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‘Tis the season for sparkles, snowflakes and...squirmy students? As the holiday countdown begins, classrooms can quickly turn into winter wonderlands of distractions. While many kids are anticipating downtime and holiday fun with friends and family, some may harbor hidden worries about complex family dynamics, stretched budgets and other adversities. They may also have underlying anxieties about the disrupted routines that accompany school vacations.

While educators are undoubtedly looking forward to decompression time of their own, they also have to consider the impact the upcoming break from classes will have on students’ hard-won learning progress. The great news is that there are some easy strategies you can implement today to help keep your students involved while arming them with critical skills to manage holiday stress. Since we know the kids likely have their minds on the holidays, giving these exercises some holiday dazzle is sure to get their attention and interest. 

Here are four strengths you can focus on to maintain momentum in positive and engaging ways.

Growing up in today’s digital era can be a pressure cooker for all kids, but it can be a particular strain for girls as they navigate societal expectations, media influences and peer dynamics — all under the relentless glare of the social media spotlight. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Snapchat can often promote unrealistic beauty standards, and the barrage of messages can negatively impact girls’ sense of self-worth and identity. 

While advertising and social media can have a seemingly 24/7 presence, educators can create a safe place within their school community to help counteract these potentially harmful inputs and to support all students in feeling comfortable with being their authentic selves. 

For educators and many families, the “real” new year comes in September. The start of a fresh school year brings a mixture of emotions for students, caregivers and school staff alike — excitement, anticipation and, sometimes, stress. Setting a positive tone at the beginning can help ease the transition back to school.

We all know the rejuvenating effect of stepping into the warm sunshine and breathing deeply. There’s something about being outside that just makes us feel refreshed and inspired — and there’s no better time than spring for educators and students alike to take a welcome respite from the confines of the classroom (and the ubiquity of screens) to embrace outdoor education. 

The great news is that being outside doesn’t just feel good; it’s also good for us. That’s why spending time outside should be an integral part of a school’s or district’s comprehensive approach to holistic student health. 

Here are some tips for getting your class out of the classroom and taking advantage of nature’s nurturing power. 

The world today can be a tumultuous place for the younger generation, who are often bombarded with daunting visuals and discussions of global conflicts, the implications of climate change and political division in their own community. The result is that close to two-thirds of kids and teens say that things are going just fair (36%) or poorly (28%) for kids and teenagers in the U.S. today, according to the “State of Kids and Families in America 2024” report.

While news filtering strategies may work for younger children, adolescents are at a developmental stage where they need a more nuanced approach to help them process information and articulate their concerns. Today’s teens struggle with a range of everyday challenges that can include grades, peer or societal pressures, family issues and more. Some are naturally resilient and can work through these hurdles and anxieties; however, it’s not innate for everyone, and equipping teens with different ways to tackle these big feelings will support mental health and overall well-being. 

Recognizing that not all students have access to supportive role models at home, schools can proactively take the lead in providing these essential lessons, with the aim to work collaboratively and reinforce any wraparound work done by student caregivers and families. At one campus where I worked, it was the expectation that the first 10 minutes of every day was spent on a mini-lesson that spurred conversations and helped kids learn coping skills to help set them up for success.

I encourage all educators to consider how they can play a role in empowering students by incorporating SEL lessons and other activities to help them practice navigating uncertainty and overcoming obstacles. Below are some suggestions on how you can get started.

MPQ coauthors John Kamp, PhD, and Martin Sellbom, PhD, answer some frequently asked questions about the newly published Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire (MPQ).

As people turn to social media and AI for answers about mental health and learning disabilities, experts encourage formal clinical assessment over social self-diagnosis.

We are proud to announce the new Call for Research published by Pearson Clinical Assessment. Our goal is to ensure that Pearson assessments comply with the highest standards of quality and support research that investigates the validity or efficacy of our products. We are inviting United States-based faculty members, graduate students, and qualified researchers to submit their proposals no later than August 16, 2024.