With school starting, we’re thinking of school-year pain points families tell us about, from getting kids out the door in the morning to easing them back into the groove of homework in the afternoon. For some young kids, separating at school is a wrenching struggle. And what about teenagers who are chronically sleep-deprived?

This week on childmind.org, we offer tips for navigating those common challenges — how to take some of the pressure (and conflict) out of school mornings and set up a homework routine that will help kids settle down to study. We share strategies to help teenagers get a decent amount of sleep, so they feel better, perform better, are more pleasant to be around — and are less at risk for mental health challenges. We suggest strategies for separating from anxious kids and guidelines for working well with your child’s new teacher(s) — especially important for kids who have learning challenges. For kids who are neurodivergent, we offer things teachers and parents can do to set them up to thrive this year. And for kids who are seriously resisting going to school, we explore school refusal along with expert advice on how to respond to it.

– Caroline Miller, Editorial Director | ✉