Advice from Our Professionals

Informative articles by Youth First’s Service Team

How Social Isolation Impacts Emotional Regulation in Young Children

By Jordan Evans, MSW, LSW - September 2, 2026 - Emotional regulation is a child’s ability to understand, express, and manage their feelings in healthy ways. This skill begins developing early in life and continues to grow throughout…

Managing Stress in the Elementary Classroom

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By Kelly Leavitt, MSW, LSW - August 26, 2026 - Have you ever wondered how stress affects an entire school classroom? What steps can we take to manage stress before it becomes overwhelming? And how can educators recognize stress in students…

Coping Strategies That are (Almost) Too Cool for School

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By Holly Walther, MSW, LSW - August 19, 2026 - Many students struggle with self-regulation, the ability to monitor and manage their thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and impulses. When a child needs support with self-regulation at school,…

Helping Children Build Motivation: Small Steps Toward Success

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By Hannah Boutkan, MSW, LSW - August 13, 2026 - Children are born with an innate desire to learn, grow, and explore the world around them. As they get older, however, environmental, social, mental, and emotional factors can affect that…

You Can Help Students Feel Safe During Unpredictable Weather

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By Missy Johnson, MSW, LCSW - August 5, 2026 - Last spring, as a Youth First Mental Health Professional working in several schools, I received several referrals to support students - of all ages - who felt nervous and worried about storms.…

Supervising Your Child’s Screen Time

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By Shannon Loehrlein, MSW, LCSW - July 29, 2026 - Many of us remember the days when we spent hours playing outside and didn’t come home until dinner. We had the freedom to explore our neighborhoods, make friends, and solve problems…