http://involvedk12.org/resource-blogBLOG RSSFri, 24 Feb 2023 20:31:56 GMTFri, 24 Feb 2023 20:31:56 GMThttp://involvedk12.org/resource-blog/sleep-habits-for-student-successFor most of you, the school year has begun or will be starting very soon. As a parent, there are many things you can do to ensure your school is prepared and ready for school. However, the most important role a parent can have involves making sure your child is getting enough sleep each night. Sleep is a powerful restorative process and vital to overall functioning. Sleep is especially critical for children because it fosters their physical, mental, and emotional development. It regulates theMon, 14 Sep 2026 18:03:04http://involvedk12.org/resource-blog/sleep-habits-for-student-successhttp://involvedk12.org/resource-blog/beating-the-late-summer-bluesWith the arrival of August, comes the reminder that our summer days are dwindling away. The fun and freedom of summer will be gone in just a few short weeks.  The anticipation of school starting and colder weather often cause sadness for both parents and children alike. August has even been called the Sunday of summer! To help combat the blues as a family, you can develop a plan to reduce stress and increase positive feelings about the transition away from summer.  Here are some suggestions.Mon, 10 Aug 2026 14:33:18http://involvedk12.org/resource-blog/beating-the-late-summer-blueshttp://involvedk12.org/resource-blog/get-your-family-in-rhythm-this-summerWith summer in full swing, it may be time to examine how things are going in your household. Are behaviors in check? Have your kids gotten lazy? Is there a lot of fighting and crabbiness? If any of these are true, it might be time to make some adjustments.  Here are some basic tips for establishing structure and maintaining simple routines in the summer.1. Post a Schedule.  Summer is a good time to ease up on schedules and be less rigid. However, having a basic schedule or a short list of mustWed, 01 Jul 2026 15:31:26http://involvedk12.org/resource-blog/get-your-family-in-rhythm-this-summerhttp://involvedk12.org/resource-blog/keep-your-child-s-reading-on-track-this-summerSummer is here!  This is a time where things slow down and relaxation and fun are a higher prioritiy.  Most kids would prefer to completely forget about anything related to academics. However, if your child doesn't touch a book all summer, they could return to school in August at a disadvantage. Summer slide, or summer learning loss, refers to the regression that occurs when kids have an extended time without structured reading. Research consistently shows that children can lose up to two monthsWed, 01 Jul 2026 15:30:12http://involvedk12.org/resource-blog/keep-your-child-s-reading-on-track-this-summerhttp://involvedk12.org/resource-blog/helping-your-student-to-finish-strongIt feels good to say that we are in the final stretch toward summer! While it is an exciting time, this is also the time of the year when adults and children are tired of the routine and looking forward to the relaxation that summer often brings. It's easy for students to lose momentum and motivation. That's why it is important that parents keep encouraging their student to finish out the year strong. Here are some tips that can help you do that.1. Maintain structure and routines as much asFri, 29 May 2026 19:48:09http://involvedk12.org/resource-blog/helping-your-student-to-finish-stronghttp://involvedk12.org/resource-blog/april-is-stress-awarenss-month-take-controlWhen you think of April, visions of spring, bunnies, eggs, flowers and warmer weather may cross your mind.  A word you probably don't think of is stress. But after reading this article, it very well could be because April is designated as national Stress Awareness Month.  This is an annual campaign which started in the 90's to increase awareness of the effects of stress and how to alleviate it.  If you don’t do something to reduce elevated stress levels , it could cause not only emotionalThu, 09 Apr 2026 19:20:43http://involvedk12.org/resource-blog/april-is-stress-awarenss-month-take-controlhttp://involvedk12.org/resource-blog/artificial-intelligence-6-safety-tips-to-navigate-ai-with-your-familyArtificial Intelligence, or AI, is increasingly becoming embedded in our daily lives. From generating dinner ideas to helping with homework, it is probably something you and your family have already used. Research shows that when families talk about AI, children and teens feel more confident in using it safely and responsibly. Here are tips you and your family to safely navigate AI together.1. Set boundaries and limits.  Most AI tools require users to be at least 13; however, these tools areFri, 20 Mar 2026 15:07:38http://involvedk12.org/resource-blog/artificial-intelligence-6-safety-tips-to-navigate-ai-with-your-familyhttp://involvedk12.org/resource-blog/spreading-love-in-februaryTomorrow is the first day of February,  the month that is associated with candy, flowers and of course... LOVE!  If you want a unique and fun way to show your family love this month, try this! I have done this for a couple of years with my kids and they absolutely love it.   Every day in February leading up to Valentine's Day,  I put a colored heart on their bedroom door that says something positive about their character or highlights one of their gifts. My kids absolutely loved waking up everyFri, 20 Mar 2026 13:41:21http://involvedk12.org/resource-blog/spreading-love-in-februaryhttp://involvedk12.org/resource-blog/family-goals-for-a-new-yearThe New Year is quickly approaching! The start of a new year is a great time to put into place goals and establish habits to improve your life. A lot of people like to set personal goals like losing weight or saving money. However, setting a family goal can be a fun way to accomplish positive changes in your home while strengthening your relationships. Plus, when you set a family goal, you can share the sense of accomplishment together.  You also are more likely to succeed because you will beFri, 20 Mar 2026 13:42:01http://involvedk12.org/resource-blog/family-goals-for-a-new-yearhttp://involvedk12.org/resource-blog/helping-children-with-loss-during-the-holiday-seasonYesterday, I found out that a boy, who is an acquaintance of my children, lost his father to cancer. I hardly know this family, but I felt such a strong feeling of sadness in hearing this news. With Christmas a week away, I thought about how difficult this time would be for them. How does one balance the holiday traditions while grieving the death of a loved one?  How does a parent who is grieving themselves keep the holiday spirit going for their children?  I know they are not the only familyFri, 19 Dec 2025 16:01:49http://involvedk12.org/resource-blog/helping-children-with-loss-during-the-holiday-seasonhttp://involvedk12.org/resource-blog/3-ways-to-create-an-attitude-of-gratitude-in-your-homeNovember is National Gratitude Month, a time to celebrate life and give thanks for all that we have. When people reflect on what they are grateful for, they are more likely to feel satisfaction with themselves and their lives.  Research has shown that gratitude has positive effects in almost every facet of one's life. Countless studies have found that gratitude is consistently linked to decreased depression and anxiety. As far as physical health, practicing gratitude has shown to boost immunity,Wed, 26 Nov 2025 16:36:34http://involvedk12.org/resource-blog/3-ways-to-create-an-attitude-of-gratitude-in-your-homehttp://involvedk12.org/resource-blog/talking-to-teens-7-steps-to-connectMy oldest daughter recently turned 13, so I am a total newbie to parenting a teen. However, since I am a high school counselor, I do know a thing or two about talking to teens. If you are having trouble getting your teen to talk to you, you are not alone. Many parents report their teens only talk to them when they need soemthing.  The problem with this is that teenagers still need their parents' guidance.  If teens don't feel comfortable talking to their parents about little things, they likelyWed, 22 Oct 2025 16:45:51http://involvedk12.org/resource-blog/talking-to-teens-7-steps-to-connecthttp://involvedk12.org/resource-blog/dealing-with-seasonal-mood-changesToday marks the first day of Autumn! Fall is often associated with fun times because of activities such as bonfires, pumpkin patches, apple picking, haunted houses and of course, Halloween and Thanksgiving! However, have you ever noticed yourself or family members becoming moodier as the colder weather takes over? If so, there is a reason for this. Seasonal Affective Disorder is characterized by the onset of depressed mood during the colder months when days are shorter and less time is spentTue, 30 Sep 2025 20:18:30http://involvedk12.org/resource-blog/dealing-with-seasonal-mood-changeshttp://involvedk12.org/resource-blog/help-your-child-become-a-positive-thinkerTeaching children how to have a positive mindset is one of the best ways to set them up for a healthy and satisfying life.  Positive thinking helps people to recognize the good things in their life. When one only thinks about the negative aspects of their life, it increases worry and stress and this can impact their mental health. When one's  mind is always focused on the negative, it can magnify a minor disappointment into a bigger problem.  Teaching your children to think more positively, willFri, 17 Oct 2025 19:40:31http://involvedk12.org/resource-blog/help-your-child-become-a-positive-thinkerhttp://involvedk12.org/resource-blog/back-to-school-shoppingI have vivid memories from childhood of those telltale signs that summer was coming to an end. The cicadas would start singing, it started to get dark earlier and back-to-school advertising would creep in. Still to this day, I feel a little melancholy when these things happen. One thing that always helped cure those blues was back to school shopping! For some reason getting new folders and pencil cases made it less dreadful. My kids both told me that one of the only good things about going backThu, 07 Aug 2025 19:32:06http://involvedk12.org/resource-blog/back-to-school-shoppinghttp://involvedk12.org/resource-blog/make-mealtime-better-with-mannersWouldn't it be great if children were born with good manners and a respectful attitude?  The reality is that this is something that definitely has to be taught to them. And home is the perfect place to start, especially with table manners. Parents should make sure they teach and practice these at home so that when your child is at school or visiting someone’s home, they are well-mannered. When my kids have friends over, it's easy to see that many of them haven't been taught table manners. EvenTue, 08 Jul 2025 17:13:39http://involvedk12.org/resource-blog/make-mealtime-better-with-mannershttp://involvedk12.org/resource-blog/summer-life-lessonsSchool is finally out and summer is here! If you are like me, you may  feel a small sense of panic over how your child(ren) and teens will spend all that free time that they will soon have. Of course it's good to let them chill and relax after the all the stressors of the school year have passed. However, I feel that there is a valuable opportunity in these summer months for children and teens to grow as individuals and become more self-reliant and independent.  To take advantage of thisMon, 02 Jun 2025 19:01:22http://involvedk12.org/resource-blog/summer-life-lessonshttp://involvedk12.org/resource-blog/supporting-your-child-s-emotional-and-mental-wellbeingThis Thursday, May 8th, National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day will be observed.   For nearly 20 years, SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) has recognized this day to bring attention to the mental health needs of children and adolescents. It is an annual event that occurs on the Thursday of the first full week of May. Children and teens in this country continue to experience an unprecedented mental health crisis.  There has been a continued rise in theThu, 08 May 2025 14:58:32http://involvedk12.org/resource-blog/supporting-your-child-s-emotional-and-mental-wellbeinghttp://involvedk12.org/resource-blog/spring-cleaning-as-a-familySpring is a time of rebirth and has long been recognized as a time for fresh starts. Spring is also a time when many people find motivation to clean and refresh after a long winter inside.  According to Psychology Today, cleaning can give people a sense of control over their environment which can decrease stress and improve motivation. They also found that for each hour of cleaning per week there is a 53% boost in happiness. Decluttering is also an important part of Spring Cleaning. MultipleTue, 01 Apr 2025 13:29:52http://involvedk12.org/resource-blog/spring-cleaning-as-a-familyhttp://involvedk12.org/resource-blog/helping-your-child-with-new-mathThese days math homework can be a big source of anxiety for parents. It is often difficult for parents to help their child with their "new math" because it is very different from the "old math" they are accustomed to. If this is the case for you, you  may question ...What do I do when they come to me for help? Where can you I gain a better understanding of how they are learning math? Here are some ideas that may help you to better assist your child. 1. Have them explain.A great way to startFri, 28 Feb 2025 19:51:22http://involvedk12.org/resource-blog/helping-your-child-with-new-math