even adults) to feel the effects of eating disorder content, how can we help them stay safe? When your teens are spending hours on TikTok every night, is there any hope?

The most vulnerable age

By many accounts, social media has just made teen- and tween-dom even harder. “We’re talking about such a malleable age,” Farber tells SheKnows. Kids are trying to figure out their identities, their friend group, and their academics while going through the hormonal chaos that is puberty. The messages they absorb at this time make a huge impact, and social media, where kids are increasingly spending the bulk of their time, has an outsize influence.

Farber believes the unspoken messages are some of the strongest. She points out one of the filters on TikTok Live, which allows users to slim their jawline while streaming. “It literally makes your face smaller,” she says, adding that there’s no option to do the opposite and make your face bigger — or if there is, it’s presented as a joke, as fatness often is. The message? “You need to be smaller in order to look better,” Farber says. It doesn’t have to be said out loud for kids to hear it loud and clear.

The rise of influencer culture on social media is also relevant. Now that “regular people” can become Internet celebrities, they appear more accessible and relatable than the stars we used to only see on our TV screens or splashed across magazine covers. Today, teens and tweens are increasingly looking up to “these average people,” Farber says, “who are just sitting in their bedrooms talking to a screen.” Kids who see that and want to be that are also absorbing the message that they need to look and be a certain way to make that happen — and that if these normal people can do it, they should be able to, too.

And sure, it’s not just eating disorder content taking over. Other schools of thought still exist; body positivity has a stronger hold than it did a few decades ago, and eating disorder recovery accounts are trying to balance it out. But it seems like for every pro-recovery, positive body image video you see, there are 10 more idealizing thinness and everything that seems to be culturally paired with it: bright green juices, spotless white apartments, wrinkle-free leggings, ultra-smooth hair and glazed makeup. It all works to glamorize of an idealized, thin body type that never fully lost its power since its heyday in the nineties and early 2000s. Those unspoken messages — that this is what beauty is — are often so much louder than the voices telling teens that they don’t have to change their bodies to be beautiful and loved.

TikTok isn’t the real problem

But while TikTok and other social media may provide the platform for these messages, they’re not the root of the problem. It’s also worth noting that TikTok has pushed back against the recent PLOS ONE study, noting that it has “has significant limitations, does not reflect the experience of our community, and was conducted three years ago,” a spokesperson told SheKnows. “We continually enhance our platform and policies to promote a positive and safe experience, and regularly consult with experts, remove content that violate our policies, and provide access to supportive resources.”

But even looking at social media in general, these apps aren’t creating the movement towards eating disorders. In reality, they’re “just reinforcing what people are already thinking,” Farber says. And when you live in a fatphobic society, fatphobia and pro-eating disorder content will be what teens see.

These videos prey on viewers who have already internalized their messages. Young ones — who maybe aren’t as firm in their sense of self — are all the more vulnerable. “Here’s someone who has struggled with loving their body or connecting to it, or having a healthy relationship with food, and they’re consuming these videos,” body liberation therapist Breah Robinson tells SheKnows. “That further exacerbates the problem.”

Our idea of health and “wellness” is also totally “rooted in image,” Robinson says. You can be healthy at any size, but our idea of health is so centered around weight, it’s nearly impossible to tease them apart. And often, that message is being sold to us from brands and companies seeking to make a profit out of our insecurities, starting from our teens and tweens or even younger.

“There’s nothing wrong with wanting to look a certain way, but we have to know that that still came from somewhere,” Robinson adds. It’s necessary to trace that desire back to its root, “no matter how healthy or unhealthy it may be,” she explains. “Once we can really acknowledge those things, we can take the time to really sort through what serves us and what doesn’t.”

What can parents do?

Look inward first. Both experts see this as a crucial first step for parents looking to protect their teens and tweens from social media’s pro-eating disorder content. “It starts with as a parent learning to unlearn, because a lot of what we value in our society is very harmful for our kids at a very impressionable age,” Robinson says. It’s time to do some deep reflection about your own relationship with food and your body, Farber agrees, “because nothing is more like a sponge than your child looking at you.”

Assess your behavior around food and your body. “If you’re staring at the mirror and you’re tearing yourself apart, and you’re weighing yourself multiple times a day — your kid is seeing all of this,” Farber says. If you serve your kid pasta but you only eat a small salad, that’s sending a message too. “They pick up on it at any age,” Farber adds.

Change your language. One fix you can make right now: Stop referring to foods as “good” or “bad,” Robinson says. Assigning moral value to food is a quick way to steer kids towards disordered eating. Instead, tell them what purpose the food actually serves, Robinson says. Some food, like fruits and veggies, are nutrient-dense; others, like bread and other carbs, provide fuel and energy. Sweet treats might give us a little burst of joy when we eat them, and that’s valuable too.

Don’t set stringent social media restrictions. “The more you tell your kid that they can’t do something, the more they’re going to want to do it,” says Farber — a lesson parents know all too well. Your teen will find a way to do it anyway, and now they’ll keep it a secret. While it’s OK to have some time away from screens together — like at dinner or before bed — telling your teen they can’t follow a certain account or can only spend a certain amount of time online is likely to backfire.

Instead, start a dialogue with your teen. Drop the “you can’t!” and try “Let’s talk about it,” Farber says. Try asking your kid what they like about the posts and accounts they interact with online, and share some posts or trends you like too. “It’s about having conversations and keeping connected with your kids, because social media isolates children,” Farber explains. “The more open you are with your kid, the more open they’ll be with you, and it’s not a one-sided conversation.”

Help them explore what truly serves them. At the end of the day, you have to give your teen some independence here. They have to be able to decide what they do online — because no matter how hard you try to impose controls, they’ll find a way around them. (These are teenagers, remember?) What you can do is help them figure out how they feel their body — not what society is telling them they should think or change. “We’re consumers, and we live in a capitalist society, and we are always chasing after ideals,” Robinson explains. When you don’t have a set of internal, guiding values — or if those values are the very same messages you’ve consumed — you aren’t truly connected with yourself or your body, she explains. But if your teen can figure out what actually matters to them and serves them, that gives them a “grounding place,” allowing them to observe but not be swayed by all the messages around body image.

Be compassionate with your own biases. We’ve all grown up in a culture saturated with fatphobia and diet culture, so it’s understandable if you’ve internalized them. In Farber’s practice, she says she’s seen parents turn on each other over their kids’ body image issues, rather than recognize how their own patterns might contribute. But those internalized issues don’t make you a bad parent, Farber stresses. It’s likely you didn’t know any better. Now that you do, you can move towards healing yourself and helping your teen at the same time.

Reach out for support. You don’t have to do this on your own. If you’re concerned about your child’s relationship to food, Robinson recommends reaching out to a Health At Every Size (HAES) dietitian for guidance. You can also pick up a book or listen to a podcast on unpacking fatphobia or raising a body-positive child. As Robinson says, “It’s never too early to learn or relearn for yourself and your family what a healthy food relationship is.”

Before you go, check out our favorite quotes to help heal your relationship with food:

A new report from Common Sense Media took a closer look at all of the above, and while the report focused on the intersection of AI and school, it also unearthed some notable statistics about how teens use AI to feel less alone, and for help with personal problems.

The report, based off a nationally representative survey of over 1,000 teens, found that 15 percent of respondents said they’ve used generative AI to keep them company — aka to stave off loneliness. Of those teens, 17 percent were girls (vs 11 percent boys). Black teens were also more likely to use AI for this purpose, with 26 percent of Black respondents saying they rely on AI for company compared to 11 percent of white and 18 percent of Latino respondents.

Loneliness is considered a mental health issue because of how closely it’s related to things like anxiety and depression. And it’s not just mental health either; among adults, loneliness has been linked to dementia, stroke, and heart disease, among other physical health issues.

Of course, the way to become less lonely is to develop genuine connections with other people, like friends or family members. There’s not a lot of research out there on whether AI can actually help loneliness (and none, that we could find, focusing on teens) but a 387-person survey conducted by the nonprofit news organization The Conversation found that while “social support can come from either humans or AI – and that working with AI can indeed help people,” AI can’t totally replicate human-to-human connection. The authors concluded that “entirely replacing in-person friendships with robot friendships could actually lead to greater loneliness.”

So what does it mean that teens are starting to rely on AI for support with loneliness — and more? Because the Common Sense report also found that 18 percent of teens surveyed use AI to get advice on personal issues — and that, once again, the numbers for teens of color were higher. According to the survey, 25 percent of Black teens and 22 percent of Latino teens used AI for help with personal issues, compared to 14 percent of white teens.

As parents, the idea that a computer is stepping into support your teen is understandably a little jarring — and scary. “We have become a society that is so comfortable to think we are having relationships through our devices and we’re not,” Jennifer Kelman, a licensed clinical social worker and family therapist with JustAnswer, told SheKnows. “Those are not relationships. Relationships are face-to-face human interactions that enhance us, and we’ve lost the art of interpersonal connection because of our devices.”

And Kelman says the new report, and especially the numbers on loneliness, shows just how much teens are yearning for the real deal. “What [teens are] saying is, ‘My goodness, I’m so lonely… I’m longing for that connection,'” she explains. “But nobody’s having connection because their faces are looking down in their devices.”

Kelman also points out the movement of “AI boyfriends” — using AI as a romantic companion — as another example of AI replacing integral person-to-person relationships. “If we don’t know how to get along with people and we don’t know how to connect and look at someone in the eye, then what could be better than having the AI boyfriend who does everything I ask them to?” she explains. “It’s almost like, why wouldn’t [teens] go for that when we’ve just handed them this new technology?”

But the thing is that AI can’t fully replace the deep fulfillment that comes with a true connection to another person. So how can parents help their teens, who might be using this technology to fill that void? It starts with a conversation and showing genuine curiosity in their life. And it’s about sustaining that curiosity and openness, letting your teen know that they can come to you whenever and wherever, with whatever they need to talk about.

Sure, AI can be there for them at a moment’s notice, with instant solutions that might or might not work. But you, as their parent, can give them something AI can’t: a genuine love for them that comes from knowing and caring for them their whole lives. That true, deep connection is something AI can’t replicate, and it’s what can help to soothe your teen’s loneliness, whenever it strikes.

Before you go, check out our favorite mental health apps:

The kids are back in school and you know what that means: cold and flu season is just around the corner, if it hasn’t stopped by your house already. It’s officially time to hit the pharmacy and stock up on your Tylenol, ibuprofen, and natural cold remedies before they run out. One more tool you may want to keep on hand for sick kids, teens, and tweens? Stay with us here: vomit bags.

Yes, we know, you might be wondering why vomit bags even exist (outside of like, the seat-back pocket in an airplane) when regular old trash bags and, you know, the toilet get the job done just fine. To answer that, let’s hear from someone who really knows what she’s talking about: a pediatric emergency room physician, who listed vomit bags as the first thing you need to get your kids through cold and flu season.

“When I tell you these vomit bags have saved me!” Dr. Meghan Martin, the ER doctor and mom of four, said in a TikTok posted earlier this month. Dr. Martin went on to point out one of the biggest benefits of the disposal bags: “They just twist and tie and you can just toss them in the trash can.” No more wrangling with the trash bag ties while your kid’s half-digested lunch slides around inside (apologies for the visual) — these bags close with a simple twist, like you’re storing a loaf of bread. You then secure the twist in a ring around the top of the bag, preventing any leaks.

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The vomit bags, sold on Amazon, are also stink-proof, so you don’t have to worry about any smells if you can’t make it to a trash can right away. They’re also easy to store, as they come packed in a flat, disc-like shape that you simply unfold when the need arises. And the bags even contain measurement marks on the outside to help you keep track of just how much is coming up when your kid is really sick — which is helpful info to have on hand if you take them to the doctor.

Many reviewers on Amazon said they keep a couple vomit bags in their car in case of motion sickness, while others stash them in their bag before hopping on a flight. When it comes to cold and flu season, these are the perfect size to slip into your medicine bin or cabinet, and you can even store a few in your kids’ bedside tables, just in case. Reviewers called them a “must have for traveling with kids,” adding that the bags are “so convenient.” Another person praised the bags’ durability, saying they accidentally dropped one on the floor and it still held up with no leaks or breaks in the material.

Look, we know vomit bags aren’t the most exciting items to add to your Amazon cart, but, like many cold and flu tools, they’re one of those things you won’t even think about until you need it. Stock up now so you’re prepared when you hear the inevitable “Mom, I don’t feel so good…”

Before you go, shop more of our favorite all-natural cold and flu treatments for kids:

Eva Mendes is passing on the mental health advice she gives to her daughters — and the strategies she relies on for her own anxiety.

“The way I deal with their anxieties, a lot of the time, is similar to how I deal with my own anxieties, [which] is to get up and move,” Mendes said in an Instagram Story, per E! News. Mendes clarified that movement has a broad definition in this case: it “can be anything from an impromptu dance party in the kitchen… or if there’s a trampoline nearby, I love a trampoline for movement.”

For her daughters Esmeralda, 10, and Amada, 8, who Mendes shares with husband Ryan Gosling, “it takes seconds into dancing for them to just snap out of their head and into their body… and it works for me as well.” Mendes’ favorite music to dance to? Songs from the 90s, of course.

The actor said that when she can’t play music or get them to a trampoline, “I love to take a walk… just to rid them of these anxieties that they have. I tend to do something more physical when possible.”

She also asked fans to share their anxiety-busting tips, writing on the video, “I’ll share mine if you share yours. Let me know what works in your house. These aren’t always foolproof but they help sometimes.”

Mendes is right about movement being a great way to reduce anxiety. Per Mayo Clinic, exercise releases endorphins, aka hormones that relieve pain, decrease stress, and improve your mood. Plus, exercise forces you to think of something besides whatever is making you anxious, forcing you to focus (even if briefly) a physical activity instead of your mental chatter. Or, as Mendes describes it, getting you out of your head and into your body, breaking up any anxious mental cycle you might be in.

It’s not the first time Mendes has spoken about her history with anxiety. In a recent Instagram video, she said anxiety is almost “built into my culture,” explaining that “when we were mad, we yelled. When we were happy, we yelled.” While Mendes said she loves her family and Cuban heritage and “wouldn’t have it any other way,” the result was that she was “very, very anxious” as a child.

“That was all being received by my nervous system as like panic, panic. Things are not OK, things are not safe,” Mendes explained. “And it took me so long to realize that so much of that was or is cultural and how I grew up.” Mendes’ forthcoming book, Desi, Mami, and the Never-Ending Worries, is intended to “open a dialogue” between kids and caregivers around anxiety, the actor explained.

According to the book’s description, it’ll also offer different ways to approach and manage the “never-ending worries” that come with anxiety. Based off Mendes’ video, we’re betting exercise — whether walking, dancing, or jumping on a trampoline — will be part of it.

Before you go, check out our favorite mental health apps:

The tween had fallen into a social media algorithm that served him a never-ending scroll of gym bros, lifting heavy weights and preaching the gospel of eating more protein, while flexing their bulky biceps and displaying their six-pack abs. As an impressionable and growing boy, the message was ingrained: your worth is directly tied to your size — and for boys, bigger is better.

“He would just start asking about food and the types of food we were eating as a family — specifically the protein,” the mom, who spoke to SheKnows on the condition of anonymity, says. “He’d also say things like, ‘I shouldn’t be eating carbs’ or if he ate a cheeseburger and french fries he’d say, ‘I’m off my diet.’”

As a parent of a teenage girl, this mom had always been careful about how the family spoke about food, conscious that they should eat a healthy variety of all kinds of things and not demonize any one food group along the way. She knew her daughter would pick up on troubling signals about diet culture that could quickly spiral into body image issues or even disordered eating. She didn’t anticipate that her son was equally vulnerable.

“He was starting to be more conscious of wanting to ‘build a six-pack’ around 12 years old,” the mother of two says. “He is kind of preconditioned to wanting to look strong, show off his guns, and all of those things. He’s just been wired that way more than his sister.”

Now 13, the boy’s parents have allowed him to take up some light, but not extreme, weightlifting under the supervision of his dad, to supplement his tennis, skiing, and skateboarding. They don’t think his diet or his physical activity have gotten to the point of concern, but they do keep an eye on it so that it doesn’t escalate into unhealthy behaviors.

These parents in Arizona are not alone in their concerns. Gym culture has infiltrated the American boy’s life in a new way, thanks in large part to social media and YouTube. According to Newport Academy, a mental health treatment program for children and teens, 25 percent of adolescent boys are worried about not having enough muscles. A 2021 study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health found that a quarter of 4,489 male participants between the ages of 16 and 25 were also worried that they didn’t have enough muscles, and 11 percent had used products like creatine or anabolic steroids to increase muscle mass.

What is bigorexia and what’s driving it?

Of course, an interest in gym culture — or wanting bigger muscles — isn’t inherently unhealthy. But at its extreme, this kind of muscle dysmorphia is called bigorexia. According to the American Psychiatric Association, it’s a condition in which a person has an obsessive and exaggerated belief that their body is too skinny, too small, or not muscular enough. It can lead to preoccupations with weight, body image, and disordered eating behaviors. 

Erin McTiernan, a pediatric psychologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, says that she wishes more parents were aware of the pressures boys are feeling when it comes to their bodies, taking special care to know what they’re looking at on social media and if they’re being bullied at school about fitness routines or diets. (To that end: In a recent SheKnows survey of teen boys, 50 percent of respondents said friends influenced their body image the most, followed by social media at 36 percent.)

Some of the symptoms to watch include whether an adolescent boy becomes distressed if he’s not able to fit in a typical workout, like during a vacation, for example. Or If his meal plan is getting in the way of doing normal activities like eating pizza at a friend’s house. 

“We have seen more teen boys presenting with disordered eating, excessive exercise, steroid use, and body image concerns than we have in the past,” McTiernan says. “However, we know that the stigma among males to share their feelings about these concerns remains high…there are likely many boys who are struggling who may not be getting the help they need.”

Experts like McTiernan say that while social media may be a big contributor to bigorexia and associated body image and eating disorders, boys may also feel the societal expectation for men to look “tough” and “strong” — something one 16-yea-old teen who talked to SheKnows relates to. “I do feel some sort of pressure to be muscular and bigger to show my masculinity and to look the part of being strong and able to not be messed with,” the teen, who requested anonymity, says. “I believe it all stems from boys needing to be bigger and stronger in order to be accepted and to be masculine. Without being masculine, boys are often not valued as much.”

Unfortunately, today’s male adolescents have more opportunities to compare themselves to others through TikTok and other apps. Just like girls, it can create a skewed perception of the perfect body composition. And in either case, young people are often comparing themselves to the adults they see on screen.

John, 18, says now that he’s older, he focuses more on staying fit than building muscle, but when he was younger he got caught up in his appearance. Like many of his peers, he didn’t want to be the “skinny” guy.

“I started seeing a lot of fitness influencers online and YouTubers posting from their gym every day,” he says. “And these guys are just, like, freakishly huge dudes who have been working out for like 20 years to get this body…it’s just this unrealistic expectation.”

Maverick, 19, has noticed the same trends among his friends. “Some had trainers give them plans [to gain muscle], but some do look it up on the Internet and say, ‘Oh, I want to look like this person. What do they do? Let me try this.'”

What can parents do to support boys?

According to the National Alliance for Eating Disorders, people experiencing bigorexia may display behaviors that include:

If caregivers see concerning signs among their boys, McTiernan suggests first meeting them with curiosity about why they’ve become so rigid about their meals and exercise routines. Then, try to find out what’s motivating it.

“Ask about conversations among their friend group about fitness routines or diets,” she says. “Parents can also help educate their sons on the importance of fueling their bodies with a variety of foods and taking rest days to promote recovery.”

“The conversations about it aren’t had enough,” admits Maverick, who says that body image and working out are topics he’s discussed with friends. “But when they are, they tend to be very meaningful and serious. No one’s joking around. [Friends] have said to me that, you know, we can trust each other.”

In addition, just talking through puberty and how this phase of life can bring feelings of discomfort and self-consciousness for everybody can help alleviate some fears and validate the array of feelings they’re experiencing. Boys, just like girls, need to know that what they’re going through is normal — and often uncomfortable.

Caregivers can also keep an eye on the messages boys get at practices, too, if their boys are participating in sports. 

“Coaches also play a key role in creating healthy habits in their athletes,” McTiernan says.

If a boy’s symptoms of body dysmorphia continue, parents should consider making an appointment with their child’s primary care doctor to make sure his body is growing the way it should. McTiernan suggests informing coaches and athletic trainers so that they can keep an eye on the situation. A therapist and dietitian who specialize in treating eating disorders can also help.

As for the mom in Arizona, her son is firmly entrenched in a skateboarding phase now. The after-school weightlifting sessions he used to attend with his friends have been replaced by hours at the skatepark. Though he still occasionally thinks about his protein intake, he isn’t quite as obsessed with his body composition as he once was.

Nonetheless, his mom is glad she’s more aware of the issues and pressures that boys like her son are feeling, so that she can help him make healthy choices for his long-term health.

“I tell him that what he’s feeling is natural and that we all go through it,” she says. “We help him not go to the extremes in any one thing, whether it’s diet or weightlifting or whatever. We just continue to monitor it and just let him be a kid.”

We pediatricians use weight to track growth, and it’s one of many indicators of overall health. But how it’s discussed can sometimes make children feel self-conscious or ashamed.

As the body positivity movement rises and we learn more about the harmful effects of body shaming, it’s more important than ever for parents and healthcare providers to approach weight with sensitivity and care. Here’s how to ensure those critical growth checks don’t turn into a moment that negatively impacts your child’s self-image. 

Why Weight Is Still Part of the Conversation

Weight, along with height, provides an important snapshot of a child’s growth and can help identify potential health concerns. When tracked over time, weight gain or loss can signal issues ranging from nutritional deficiencies to metabolic or hormonal imbalances.

But here’s where nuance comes in: weight is just one part of a larger picture. No single number tells the whole story of a child’s health, and focusing exclusively on weight can overlook other key factors like physical activity, emotional well-being, and nutrition. 

How to Keep Conversations Positive and Constructive

As a parent, you are arguably the most important influence in how your child perceives their body. When the topic of weight comes up at the pediatrician’s office, here are some ways to ensure the discussion remains productive without veering into potentially harmful territory:

Ask for a Holistic Approach to Health

At the start of the visit, it is okay to set the tone by asking the pediatrician to take a whole-body approach to your child’s health. Rather than focusing solely on weight, encourage discussions that include other markers of well-being, like energy levels, sleep quality, physical activity, and nutrition.

When weight is discussed, ask the doctor to explain it in terms of growth patterns and overall health rather than as an isolated number. For example, a conversation about the trajectory of your child’s growth chart can help them understand how their body is developing without placing undue emphasis on the current number on the scale.

Focus on Healthy Behaviors, Not Specific Numbers.

If your pediatrician suggests weight management is necessary, steer the conversation toward actionable, healthy behaviors rather than an arbitrary weight goal. Ask for tips to help your child and your whole family focus on balanced eating, regular physical activity, and adequate sleep, which are all important for growth and development, regardless of size.

Most pediatricians are skilled at navigating these conversations. To give you a sense, you should hear something like, “How can we help you get enough fruits and veggies and spend some time outside playing every day?” and not, “We need to lower your weight.” This type of language focuses on health rather than appearance, which can help your child develop a positive relationship with food and exercise.

Be Mindful of Language

The language used around weight matters. Terms like overweight, obese, heavy, or even fat can feel stigmatizing, especially to children with a developing self-image. Avoid using them yourself, and if your pediatrician does, it’s okay to speak up. You can say, “We don’t use those words at our house,” and instead ask them to focus on “growth goals.” 

Encouraging respectful, neutral language helps foster a positive environment where children feel safe discussing their bodies.

Prepare Your Child Ahead of Time

Before the appointment, consider talking to your child about what to expect at the doctor’s office. Explain that the doctor might talk about how they’re growing and ask questions about what they eat or how much they play outside. Frame these questions as a normal part of staying healthy rather than something to be nervous about.

This helps them view their health holistically from the start.

Shift Focus Away From Body Size

It’s nearly impossible to learn your child’s unique qualities in a 20-minute office visit, though hopefully, your pediatrician will get to know you and your family over time. As a parent, you can remind kids that their kindness, creativity, and curiosity are as important as their physical health after you leave the office. 

At home, focus on your child’s achievements, skills, or efforts in different areas. This helps build a strong sense of self-worth that isn’t tied to physical size or appearance.

What to Do If the Conversation Becomes Harmful

Even with the best intentions, there are times when weight conversations in the office can still feel uncomfortable. If this happens, advocating for your child in the moment is important. It’s okay to remind the doctor that you prefer to focus on overall health, not weight, or ask to discuss concerns privately if your child is present.

If you feel that your pediatrician’s approach continues to leave your child feeling negatively about their body image, it might be worth seeking out a provider who is more aligned with a body-positive philosophy.

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Those trends coincide with a “loneliness epidemic,” as coined by the Surgeon General, that’s affecting teens as much as adults. One study found that teen loneliness increased worldwide between 2012 and 2018, which, notably, was before the pandemic closed schools and shuttered extracurriculars. A 2021 study found that loneliness levels in young adults have been increasing every year since 1976.

That’s concerning, because “loneliness is a symptom” of mental health issues, says Dr. Whitney Raglin Bignall, associate clinical director of the Kids Mental Health Foundation and a member of the SheKnows Parenting Advisory Council. Loneliness isn’t a mental health disorder in and of itself, but “if you continue to stay lonely for a long period of time, that often will put you at significant risk for things such as depression,” Dr. Raglin Bignall tells SheKnows. Loneliness has also been linked to anxiety and increased social isolation and, among older adults, physical health issues like dementia, stroke, and heart disease.

For teen boys, the problem can be especially fraught. “Teen boys face stigma and societal expectations when it comes to emotional vulnerability,” Dr. Laura Erickson-Schroth, chief medical officer at The Jed Foundation (JED), a teen emotional health and suicide prevention nonprofit, tells SheKnows. “They’re discouraged from reaching out to form closer connections or seeking help when they need it.”

“They hear mixed messages from their peer groups, from society’s expectations,” says Dr. Brendan Kwiatkowski, a researcher and educator specializing in the social-emotional development and well-being of boys and men. “It’s like, ‘Boys should open up and be more emotionally expressive, but no girlfriend wants to be your mother and take care of your needs in that type of way.’ And that is a lot of nuance and complexity to unpack for adults, let alone for teenagers.”

The confusion and stigma can isolate them even more.

“With boys, it’s different than with girls,” says Carson, 16, who has spoken to SheKnows about teen mental health previously. “It’s harder because of this standard of being a man. It’s hard to open up.” Teen boys get backed into a corner, where opening up about their mental health struggles feels impossible, but holding it in only makes them feel more alone.

Why teen boys are lonelier than ever

In a survey of 22 boys on the SheKnows Teen Council, 40 percent said they often or sometimes felt lonely. The stigma around men and mental health is one reason why. “Boys can often have a harder time building close friendships because they’re taught to link emotional connection with femininity,” Dr. Erickson-Schroth says. While that might not apply to all boys and men — and may be changing in younger generations — the lingering stigma remains powerful.

Dr. Kwiatkowski, who has spoken to 170 teen boys over the course of his research, says they’re aware of the shifting attitudes around mental health, but that doesn’t always make them feel safe enough to talk about their own. “Some of the boys said, ‘Yep, I hear positive messages [about mental health], but I still see twice as many negative messages, and at the end of the day, people still want the big, burly guy who’s the shoulder to cry on, not crying on someone else’s shoulder.'”

Dr. Raglin Bignall has found that young people also have fewer opportunities to connect with their peers — and fewer skills to do so. The pandemic played a role, but technology is a factor too. “I don’t like making [technology] a scapegoat,” she says. “But, for instance, when you’re playing a video game with someone, you guys are having a great time, but you might not be doing the level of socializing that you need in order to have a deep connection.” You might be interacting with a friend, but not connecting “at the depth that we all need.”

It happens in person, too. “Loneliness is what you feel inside, what you perceive,” Dr. Raglin Bignall continues. “Sometimes you can be surrounded by people, but if you are not comfortable in sharing or are guarded for other reasons, you may isolate.”

Even when teens do spend time with others, the quality of those relationships — specifically when it comes to trust — can be an issue. Dr. Raglin Bignall has noticed a “hesitation” from teens around their peers being fake. “If I tell them something, they’re gonna go behind my back and tell this person,” is a common theme, she says. “There’s this difficulty to know who you can open up to and trust.”

And boys may struggle more to connect with their peers, Dr. Erickson-Schroth says. In 1990, she notes, 45 percent of young men said they reached out to friends first when they faced personal problems. As of 2021, the number had shrunk to 22 percent, according to an American Perspectives Survey.

“I think it is harder [for boys to talk about mental health] because of the role that society has said they must play, and what they must look like, and how they must feel,” Dr. Raglin Bignall says. “Sometimes there’s this idea that you may be weak if you are different than this stereotype or this pressure that is on you to be.”

Unfortunately, the things teen boys might do to address their loneliness can backfire. As they get to high school, Dr. Kwiatkowski explains, intense peer pressure causes them to conform to the groups around them, creating inauthenticity. “One of the casualties of that is not just boys getting disconnected from themselves, but just getting disconnected from others in genuine ways,” he explains. They might feel that and be distressed by it, and even try to fix it — by trying even harder to fit in, which has the opposite effect. “They think that they’re doing everything to fight the fear of loneliness,” Dr. Kwiatkowski says. “And yet the end result is actually still feeling lonely because it’s inauthentic. It’s not who they are.”

The consequences of loneliness

The result? Boys are pressured to suppress their emotions and may not feel able to talk about what they’re going through, Dr. Erickson-Schroth says. In turn, that “prevents them from understanding their feelings or building coping skills,” she says. “Emotions need a place to go, and when they’re bottled up, boys can end up taking them out on themselves or others.”

“This drive to prevent the feeling of loneliness actually leads to some terrible things,” Dr. Kwiatkowski agrees. “We could also look at violence or aggression — you do things that are not aligned with your core values because you think that the cost of not aligning with this group mentality is so profound.” He points out that things like phones, video games, and even pornography can become maladaptive coping mechanisms for intense loneliness. “There’s a search and a longing for connection,” he explains.

What can parents do?

As a parent, of course, you want nothing more than to help your teen through their loneliness and mental health struggles. But when you’re met by a terse “I’m fine, Mom,” you’re left wondering how exactly to support a teen boy who isn’t meeting you halfway. Ideally, Dr. Raglin Bignall says, the process of creating an open, honest relationship can start even before there’s a specific problem to talk about.

Laying the foundation: “We should be getting into a practice of just talking about everything, in the sense of regular conversations, so this one conversation doesn’t seem so out of the blue,” Dr. Raglin Bignall explains. “They’re used to you checking in and asking for details and being curious.” That way, if your teen is going through a tough time, they already know the door is open. This can start early on, adds Dr. Erickson-Schroth. “Parents can set the tone from an early age by encouraging conversations about emotions, helping children to learn to identify their feelings and talk about them. Caregivers can be open with kids that adults have difficult times too, and discuss what they do to cope when they’re struggling.”

Start with an observation: Instead of jumping in with a direct question (“Have you been feeling lonely?”), which could be unsettling, start with a more neutral observation. Point out that you’ve noticed a shift in your teen’s mood or behavior and are wondering if they’d like to talk about it. Dr. Raglin Bignall suggests saying something like: “Hey, you’ve been in your room a lot lately and that’s not like you. How are you doing?” It’s a way to show you care and are paying attention, minus the judgment.

Dr. Kwiatkowski recommends mentioning your teen’s friends as an in-road. If you’re worried about your teen’s online activity, for example, try something like, “Hey, what do your friends think about Andrew Tate? I keep on hearing about him.” It’s a softer way to get into the conversation, rather than “interrogating them personally.”

Responding to “I’m fine”: Even if your teen brushes you off, you can still show that you’re there for them. “It’s good to say something like, ‘We know that there are going to be times when we have hard things come up or challenges, and as a family, I think we should talk about what we think is best to cope with those things,'” Dr. Raglin Bignall says. You can share your own coping strategies or ask your teen what they would do to manage hypothetical struggles. “‘If it were to come up, as your parents, we want to know how to support you,'” Dr. Raglin Bignall suggests saying. “Having those kinds of hypothetical conversations can let them know you’re open.”

Be prepared to hear something serious: Sometimes your teen might say something you don’t expect in these conversations. You must be ready to handle that, Dr. Raglin Bignall says. “If they say, ‘I am really sad, and I am really stressed,’ and you say, ‘What do you have to be stressed about? I give you everything you need,’ then [your teen] might not tell you again that they feel stressed,” she explains. “If you tell your parent you’re having really negative thoughts, or are not sure you want to be here anymore, and your parent gets mad or tells you it’s not really happening or responds in a big way… [your teen] has learned that they can’t share that with you.”

React calmly: The way you react to your teen’s struggles is so important, Dr. Raglin Bignall emphasizes. “The first thing [many kids] tell me is, ‘I don’t want to want to stress my parent out,'” she says. It’s an especially big concern for teen boys who are told that men should be the strong, emotionless rock for their family, Dr. Kwiatkowski says — not the one who needs taking care of. “It’s such a valuable tool as adults to be able to not turn our children’s distress into our own distress in a way that takes away from supporting them, and becomes almost more of them supporting us.”

If your teen starts opening up, respond with curiosity and compassion, staying calm and talking about what they need from you. “Keep an open mind,” Dr. Erickson-Schroth adds. “They might be having a hard time, but not with what you thought they were.” Research from JED shows that “teens prefer when adults listen to their concerns without judgment,” she adds.

Encourage them to do things they love: If you’re concerned about your teen feeling lonely or isolated, don’t push them into activities or social situations — no matter how sure you are that they’d love them. That route can backfire, Dr. Raglin Bignall says, and leave them even less excited to connect.

Instead, try a “happiness builder” exercise to remind your teen of the things they naturally find joy in. Ask them what they used to like to do and write down a list with them, even if it’s just activities they’re “willing to try for a second,” or “wouldn’t hate to do,” Dr. Raglin Bignall says. “The goal is that we don’t want them isolating.”

Help them connect with their identity: It’s important for teens to spend time with people who share core parts of their identity. “If you see your kids struggling, you might want to do some homework to help them connect with like-minded people,” Dr. Raglin Bignall recommends. Clubs, sports, or even singular events like concerts, hobby classes, or conventions are all great places to start.

Model how to find friends and social connections: If your teen is struggling to make friends, Dr. Raglin Bignall also suggests modeling it for them, which could be “as simple as including them in your friendship,” she says, including talking to your own friends in front of them and explaining how you connected. “Have conversations with them about things that they might find challenging and role play it, talk through it with them, especially if they’re anxious about it or haven’t done it a while,” she says.

The bright spot

All teens — all humans — can and do struggle with loneliness; it’s part of the human experience, Dr. Erickson-Schroth says. For teen boys who also deal with a lack of social connection and a stigma around asking for help or sharing their emotions, the struggle might be more intense, but support and open communication can go a long way in helping. And, as experts point out, there are some bright spots.

“There is so much more awareness about mental health and emotional well-being,” Dr. Kwiatkowski says. “Even if these teenage boys don’t know how to get there… there’s more just awareness that, ‘this is something that I need to think about and focus on.'”

And — although you might not guess it, if your teen shies away from opening up — many teen boys are eager to talk about their mental health and emotions, Dr. Kwiatkowski adds. “I don’t want to say it’s easy to get boys to open up, but it does actually feel that way in my experience. If they feel like they can share without judgment, then I’ve found that they are so willing. They’re wanting to be more emotionally healthy and engaged.”

As parents, creating a safe space where your teens can be authentically themselves can help them get there.

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Serious Health Threat

Whooping cough, or pertussis, can be particularly dangerous for infants and young children, and its severity cannot be overstated. The disease progresses through three stages:

Catarrhal stage: Similar to a common cold with runny nose, mild cough, and possibly a low-grade fever.

Paroxysmal stage: Characterized by intense coughing fits, often ending with the distinctive “whoop” sound as the child struggles to breathe in.

Convalescent stage: Gradual recovery, though coughing may persist for weeks.

It’s important to note that symptoms can vary, especially in infants who may not develop the typical “whoop” but instead experience life-threatening breathing pauses. Whooping cough can stop a child’s ability to breathe, which is terrifying for both the child and their parents. The intense coughing fits associated with the disease often lead to vomiting and exhaustion, leaving children weak and vulnerable.

In severe cases, especially in infants, whooping cough can even be fatal.

Adding to its danger is the fact that the disease is highly contagious, spreading easily through coughs, sneezes, or close contact. This combination of severe symptoms and high transmissibility makes whooping cough a serious threat to children’s health and well-being.

Whooping Cough Resurgence

Whooping cough was once thought to be on the path to eradication due to widespread vaccination. However, we’re now seeing a return to pre-pandemic levels of cases. There are several reasons for this concerning trend, one being decreased vaccination rates, partly fueled by mistrust stemming from the pandemic, which have led some parents to delay or skip vaccinations.

Diagnostic delays have also contributed, as the similarity between COVID-19,  early pertussis, and cold/flu symptoms are similar which can lead to delayed diagnosis and treatment.

Prevention and Protection

There are have several powerful tools that can protect children from whooping cough. Vaccination is the best defense, with the DTaP vaccine recommended for children under seven and the Tdap for older children and adults. Pregnant women should receive the Tdap vaccine during each pregnancy to help protect newborns in their first vulnerable months.

Infants can further be protected  through a strategy called cocooning, where family members and caregivers who will be around newborns receive and are up-to-date with their Tdap boosters.

Beyond vaccination, teaching children proper hygiene practices, such as handwashing and cough etiquette, is essential. It’s also important to stay informed by keeping in touch with your child’s school about their vaccination policies and any potential outbreaks.

On a Personal Note

As a doctor and as a mom, I respect that each family must make the choice that feels right for them. To protect my own children, I chose to have my children vaccinated. I’ve seen the impact diseases such as whooping cough can have on a child, and it’s heartbreaking to see children so young suffering with severe symptoms.

When caring for and protecting the health of a child, remember, a parent’s intuition is powerful.

If you suspect whooping cough, don’t delay in seeking medical attention. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial in managing this serious illness. Additionally, keeping children home when they’re sick, alerting schools, and other families to potential exposures can create a system where everyone is working together to keep our overall community healthy. Together, we can navigate this challenging time and keep our children safe and thriving.

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