There’s something about a new school year that feels like a fresh start.

New teachers. New classrooms. New routines. Maybe even a new backpack that your child is very excited about. 🎒

And with all those new beginnings comes an opportunity to teach kids something that will help them far beyond the classroom: big accomplishments are usually built from lots of small wins.

As parents, it’s easy to focus on the big goals. Better grades. Making the team. Learning a new skill. Earning the next belt.

But for kids, those big goals can sometimes feel a little overwhelming.

That’s where small wins come in.

Start With Goals They Can Actually Reach

Instead of saying, “I want you to get better at math this year,” try breaking it down.

Maybe the goal is completing homework without being reminded three times. Or practicing multiplication for 10 minutes a day. Or raising a test score by a few points.

The goal doesn’t have to be huge. It just needs to be meaningful and achievable.

The same ...

Summertime is coming to an end, and with that comes all of the back to school anxiety and jitters that are common amongst children.

Your child may experience common physical effects of anxiety associated with back to school time including symptoms from stomach aches to sleeping problems. They will also experience emotional stress from the fear of making new friends, meeting new teachers, fears of being bullied, pressure of making good grades, and worries of being unpopular. With that said, it important for parents to first remember that these physical and emotional feelings are very common, and even the most well-adjusted kids are bound to feel some sort of pressure when they return to school. 

What can parents do to help their children cope with the physical and emotional stresses associated with the back to school season? 

1. Put your child on a healthy sleeping pattern right away! 

Children need at least 8 to 10 hours of REM sleep each night. Children that do not get adequate sl...