Letter: 30 Days of Family 

New Canaan’s initiative to encourage healthful and fun family time over the next 30 days can pay dividends in more ways than you might think. But like me, you might be saying to yourself, “Haven’t I just spent the last 12 months cooped up with my family?” While there’s no denying the fact that this pandemic-driven “togetherness” lasted far longer than we ever expected, staying involved and connected with our immediate family is vital to making sure kids feel supported as they venture back into larger social settings. More importantly, time with our kids provides opportunities to check in on their emotional wellbeing. Mental health issues among kids and teens have skyrocketed this past year. In 2020, the CDC reported a 24% increase over the previous year in emergency room mental health visits in children aged 5 to 11.