Teens heading off to college in the fall have a lot they might look forward to — maybe it’s moving to a new town, meeting their roommates, or testing their independence. But with so many changes and a less structured environment, it’s also easy for students to get distracted and fall behind in their actual studies — especially in the first semester.

This week at childmind.org, we take a deep dive into procrastination — avoiding things that are challenging or make us uncomfortable — and why college kids often get lured into its trap. Kids with learning disabilities or mental health challenges, who have had negative experiences with schoolwork, are more prone to procrastinating until the work piles up and panic sets in. We offer tips to arm kids in advance with tools to avoid the temptation to procrastinate. We’ve also rounded up resources to help kids with ADHD, dyslexia, and autism adjust to college. And putting in some time over the summer to build emotional problem-solving skills will pay off to help smooth the transition in the fall.

– Michelle Shih, Managing Editor | ✉