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Tag: behavior

Gratitude takes time to nurture

November 12, 2014 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, High School, Middle Years

Research supports the idea that gratitude is good for us. It helps us form, sustain and strengthen supportive relationships, and contributes to the feeling that we’re connected to a caring community. This is true regardless of our age. According to researchers at The Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley, “Evidence from […]

I’m not afraid of that shadow under the stairs. Oh yes, I am!

October 15, 2014 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary

The bloodcurdling scream stops you in your tracks; your heart skips a beat as you see the look of horror on your son’s face. The next sound out of his mouth is barely discernable, but your years of experience have made you an expert in translation. You let your breath out slowly as you realize […]

Being popular is a state of being yourself

October 1, 2014 | Posted in: Middle Years

“I don’t know what I did. Brittany doesn’t like me anymore.” The young teen’s angst was palpable. She was 12, maybe 13, and in the throes of middle school. A long-time friendship had come to a screeching halt, and she couldn’t figure out why. “Brittany’s going to a party with the popular kids tonight,” she […]

The time to talk about depression and suicide is now

September 17, 2014 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, High School, Middle Years

There is a stigma surrounding mental health issues that makes starting a conversation difficult. When comedic actor Robin Williams committed suicide in August, reportedly motivated by severe depression, people around the world were stunned and saddened, prompting many to post tributes to him and send supportive messages for his family and friends through both social […]

Can we talk?

September 15, 2014 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, High School, Middle Years

The conversation went about as expected. “How was your first day?” I asked my son, a 5th grader. “Good,” he said, in a monotone. “How was your new teacher?” I asked, adding enthusiasm to my voice. “Good,” he replied, in the same monotone voice. I asked him to use more than one word to tell […]

Help for back-to-school anxiety

August 22, 2014 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, High School, Middle Years

Anxious feelings are normal and expected in times of transition, particularly with a change such as going back to school. For younger children, anxiety often revolves around separating from parents. For older children, it’s frequently about social situations such as fitting in, making new friends and personal performance in specific areas such as academics, music […]

‘What a day for a daydream, custom made for a daydreamin’ boy or girl’

April 30, 2014 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, High School, Middle Years

This electronic world we live in may be depriving us of a much-needed pastime: daydreaming. Psychologists say daydreaming helps us formulate goals and understand our deepest hopes, wishes and fears. It also contributes to creativity, social-emotional well-being and school performance. But researchers say distractions such as social media and video games may keep children from […]

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

February 24, 2014 | Posted in: High School, Middle Years

Lauren Astley was 18 years old when she was beaten, strangled, and stabbed to death on July 3, 2011, by Nathaniel Fujita in the garage of his parents’ Wayland, Mass., home. Lauren’s horrific death at the hands of her ex-boyfriend made headlines across the nation and became the subject of a “48 Hours” special entitled, […]

Rescuing the at-risk middle school student

Rescuing the at-risk middle school student

January 14, 2014 | Posted in: Middle Years

It’s a serious problem. Every year, nearly one-third of high school students across the nation will not graduate – that’s more than 1.2 million students a year. In New York State, the numbers are better, with 74 percent of students graduating. But those numbers aren’t nearly good enough, not for the children whose opportunities are […]

Learning to be grateful

November 26, 2013 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, High School, Middle Years

It’s probably the second most frequently spoken sentence in conversations with our children, trailing behind “I love you,” of course. “What do you say?” we ask after they tear open birthday gifts, blast through holiday treats and welcome unexpected surprises. As parents, we remind our children that manners matter and courtesy counts. From writing thank-you […]