One of the silver linings of the pandemic was bringing mental health awareness to the forefront of everyone’s mind. With the world turned upside down, young people and adults from all walks of life experienced big feelings like anxiety, depression, and frustration. Though COVID-19 is now better managed, we have new tools to support the mental wellbeing and general health of families. Whether or … [Read more...] about Supporting Youth Mental Health: 5 Tips for Parents
The Importance of Summer Break
April showers can bring May flowers, but the week or two of Spring Break is always a reminder that summer is just around the corner. While summer vacation offers children a much-needed break from learning in a classroom setting, it can be challenging for parents to plan for a balanced, enriching, extended break from school without the support of summer programs. At AYS, our team of youth-serving … [Read more...] about The Importance of Summer Break
How Play Strengthens Student Learning
Each person, regardless of age, has a preferred learning style that highlights how we best process, retain, and recall information. There are seven standard learning styles – visual, auditory, kinesthetic, verbal, logical, social, and solitary. Play is one activity that involves each of these styles. Whether it’s guided or unstructured, learning through play allows youth the opportunity to … [Read more...] about How Play Strengthens Student Learning
Take 5: Brain Breaks Help with Focus at Any Age
There has been plenty of research linking brain breaks to higher productivity among adults in the workplace, but recent studies (and observation during virtual learning) show that elementary school students also need regular, short breaks to move around, interact, and make something to be able to better focus on their academic lessons. These quick brain pauses peppered throughout the day aren’t … [Read more...] about Take 5: Brain Breaks Help with Focus at Any Age
Do Students Learn Better in Print or on Screen?
There is no mistake that the pandemic has forever changed the landscape of how our young people learn and study, but is the prevalence and accessibility of online publications helping or hindering literacy progress for elementary school students? Several studies have been conducted since mid-2020 to assess the effectiveness of screen versus print reading, and the research results indicate the … [Read more...] about Do Students Learn Better in Print or on Screen?
