As a parent, or someone in a parenting role, you are the most important influence in your child’s life and you play an essential role in your child’s success. Intentional parenting is an approach where you use strategies to build a healthy parent-child relationship. It is an approach to developing safe, stable, and nurturing parent-child relationships. The intentional parenting approach relies on brain science to provide you ways to stay present and involved with your child. Using this approach provides consistent structure and guidelines within which your child can find their own way. 

Through intentional parenting, parents and those in a parenting role grow strong social and emotional skills in their children. Studies show that when children experience things such as harsh or abusive parenting or being in an unsafe environment, it has a negative impact on their brain development. This can result in mental, physical, and behavioral issues in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. That is why ParentingMontana.org is bringing this important podcast to you today -- to show parents an approach where you can adjust your strategies to meet the developmental needs of your child and simultaneously enhance your relationship.

The Montana Department of Health and Human Services partnered with the Center for Health and Safety Culture at Montana State University to bring you the tools in ParentingMontana.org  and this podcast, which seek to foster safe, stable, and nurturing parent-child relationships. You can develop your child’s social and emotional skills no matter what age they are. Regardless of your child’s age, now is the time to be involved. Listen to how you can make a difference now and into your child’s future!