What's causing a lot of frustration for boys and girls today?

Life isn’t easy. Kids are constantly being told that they need to focus on academics and be top of their class, and those who don’t excel in school are often ostracized by their peers and become outcasts. At home, parents can place an even greater amount of pressure on children to succeed; after all, parents want the best for their kids, but pushing them too hard can actually have the opposite effect, as research has shown that perfectionism can lower a person’s self-esteem and lead to depression if they believe they’ll never live up to their parents’ expectations.

 

How Technology Is Affecting Students?

It’s no secret that students are more plugged in than ever, but according to a recent study conducted by Common Sense Media, today’s young people are consuming media at such an alarming rate that it could be altering their brain function. Specifically, young people who use social media several times daily experience increased connectivity between two key regions of their brains—the ventral striatum (which is associated with rewards) and the prefrontal cortex (which is involved in decision-making). As a result, teens may have trouble discerning between true rewards, like time with friends or family or doing something they enjoy versus electronic stimuli telling them they should check Instagram yet again. So what does all that mean for students?

Problems with Overparenting

It’s estimated that 1 in 3 children live with their parents well into adulthood. In many cases, it’s because they’re being overly parented. Parents have become so focused on protecting their kids from real-world challenges—from steering them away from too much sugar to pressuring colleges to lower their academic standards—that they have taken all of life’s most important lessons out of their kids’ hands. This has led to major challenges like skyrocketing teen depression, constant anxiety, and fewer opportunities than ever before. To raise happy kids who know how to take care of themselves when you can't be there, start by getting rid of your helicopter parenting tendencies.

 

Pressure to be Perfect

Girls and women around the world are under immense pressure to be perfect. They want to be thin, but not too thin; they want to have great skin, but not pimples or wrinkles; they want gorgeous hair, yet it can’t be too long or short. This need to look perfect often leads young women to feel unhappy with their bodies in unhealthy ways. And studies show that feeling physically unattractive increases body dissatisfaction—and even leads to eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. To help young people cope with unrealistic standards of beauty, learn more about these conditions so you can identify them early on. It might also help to talk to your daughter about her physical appearance. Acknowledge that being beautiful isn’t everything, and talk openly about how you see her strengths outside of looks. If she has insecurities, listen without judgment while she shares what she is struggling with.

 

Too Much Homework

Homework is one of those things that causes a lot of tension in home life. Parents complain that their kids get too much homework, but teachers claim they can’t reduce assignments because parents want them to be sure their kids are getting ahead. The way I see it, there’s no reason why your child should have more than two hours worth (one hour each night) per week, which should include all major homework assignments. Anything more than that is simply too much, and probably counterproductive as well. Make sure you talk to your child’s teacher about appropriate amounts before making an appointment with him or her to talk about your specific situation. Good luck!

 

Standardized Testing

In order to be considered college ready, students must score well on standardized tests. Unfortunately, these tests don’t always capture what is most important—skills such as critical thinking and problem solving. Our country needs to start measuring our students based on their ability to think outside of the box and take initiative with their education; it’s only then that we can truly see how well our students are being prepared for success after high school. One of our clients is especially great because they...: Our client had some major challenges in getting people excited about a new product they were launching. After working with us, they managed to create interest in their product by building an active social media presence and providing lots of great content for potential customers.

 

Stress From School Lunch Programs

A 2014 study conducted by researchers at Harvard University and Boston Children’s Hospital found that teens who bring their lunch to school daily are less likely to smoke, drink alcohol, or use drugs. Why? Researchers say that being exposed to a variety of healthy options—including fruits, vegetables, fish, yogurt, nuts, whole grains—can make kids feel more responsible about making good food choices. Lunchtime was also an opportunity for participants in the study to socialize with friends without taking time away from classwork. If your child is facing an unhealthy school lunch program in their cafeteria—or if you have any other reason why they might be eating poorly at school—consider helping them pack a healthy lunch instead.

 

Bullying in Schools

Bullying may have gotten more press lately, but it’s not an issue that’s specific to our time. In fact, peer abuse has been documented throughout history, in every culture and at almost every age level. While bullying was traditionally associated with school-aged children, bullying among adults is on the rise—in some cases even becoming physical. How do you know if you are being bullied by someone at work or in your community? And how do you deal with it when it happens? These are some of questions we will try to answer here. Because often when one speaks about school bullying they think only about kids being mean to other kids in schools.

 

Lack of Recess Time

Do you remember what it was like to have recess in elementary school? For many, time spent running around outside is no longer an option—replaced by hours sitting at desks. Research suggests that students who get at least 20 minutes of recess in a day perform better on academic tests than those who don't. Also, children with ADHD do much better when their school incorporates regular breaks into their schedule. Unfortunately, there are many schools that are cutting back on physical activity or taking away recess altogether. Both students and teachers agree it would be beneficial if more schools reinstated recess as part of their daily routine. What can we do to help make change? Write letters to your local representatives or take action online!