Written By:   Tania Villalon Rivera , Parent Engagement Coordinator, UCP of Central Florida Gratitude is one of those values that can truly shape who we are. When kids learn to be thankful for what they have, they grow into happier, more empathetic, and grounded people. It helps them see what’s good in their lives, focus on the positive, and feel more connected to others. Gratitude teaches all of us to move from “I need more” to “I have enough.” But in today’s world, entitlem

Written By: Natassia Ferguson , UCP School Business Manager & UCP Parent Natassia—known to many as Nat—is one of UCP Charter School’s Business Managers and a proud UCP parent. Drawing on both her professional experience and her journey as a mom, she shares her personal story for families navigating a new diagnosis or experiencing UCP for the first time, along with reflections she wishes she’d known at the start. From the beginning I remember the day we received my son’s autis

Written By:  Cassidy Gibson-Cooper , Parenting Central Curiosity isn’t just a trait—it’s a momentum. It’s the spark that keeps kids asking “why,” even when the answers are messy or slow to come. But curiosity doesn’t survive on its own. It needs air. It needs space. And it needs parents who know when to back off, when to step in, and how to get out of the way without disappearing. If your goal is to raise a child who doesn't need constant pushing, who wants to understand the