Managing anxiety is challenging under the best of circumstances. Students are overscheduled and their brains are constantly running, often overwhelmed by the amount of information that they consume on a daily basis. Whether learning to read, writing an essay, learning algebra or calculus, or prepping for a big test, the rapid onset of anxiety can sabotage positive results. When additional responsibilities are added on to normal tasks, the resulting feelings of anxiety are exponentially increased. But there are techniques that can help students cope with anxiety, empowering them to develop skills that will help them gain confidence.

Keeping your child’s mind active throughout the hot summer months requires a bit of imagination and encouragement. The easiest way to keep your child engaged throughout the summer is to make sure that they are reading - a lot.  Reading is one of the most apparent indicators of a child’s academic, intellectual, social, and emotional strength. Here are GAMECHANGER’s 5 reasons that children should spend time reading this summer.

In one sentence, the common application essay can be described as a small moment that encompasses a student’s whole life story. Even this description can seem overwhelming. For many rising high school seniors who are contemplating submitting their college applications, the most overwhelming process is writing their common application essay.

Guest post by Evan Rabin of Premier Chess. As you progress through high school, you develop your interests and figure out how you want to spend your time. For me, chess became a passion, and I became extremely involved in the competitive chess community. As a result, chess was a big part of my story when I applied to college.

As a parent, we can think of patience as the ability to deal with difficult situations or problems in a calm and rational manner. Feelings may still be a part of the thought processes and the discussion at hand, but they’re able to be brought to the table in a level-headed manner. Staying patient with teens also involves a level of compassion and love for self. 

Understanding kids’ relationship with food and its tie to their mental health helps determine which foods can accommodate a kid’s healthy lifestyle and can promote mental health. Helping kids develop healthy eating habits, teaching them to avoid trigger foods, to exercise self-determination in food choices, and to understand the socio-emotional role of food.