Series – Youth Mental Health

Got Goals? The New School Year Offers New Opportunity for Growth

In addition to bringing parents some relief, the new school year brings new opportunities. In order to make the most of the fresh start, parents can help children to identify concrete goals for the new school year and establish paths to obtaining them.

Summer Nights to School Days: Easing Kids into a New Sleep Schedule

For many families, the summer months mean relaxed sleep schedules. Longer days can lead to later bedtimes and wake-up times. While this can be harmless as long as children get enough sleep, returning to school sleep schedules can be a chore. Fortunately, with a little planning, parents can help kids ease back into their sleep …

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Hang on to those Math Facts and Resist the Summer Slide

Math fluency sets a critical foundation for children’s math education. Getting the basic arithmetic functions down and, beyond that, making sure they’re able to quickly recall math facts helps kids advance and focus on more complex problem-solving instead of simple computation. Retaining math fact knowledge over the summer ensures that kids don’t lose their math …

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Preventing the Summer Slide: Finding Ways to Keep Kids Reading

The Summer Slide may sound like a fun amusement park ride, but unfortunately educators know it as the learning loss phenomenon that results in students returning to school this fall, many of them – perhaps especially those from historically disadvantaged student groups – starting the academic year with achievement levels lower than where they were …

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Who Exactly is the Bully Here? How parents can prevent, recognize, and address Cyberbullying

Pretty much every movie for children and teens includes a bully as the villian. Ralphie was bullied by Farkus, Regina George terrorized North Shore High, and Biff tormented generations of McFlys. In the movies, it’s easy to identify and root against the bully. When it comes to children and adolescents online, it’s a bit more …

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Protecting Children from Online Predators

Predators. Adults who prey on children are most parents’ worst nightmare. While child predators are not new, the internet has provided a new way for them to access children. Parents cannot shield their children from every danger; however, a precautionary approach to online use for kids can go a long way to prevent the unthinkable.

Think Before You Post: Helping Children Manage their Digital Footprints

When we think about the dangers of social media for kids, we often worry about what can be done to them. And of course, parents do need to beware of the apps, we also need to talk to children about the trouble they can get into themselves. We need to encourage them to think about …

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Beware the Apps: Ensuring Your Child’s Tech Usage is Safe and Healthy

There’s an app for everything, literally. Just like adults, kids use apps on their phones for a variety of reasons. They use them to connect with friends and family, complete schoolwork, and even learn new languages. While most apps are helpful and harmless, it is important for parents to be aware of which apps are …

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Playtime! Making Time to Play Can Boost Mental Health and Happiness

Children’s mental health is a serious concern for parents as the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry warns of a mental health pandemic. While, the solutions to address this issue are complex, one approach can involve some fun for both parents and children: play. Experts agree that making time for play can lead to …

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Troubled Waters: How to Recognize Signs of Mental Distress in Your Child

The Kids are Not Alright. This phrase is repeatedly restated in recent reports and assessments of youth mental health in the United States. According to the American Psychological Association, a mental health crisis in youth has been building for over a decade and was exacerbated by the COVID 19 pandemic. “In the 10 years leading …

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