The Baker Center for Children and Families

06/16/2026

Trauma and traumatic stress can have lasting impacts on the way kids grow and develop, but did you know potential warning signs and symptoms can differ based on the age range?

06/16/2026

Time to confront what might be one of the hardest thoughts a caregiver can have: I love my child, but I don’t like my child right now. It can be so difficult to even consider what that might mean, especially if you find yourself getting in frequent arguments with your kid or just generally feel like you’re walking on eggshells. Nobody provides us with a manual on how to build positive relationships with our kids. But luckily, at places like The Baker Center, we’ve developed concrete strategies to help both you and your child understand each other better and promote positivity and growth. If this is something you’re struggling with, use the link in our bio to get in touch today!

06/15/2026

Let’s talk about PRIDE skills!

✅ P is for Praise: Make sure to be very specific or “labeled” with your praise. If caregivers simply just say “good job”, it’s nice to hear but kids won’t know what they did a good job of and how to continue doing it. Try “You did a good job of using your inside voice just now”

✅ R is for Reflect: Repeat or paraphrase the things your child is saying to really show that you’re listening and hearing what they’re saying.

✅ I is for Imitate: Join in with your child’s playtime or other activities, and mirror their actions when appropriate. Try not to direct in this moment, just follow along.

✅ D is for Describe: Narrate your child’s behaviors without judgement or correction of what they’re doing. This will help reinforce positive behavior.

✅ E is for Enjoy: Genuinely enjoy the time spent with your child!

06/12/2026

Join us for June's monthly webinar where we'll explore the hallmarks of evidence and research-based treatment to support caregivers in identifying the most effective treatments for children. Presented by Katherine Corteselli

Register free of charge at bakercenter.org/ebts

06/11/2026

Let’s take some time to learn about strengthening bonds between caregivers and kids! There are two formal strategies we use for this based on the age range: Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and Behavioral Parent Training (BPT). Both focus on spending regular time with your kids in a way that promotes expression and connection. A big part of this is also praise and compliments. Dr. Sarah was recently featured in a article on this topic which you can view using the link in our bio!

06/11/2026

A big thank you to everyone who came out to support our 20th Annual Golf Tournament this week! Through your efforts, we raised over $140,000 for Baker Center programs and services that help break down barriers to effective mental health treatment, giving kids and families access to treatment that works.

Together, over 20 years, this tournament has brought in over $1.5 million in direct support for children and families in need. Your generosity truly changes lives.

06/10/2026

“Labeled praise is a simple formula: one positive statement plus one specific behavior. It helps kids understand why they earned the praise and how to get it again, because specific praise teaches children exactly what to repeat.”

Our Senior Director of Outpatient Clinical Services, Dr. Sarah Tannenbaum, explains the power of praise in this new PARADE Magazine article.

Plus, a few compliments to rethink.

06/09/2026

Trauma can impact kids in very big ways. It may not always be obvious when a child has experienced trauma, but thankfully there are supports available to help families who are struggling. If you know a child, teen, or young adult, who may be dealing with trauma, reach out today: bakercenter.org/cet/get-started

06/09/2026

You may have heard the term "neurodivergent" or "neurodiversity" used, but what do these terms actually mean and how can we explain them to kids both with and without a mental health condition? Learn more by reading our latest blog post: bakercenter.org/Neurodiversity2

06/08/2026

June is Kids and teens can be exposed to traumatic situations in a lot of different ways including abuse, neglect, or violence. While we can’t guarantee these things won’t happen, caregivers can be informed about potential treatments for trauma and know the warning signs so that if something does happen, they can get their children the help they need as quickly as possible.