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In many ways, the kindergarten experience builds the foundation for a child’s future success in school and in life. Unfortunately, as we move beyond the pandemic, and our “pandemic babies” reach kindergarten age, we’re finding that the readiness for structured schooling of some of our youngest learners has been affected by limited social engagement in their earliest years of life. 

But kindergarten readiness comprises many different skills, and by working together, educators and caregivers can close gaps in children’s readiness. I had the chance to discuss this topic in-depth on the latest episode of Pearson’s podcast, “Building Bridges: Strengthening the Educator-Caregiver Relationship.”

As a speech-language pathologist (SLP), I work with children to overcome language and speech challenges, and I’ve been fortunate enough to watch many of them make important developmental advances. I know how crucial it is to work together with families and caregivers to understand those challenges and address them in a way that best benefits the child and their family. So, I was delighted to have the opportunity to share my experience on the latest episode of Pearson’s new podcast, “Building Bridges: Strengthening the Educator-Caregiver Relationship”.

We started the conversation by defining developmental expectations in language and speech. Language skills involve being able to listen to and understand others and to express oneself, while speech skills involve producing all sounds in words. There are many different manifestations of delays in both of these areas, and they can occur for various reasons, such as the child experiencing hearing loss or physical issues.

The wide variety of causes and different developmental paces that children experience makes it vital for SLPs and other diagnostic staff to conduct well-rounded assessments and work with caregivers to understand what they’re seeing and hearing at home.

We’ve heard a lot over the past few years about the ongoing mental health crises affecting students and young people. Educators and allied professionals are working tirelessly to address and improve this situation, yet these discussions typically involve older children, particularly in middle school and high school. What about our young kids still early in their educational journey? What can educators and caregivers do to ensure their mental health is considered and supported?

I recently joined an episode of Pearson’s new podcast, “Building Bridges: Strengthening the Educator-Caregiver Relationship”, to talk about how social-emotional learning (SEL) can be incorporated into early education classrooms and curricula, and why this is important for young children’s mental health. We covered a lot of important details about the benefits of SEL in education and the ways educators can engage caregivers to participate in this learning process.

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.

Student mental health took a hit during the pandemic — the result of school closures, disrupted routines, more time spent alone, and, in many cases, hardship in their families and communities. A recent Pew Research Center report found that nearly half of teachers say students’ anxiety and depression is a major issue at school, with that share rising to 69% and 57% for high school and middle school teachers, respectively.

Fortunately, schools are in a prime position to equip students with the tools they need to productively cope with stress and adversity. For example, helping students develop strong social-emotional learning (SEL) skills by building their personal and interpersonal capacities empowers them to recognize and manage their emotions, maintain healthy relationships and make responsible decisions — all of which can have a direct, positive impact on mental health.

June 25, 2024 - Pearson, the world's leading learning company, is excited to announce its 2024 ADHD Virtual Summit will take place on Tuesday, October 8, and Wednesday, October 9. Designed for clinical professionals and the wider ADHD community, the event features an international line-up of experts, the most pressing ADHD topics today, and the opportunity for clinicians to earn Continuing Education (CE) credits. Registration is open now.

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