Out Front with FamilyForward

Out Front with FamilyForward brings forward candid conversations to help bridge the gap between research and real-world parenting. Join our host Sharon Skidmore Stern as we explore topics through a trauma-informed lens to provide you with tangible tips to navigating family life one episode at a time.

Connection building is a matter of building up small gestures and moments over time to create a strong relational foundation. By exploring three different ways to reconnect—imitation and mirroring, co-regulation, and shared focus and collaboration—we bring together ideas from earlier in the series to provide you with simple ways you can connect with your loved ones.

Seeking connection as a caregiver can prove to be complex, as there are so many demands we are asked to meet before our own needs. Use this episode as your guide to establishing connections with your child and other caregivers by prioritizing your needs and making them heard.

Children and their development are impacted by the connection they receive starting from a young age. That's why, in this episode, we are emphasizing the need for positive connections in families and how they are beneficial for children with complex trauma histories.

Connection looks, sounds, and feels different for each individual. Delve deeper into building connections with your children, family, and community as we acknowledge the individuality, vulnerability, and grace that come with it.