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How to help your kid keep their school jitters in check We asked a psychologist (and mom of two!) for the best ways to ease our kids' many back-to-school worries.

Treat your children with the respect, kindness, and love that you deeply desire for yourself in life. What our children see, how they feel about the love and safety in the home, and the freedom they feel to be exactly who they are, is who they will become and how they will show up in the world.

(I really love "Is your body hurt or are your feelings hurt?" as a replacement for "You're okay" when a child is crying. Whoever came up with that is alright in my book. -)

"It is not uncommon to hear adults or teachers wondering how to spend time with children during these difficult days," Jennifer Arnest says.

Many people are advocating for educators to do everything they can to make sure children affected by the pandemic will be able to "keep up," whatever that means. But what if our mistake is that we set our sights on hurrying children along to grow up, when what we need to do is let them grow? After all the upheavals and uncertainties of the last year, Jennifer reflects, "I continue to wonder what all the instability and anxiety might be doing to the souls of young learners. Adults should be showing them a clearer way."

How to Be a Warrior for Childhood Leaving time for curiosity, joy, and imagination.