Children's Wellbeing

In the previous article, we explored why boys face more struggles in school — from their focus and self-control to managing frustration. But understanding the problem is only the first step.

This follow-up article will dive deeper into the how: how we can support boys’ social-emotional growth so they can have better focus, cooperation, and help them handle their emotions in positive ways. Drawing on research and classroom experience, let’s look at the issues, what could be the reasons, and the strategies we can use at home and in the classroom.

Over the past six years in the classroom, I have watched a familiar scene unfold: girls often excel academically, while boys sometimes fall behind. Year after year, I see girls quietly absorbed in the task given to them, while boys fidget and wrestle with staying on task. Because focus and attention are the cornerstones of learning, their absence can make the journey through school much harder and leave lasting effects.

To understand why boys often fall behind, it is helpful to first look at how their development differs from girls, so we can better support their needs.

As a teacher, one of the things I pay close attention to is how focused each child is during class. This focus is such a great indicator on how well they’ll do in school! I love sharing insights with parents about their child’s behaviors, and many of them appreciate hearing about their child’s ability to concentrate and any tips of improvement.

While there are many factors that contribute to academic success, a child’s ability to sit still, listen, and complete tasks is a key that helps them learn in every subject. It’s all about supporting our little learners on their journey!

Supporting students with additional needs, such as those with ADHD can be challenging, especially in a time of rising reliance on digital devices. This abundance of digital hyper-entertaining content that keeps kids glued to their screens may affect the dopamine reward system in the brain, creating dependance on constant stimulation. This can negatively impact children's ability to concentrate and settle. In this reality, more and more teachers find themselves trying to facilitate mentally overstimulated and disengaged students. 

Our article will explore the ways teachers can overcome these challenges. 

Saying “no” isn’t about undermining authority. It’s about teaching children that their feelings are valid and that they have a right to say “stop,” “no,” or “I need space.” Through this, we’re raising emotionally intelligent and resilient children, rather than rebellious ones. Read on to learn about ways to teach your child about setting their personal boundaries.

From defiance to distraction and to instances of showing disrespect to teachers and classmates—these are just some of the challenging behaviors teachers have to navigate. By identifying the root causes of difficult behaviors, we can implement effective strategies and potentially transform problematic situations into teachable moments, thereby creating a safe environment for our students.

During their development, children undergo many changes spanning their physical, mental, social and emotional state. It’s a huge undertaking, don’t you think so? Our kids are learning so much about themselves and the world, building their personalities as they interact with their environment. It’s then easy to see that this process of growth is not without its problems—a lot of us may know these as “growing pains”. While the phrase literally refers to the leg pains some children experience while growing up, it applies to other kinds of changes as well. 

As humans, one of our most obvious signs of growth is the ability to independently manage ourselves and the environment to achieve our goals. As parents and caregivers too, we become key figures in encouraging this capacity of independence in children and helping them form secure attachments. In this article we'll dive into understanding how children develop independence and how we can foster this process for them so that they learn to manage their emotions and behavior.

As soon as kids can play outside, parents teach them to stay away from the street, and when older to look both ways before crossing. These common-sense steps are vital for children to learn the bare basics of road safety, but do not go nearly far enough to keep them safe. When playing outside, they are exposed to a plethora of hazards that vary based on the neighborhood and community. Not only is it important for them to look both ways before crossing a road, but it can be lifesaving to know where appropriate places to cross are located.

Have you ever encountered the term 'neurodivergent' and wondered what it means? Or are you familiar with the term and looking for ways to better support the needs of the neurodivergent children in your care? Well, you're in the right place. We'll go in-depth on the topic of neurodiversity, explaining its nuances and outlining concrete steps for creating an inclusive learning environment.