For Families, By Families: Keep It Real Initiative
The Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC) is dedicated to helping children and families in Connecticut thrive. We created the For Families, By Families — Keep It Real Initiative video series to give parents a voice and to help families learn from one another.
Get honest, unfiltered perspectives from other Connecticut parents about key topics — everyday challenges, parenting during COVID-19, and confronting racial injustice.
Parenting During COVID-19
Parenting During COVID-19: “My support system is my everything.”
Watch Ashley discuss where she finds support during COVID-19 — and how she cherishes the extra time with her young children.
Parenting During COVID-19: “Once I started to go with the flow, things improved.”
Small changes in your routine can have a big effect. Watch Jamie discuss how relaxing her schedule and adding a morning walk helped her children — and Jamie herself — cope better during the day.
Parenting During COVID-19: “Don’t give up — don’t fold.”
Hear Kam talk about the most rewarding moments — and hardest challenges — he’s experienced during COVID-19.
Parenting During COVID-19: “My mom has been my source of strength.”
During COVID-19, Chenae juggled raising her daughter, finishing her Masters degree, and completing an internship — and she says she couldn’t have done it without the support of her mom.
Parenting During COVID-19: “Self care is not selfish.”
As a parent, it’s easy to spend all your energy focusing on your children’s needs. Mary talks about how important it is for parents to take care of themselves, too.
Everyday parenting — challenges and rewards
Handling Challenging Behavior: “You have to help them calm down first.”
When your child is in the middle of a tantrum, talking with them — or yelling at them — won’t work. Betty shares how she helps her son relax before having a discussion and finding a solution.
Becoming a Parent: “You’re entering a new world.”
Ashley talks about the challenges and rewards of life after bringing her baby home from the hospital.
Talking About Race and Racism with Your Child
Discussing Race with Your Child: “It was a nice way to begin the conversation.”
Chenae talks about her own experience coming from a mixed family — and how she used a PBS video to start a helpful discussion about race with her own daughter.
Discussing Race with Your Child: “I don’t want him to be afraid to live in this world.”
When David found out he was going to be a father, his joy was undercut by concern. How would his son be treated in a country that makes it hard for Black men to succeed? While his son is still too young for “the talk” now, learn how David plans to approach it — and how he wants his child to understand the history of racial injustice without feeling held back by it.