WELCOME TO THE 2021 FAMILY RESOURCE BOOK

Sometimes it’s hard not to talk about our families’ experiences last year in 2020 or the challenges we’re still facing in 2021 without resorting to words that have, by now, become painful cliches: unprecedented, uncertain times, new normal, pivot… But no matter which words you use, we’re all in this together. See, it’s unavoidable.

This year’s Family Resource Book also includes some of that pandemic-related inevitability.

In putting together our annual toolkit for Granite State families, we included many of the normal resources you rely upon whether parenting through a pandemic or not. We’ve got the results of a statewide survey of familiy favorites, from entertainment and retail to health care, food and more. This is an indispensable list of tried-and-true, family-tested recommendations from parents just like you. We’ve also got directories covering health and wellness, attractions, summer camps and programs, and services and retail.

But beyond the resources that would be relevant in any year, we’ve included feature stories that will lend some insight into where families are right now in 2021. Because on a practical level, we’re still dealing with the pandemic. Some of our kids continue to learn remotely, some are in school on a hybrid model, and some who are ostensibly in school full time still experience stretches of remote learning after a classmate or teacher is exposed to COVID-19.

For our lead story, writer Krysten Godfrey Maddocks talked to doctors regarding how parents can prepare for the summer: the impact of the vaccine on summer plans, the availability

of a vaccine for teens, the possibility of spring sports, how long we may need to wear masks and continue social distancing, as well as tips for staying safe while enjoying the summer.

We also provide a guide for online learning and activites, and information about COVID- 19-driven mental health issues. This latter is of deep concern to the health care and education community as the pandemic drags on. We believe it’s critical to acknowledge these mental health issues, and to destigmatize them and their treatment. We hope this story helps.

In all, we’re confident we’ve provided your family with a solid mix of timely features and useful directories to help you pivot toward unprecedented success during this new normal.

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We are pleased to be producing the Family Resource Book for the first time under our flagship publication New Hampshire Magazine. This is just one of the many steps we are taking to continue to serve our ParentingNH community and provide the same valuable content and information as we have done previously. We invite you to visit nhmagazine.com/family, where you will find annual publications like Family Resource Book, Summer Camps Guide, Family Summer Fun Guide, Stepping Stones NH, New Hampshire NEXT and the Independent School Guide, along with other important resource lists.

Sincerely,ERNESTO BURDEN

PUBLISHER, MCLEAN COMMUNICATIONS