There is no denying that we are living in uncertain times, and many don’t know where to start with managing uncertainty and pandemic anxiety. No one knows exactly how or when the pandemic will end, or what it will mean for our lives and the lives of our loved ones in the future. There’s so much to worry about: health, finances, politics, and even our social fabric. I know I’m not the only one lying…
The first day of college can seem like the perfect storm of back to school anxiety. Between not knowing where your classes are, not knowing the people in your class, and having no idea how or where you’re going to find time to be a human being, feelings of fear and stress can put you in a dark place. And if you’re like me, who has always struggled with anxiety, big life events like this…
Teens aren’t always eager to share all their worries with their parents, but just because they haven’t said anything doesn’t mean they don’t have worries as they approach the start of the school year. High school can be a very stressful time: demanding academics, more responsibilities to juggle, a confusing social scene, and college and career on the horizon are all on their minds. If your teen isn’t open about her feelings, be on the…
Middle school is complicated—just ask any tween. For kids who learn and think differently, the changes in routine and growing school demands can be even more stressful. Here are some things you can do ahead of time to help ease those first-day jitters for middle schoolers. 1. Talk about what’s scary. At this age, it can seem like kids think about themselves all the time, but that doesn’t mean they’re self-aware. They might not know…
Summertime is often a much-needed break for kids from the demands and stresses of school. So when elementary schoolers have to head back to school, they may be especially nervous. You may not be able to remove all the anxiety, but here are some ways you can help calm your child’s first-day nerves. 1. Focus on feelings. Young kids don’t always have the words to express their emotions, and certain learning and thinking differences can…
Ava had always felt comfortable at the small, private K-8 school she attended just north of Boston, but in high school everything changed. Ava first began to experience anxiety and depression after her parents divorced when she was still in grade school. These problems increased as she entered her teen years, and became even more severe in ninth grade, when she enrolled at Cambridge Rindge & Latin School, a vast campus with nearly 2,000 students.…
When kids at Warner Arts Magnet Elementary School act up, they aren’t sent straight to the principal’s office. Instead, many students at the high-poverty school in Nashville go to the mindfulness room. The serene space is awash in sunlight and brimming with plants. There are yoga mats, toys, a lounging nook and soothing music drifting out of a desk speaker. In this room, teacher Riki Rattner, who is also trained as a yoga instructor, helps…
Teachers can know their content backwards and forwards, and they probably put hours into their lesson plans. But if motivating students hasn’t been taken into account by parents and teachers, learning won’t happen. According to a new working paper from the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child, a multidisciplinary research collaborative housed at Harvard University, childhood experiences may make motivation harder for some students. The paper takes a look at the machinery of motivation:…
The anxious thoughts of students aren’t always just passing worries; they’re becoming deeply rooted, widespread mantras for young people across America. Anxiety is the most common mental health challenge that young people today face, and it’s the top reason why students seek mental health services in colleges across the country. In severe cases, anxiety is stopping teens from doing homework, reaching out to friends, leaving their homes, and even leading to depressive and suicidal thoughts.…
