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Tag: stress

How to help your family survive the next Internet hoax

How to help your family survive the next Internet hoax

April 9, 2019 | Posted in: Elementary, Middle Years

“Can you kill Momo?” Those were probably not the first words a rookie school resource officer in Upstate New York expected to hear the first time he visited a classroom of third graders in late February. But it’s 2019, and the “Momo Challenge” had just gone viral. At the time of the encounter, that particular […]

Making the transition to kindergarten a success

Making the transition to kindergarten a success

October 10, 2018 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary

I’m standing at the end of the driveway, waiting with my five-year-old daughter, Ava, for her first bus ride to school. “Are you coming Mommy?” she asks. Her eyes widen as I shake my head and force a smile. “No love, not this morning” She turns to my husband. “Daddy, are you coming?” As he […]

The new kid in town

The new kid in town

September 4, 2018 | Posted in: Elementary, Middle Years

Growing up, my family moved a lot. Besides being concerned about whether or not I would have to share a new bedroom with my older sister, I was most worried about being the new kid at school. It was one of my biggest fears as a child — besides the invisible gorilla that I insisted […]

Sick of spinners? Fidgety kids have other options at school, home

Sick of spinners? Fidgety kids have other options at school, home

August 29, 2017 | Posted in: Elementary, High School, Middle Years

They’re in your gas stations. They’ve been in your children’s schools. They’re probably in your homes. Fidget spinners: the triangular device designed to freely rotate between your thumb and pointer finger aimed at helping fidgety kids focus. And even though they come in array of colors and sizes – some even bedazzled or featuring your […]

Making the transition to middle school more manageable

Making the transition to middle school more manageable

June 14, 2017 | Posted in: Elementary, Middle Years

Middle School. A bigger building. New faces. A bell schedule?! Students of all ages go through transitions during their academic career. For children and parents alike, it can be overwhelming moving up to a new school. Being a “little fish in a big pond” can be intimidating, but according to researchers, of all the academic […]

Helping children get the best from stress

Helping children get the best from stress

March 22, 2017 | Posted in: Elementary, High School, Middle Years

There’s a music video in my head that hasn’t been created yet. The late David Bowie and the legendary, nuanced rock band Queen had an iconic collaborative song with a hyper-thumping bass line later sampled by the infamous Vanilla Ice. You know what song I am talking about. In my video, a camera pans across […]

Helping children weather the storm from the news cloud

Helping children weather the storm from the news cloud

January 23, 2017 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, High School, Middle Years

When I was in elementary school, the Cold War was all the rage. We had Red Dawn, Top Gun and The Day After.  We had Mike and the Mechanics asking if we could hear them running. We had Nina Hagen standing pretty in the dust that was a city. One rainy day our local daily […]

Make the most of the holiday season with tips on how to manage stress

Make the most of the holiday season with tips on how to manage stress

December 16, 2016 | Posted in: Elementary, High School, Middle Years

Welcome to the dark side Back in the day, when I was my children’s room parent, the holiday classroom parties were epic. Personalized presents to remember the day by? Check. Homemade goodies with a holiday theme? Check. Games to keep the students engaged? Check. We had it all covered. Ask my children what they remember […]

Grow healthier eating habits: The benefits of gardening with children

Grow healthier eating habits: The benefits of gardening with children

November 14, 2016 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, High School, Middle Years

Recently, dinnertime has become a lot more interesting in my household. Game changer: my nine-month-old son is eating solid foods. So far, pears and sweet potatoes reign supreme, and anything green –beans, peas and avocado, is met with a refusal of shivers and gags. Children not eating their vegetables is an age-old issue, and it’s […]

Making friends is hard: Helping your child socially connect

Making friends is hard: Helping your child socially connect

September 19, 2016 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, Middle Years

When my son was in first grade, he would come home from school and tell me he didn’t play with anyone at recess. “What did you do?” I would ask. “Walk around,” he would reply, very quietly. “By yourself? Did you play with anyone?” “No.” “How was the rest of your day?” “Bad.” He looked […]