Tag Archive for: Youth First Mental Health Professionals

The Homework Struggle: How Parents and Kids Can Cope Without Conflict

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by Britney Wagler, MSW, LCSW – September 3, 2025 –

As the school year settles into full swing, many households find themselves battling a familiar evening routine: the “homework struggle.” It’s a time that often brings stress, frustration, and even tears for both parent and child. With the right coping strategies, however, parents and kids can transform homework time into a more positive and productive experience.

Homework frustration stems from a mix of factors. For students, it can be a lack of understanding, fatigue after a long school day, or feeling overwhelmed by excessive work. For parents, watching their child struggle, especially when they want to help but don’t know how, can quickly lead to tension.

Every parent wants their child to succeed. When a student isn’t doing well, this can lead to frustration. It’s important to remember that frustration is a normal emotion, but how we respond to it makes all the difference to our children.

What can a parent do to minimize the frustration, stress and tears of homework?

  1. Take a step back. Resist the urge to correct or fix mistakes immediately. Let your child attempt the work on their own first. This builds independence and confidence.
  2. Stay calm and supportive. Your tone sets the mood. If your child senses your frustration, they may shut down or mirror that emotion. Take deep breaths, stay positive, and remind them and yourself that learning takes time.
  3. Break it down. Help your child break assignments into smaller, manageable tasks. This can make even the most intimidating workload feel more achievable.
  4. Create a homework routine. Consistency can reduce battles. Designate a regular time and quiet space for homework, with minimal distractions and necessary supplies ready.
  5. Know when to walk away. If things get too tense, take a short break. A ten-minute walk or a snack break can help reset everyone’s mood.

How can a parent help their child cope with frustration?

  1. Ask for help early. If something doesn’t make sense, encourage your child to ask questions before frustration builds up. It’s okay not to know everything right away.
  2. Use a timer. Working in short bursts, like 25 minutes followed by a 5-minute break, can improve focus and reduce mental fatigue. This technique, known as the Pomodoro Method, works well for all ages.
  3. Keep a positive attitude. Teach kids to replace negative self-talk (“I can’t do this”) with encouraging phrases (“I’ll try my best” or “I can ask for help”).
  4. Celebrate progress. Finishing a tough assignment deserves recognition. Whether it’s verbal praise or a small reward, celebrating effort motivates kids to keep going.

If homework struggles persist and are severe, it may be time to discuss them with the teacher. Sometimes the issue lies with unclear instructions, learning differences, or workload expectations that need adjustment.

Ultimately, homework doesn’t have to be a nightly battle. With patience, structure, and empathy, parents and kids can turn frustration into an opportunity for growth and hopefully enjoy the process of learning together.

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Avoiding Freshman Year Follies

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By Katie Martin, MSW, LCSW – August 20, 2025 –

Freshman year is the most crucial year of high school, as it sets the tone for academic achievement and social standards. It can be a fresh start, or for some students, the beginning of ongoing struggles and painful lessons. When students start high school, their understanding of expectations is often far from accurate.

Freshman year can be intimidating, confusing, scary, overwhelming, stressful and exhausting; mentally, physically, emotionally and socially. High school becomes a rude awakening when failed classes must be repeated and discipline hinders progress toward graduation. Students may struggle with making healthy decisions that aren’t socially attractive.

It is important that students identify trusted adults, develop boundaries with peers, prioritize academics and attendance, strive for high grades, join extracurriculars, and incorporate healthy habits. Students who surround themselves with people who promote good habits and motivate them to take ownership of their high school career will experience more success and less stress. 

The goal of high school is to prepare students for graduation and life. Freshmen can take ownership of their success by taking control of the things they have control over, letting go of the things they cannot control, and distancing themselves from unhealthy relationships. Setting goals as a freshman and speaking up about concerns and feelings can greatly improve a student’s chance of success. 

Social adjustments are expected; students may have to redefine what is cool. Freshmen are trying to figure out who they are and where they belong. Having the courage to set boundaries with peers doesn’t come easily to most students. Students should build relationships with those who promote healthy habits that propel them toward graduation, such as trusted adults and positive peers. 

Understanding the connection between academic success and maximizing opportunities for the future is imperative. Typically, a GPA (Grade Point Average) is generated by averaging the points earned from each letter grade at the end of a grading period and/or semester; an F can result in a course being repeated if it is part of the graduation plan established with the student’s academic counselor. On average, most colleges require a GPA between 2.5 and 3.0, but this can vary. Freshmen should know their high school academic counselor, establish solid communication, and work closely with them to stay alert to academic opportunities and progress toward a successful post-graduation plan.

Parents play a major role in student success by modeling helpful qualities such as organization, problem-solving, assertiveness and navigating opportunities that promote growth. Parents should connect with school personnel to establish communication and create a network of trusted adults to collaborate with during the student’s high school years. Parents also need access to grades and attendance. They should check in with their student daily about successes and struggles.

Parents should also connect with school staff as needed but also direct their student to reach out to teachers to encourage independence, build appropriate and effective problem-solving and communication skills, and encourage positive relationships. Parents should attend all available parent nights, orientations, and any other opportunities to be present with their child in the school building. 

Freshman year can make or break a high school career. According to the US Department of Education, students fail ninth grade more than any other grade in high school. This can lead to feelings of frustration and discouragement that can result in less effort, lower motivation and the possibility of dropping out. Freshman year is hard; it requires more attention, organization, maturity and independence. Freshman year also requires students to make more thoughtful decisions rather than decisions based upon impulse or popularity. 

In conclusion, students are capable of graduating and can learn all the necessary tools to get there. However, work begins on the first day of high school, when every student will decide what they are going to do with their opportunity to learn. Supportive adults and a growth mindset will carry a student far. However, high school should also be fun, exciting and full of new experiences that can be enjoyed more fully when academics are well-managed.     

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Parents Play a Critical Role in Substance Misuse Prevention

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By Niki Walls, MSW, LSW – March 20, 2025 –

The DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) classifies substance use disorder as a medical illness that can be characterized by impairments to health, social functions, and voluntary control over substance use.

People are often intimidated by the topic of substance use and addiction, as it can be a scary topic to broach. However, it is crucial for parents to begin talking to their children about this as early as possible. Parents should have a strong relationship with their children early on to be able to address this heavy topic openly. It is beneficial to learn strategies to show them what to do instead of what they should not do.

In order to effectively address addiction, it is important that parents and children understand that everyone is at risk for addiction. Children and teens will often operate under the impression that addiction cannot happen to them because they believe the stereotypes that come with it.

Addiction is not something that people plan for; it can happen after just trying something that ends up altering their brain chemistry. Many younger people may also believe that they are invincible or the substances are a harmless way to have fun. What they do not understand is that these substances are physically altering the way their brains are developing if they try them at a young age.

Parents play a critical role in prevention of substance misuse, as they are often their children’s most influential role models. Actions are more important than words in most cases, and this is extremely important to model here. It is crucial for parents to model healthy coping skills when life is hard. For example, if a parent has had a rough day, it would be more beneficial for the child to see them go for a walk to cope with that rather than having multiple drinks.

If you do choose to turn to a substance, children should see that you are doing it in a healthy amount and not as an escape. Children need healthy escape strategies, such as mindfulness, rather than ones that could lead to a dangerous path. A great example of a positive mindfulness escape could be a strategy where all of the senses are utilized to distract the child from what is causing them stress. By teaching mindfulness strategies and other positive coping skills, parents can foster a safe environment where a child feels comfortable expressing themselves in healthy ways instead of turning to substances.

Children might need assistance in learning boundaries in order to keep them safe. Boundaries are extremely important for kids to learn early on, and they will be extremely helpful to aid them in prevention. Giving children boundaries and teaching them how to set boundaries with others will help them stand strong when they are put in a difficult situation on the spot. The types of friendships that they choose are crucial to being able to set boundaries and avoid temptation.

Ensuring that your children are making good friends can be critical to the path they end up taking. They are influenced by their friends just as they are influenced by the media. Substance abuse exposure can easily begin to add up by exposure on social media, their friends, in their music, by their parents, and on TV. Do not be fooled by thinking this exposure is normal for teens.

Early intervention can be provided in various settings. It is important that children are exposed to early intervention in order for them to understand and keep them on the right track. Do not underestimate addiction or think that it will never happen to your family. Act now and provide your child with necessary life skills.

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