WHAT IF HOMEWORK IS TAKING AWAY THE VERY THINGS CHILDREN NEED TO LEARN? Think about it. A child spends 7 hours at school. They come home tired, overwhelmed, and ready for a break. And what do we give them? More schoolwork. But here’s what research tells us: SLEEP helps the brain process information and strengthen memories. MOVEMENT supports attention, learning, and emotional regulation. FAMILY TIME builds connection, security, and emotional well-being. PLAY develops creativity, problem-solving, and social skills. EXPLORING NATURE encourages discovery, observation, and wonder. CURIOSITY fuels motivation, deeper thinking, and a love of learning. DOWNTIME gives children opportunities to recharge, reflect, and just be kids. These aren’t rewards children should have to earn AFTER finishing homework. They’re essential parts of growing up. Now, I’m not against homework. Meaningful homework can reinforce learning and build independence. But research suggests its academic benefits are generally greater for older students than younger children. Here’s the question we should be asking: IS THE HOMEWORK WORTH WHAT CHILDREN ARE GIVING UP TO COMPLETE IT? If a child understands a concept after 5 math problems, why assign 25? If homework takes one child 20 minutes and another child with ADHD, anxiety, or a learning disability 2 hours, is that fair? If homework means sacrificing sleep, family time, friendships, or simply being a kid, shouldn’t we rethink what we’re doing? MORE WORK DOESN’T ALWAYS MEAN MORE LEARNING. So here’s my challenge: TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS & CURRICULUM COORDINATORS: Examine homework expectations. Is every assignment meaningful? Could fewer problems accomplish the same goal? Are we prioritizing learning or simply assigning more work? SUPERINTENDENTS & SCHOOL BOARDS: Review homework policies. Are they supported by research? Do they account for students’ mental health, developmental needs, and family lives? PARENTS: Track how much time homework actually takes. Notice the impact on sleep, stress, and family time. Share what you discover with your school. And let’s remember something important. A child riding a bike, exploring the woods, catching fireflies, building with LEGOs, asking a million questions, creating something, laughing with friends, or spending time with family IS LEARNING. Not all learning happens at a desk. Not all growth can be measured by a grade. And not every valuable childhood experience comes with an assignment. CHILDREN NEED A GREAT EDUCATION. BUT THEY ALSO DESERVE A CHILDHOOD. What would happen if we cut homework in HALF but made every assignment twice as meaningful?

10 SMALL THINGS THAT CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN YOUR MENTAL HEALTH. You don’t always need to completely change your life to start feeling better. Sometimes you just need to change what you do next. Here are 10 simple things that can help: 1. GO OUTSIDE FOR 10 MINUTES. Sunlight. Fresh air. Movement. A change of scenery. Your brain and body need all of them. 2. MOVE YOUR BODY. Walk. Stretch. Lift. Dance in your kitchen. You don’t need a workout plan—you just need to move. 3. PUT YOUR PHONE DOWN. Give your brain a break from everyone else’s lives, opinions, problems and highlight reels. Start with 20 minutes. 4. TALK TO SOMEONE. Text a friend. Call your mom. Sit with someone you trust. We weren’t designed to handle everything alone. 5. DO ONE THING YOU’VE BEEN AVOIDING. Make the appointment. Send the email. Clean one corner. Avoidance feeds anxiety. Action builds confidence. 6. STOP BELIEVING EVERY THOUGHT YOU HAVE. A thought is not automatically a fact. Ask yourself: “Do I KNOW this is true or am I afraid it might be true?” 7. PROTECT YOUR PEACE. It’s okay to say no. It’s okay to step away. It’s okay to stop giving unlimited access to people and situations that constantly drain you. 8. DO SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU AGAIN. Music. Art. Sports. Cooking. Reading. Gardening. Building something. Laughing with someone. Mental health isn’t only about reducing the bad—it’s also about adding back the good. 9. GIVE YOURSELF CREDIT FOR THE SMALL WINS. Got out of bed. Took the shower. Went to work. Made the call. Showed up even though you didn’t feel like it. That counts. 10. ASK FOR HELP BEFORE THINGS BECOME UNBEARABLE. You don’t have to wait until you’re falling apart to talk to a therapist, doctor, counselor, friend or someone you trust. Asking for help is an action—not a failure. And maybe the most important reminder: You do not have to fix everything today. Drink some water. Take the walk. Send the text. Turn off the phone. Take the shower. Make the appointment. Get some sleep. Then get up tomorrow and take another small step. Small things, done consistently, can become big things. Which one do you need most today? Save this for a hard day and send it to someone who might need it too. #MentalHealth #MentalHealthMatters #AnxietySupport #SelfCare #YouAreNotAlone