Scholastic is proud to launch a curated online hub of books and free resources this Mental Health Awareness Month. Informed by insights from leading child development experts, the Scholastic Mental Health Resource encourages positive experiences in and out of the classroom for children of all ages.
In recent years, leading organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, have cited a national emergency in children and adolescent mental health. Now more than ever, it’s critical that students not only have academic support, but also social and emotional support.
The Scholastic Mental Health Resource includes activities and tools that are geared to help children master their emotions and learn resilience-building skills while providing teachers and families with tools that aim to uplift, inspire, and energize students. Free resources includes:
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Insights from Leading Child Development Experts – responses to frequently asked questions from Dr. Steven Marans, a psychoanalyst who specializes in post-traumatic distress, and Dr. Michele Myers, an author, professor, and holistic social justice educator.
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Classroom Worksheets – A collection of worksheets from Scholastic Magazines+ that encourage kids to express their feelings.
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Book Lists to Express Emotion – Curated titles that introduce young readers to characters experiencing and coping with troubling and big emotions.
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Resilience-Building Podcast Episode – A conversation with Dr. Linda C. Mayes, Arnold Gesell Professor of Child Psychiatry, Pediatrics, and Psychology, and Director of the Yale Child Study Center. Dr. Mayes addresses the global mental health crisis among young people and offers ways to help kids cope, including emphasizing the power of literacy to develop resilience.
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Trauma-Informed Tip Sheets – Resources for caregivers from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network to aid families as they navigate community trauma and other challenging circumstances.
Lindsey Cotter, Scholastic Chief Inclusion Officer said: “The Scholastic Mental Health Resource builds on our commitment to enrich the lives of all children with the power and joy of reading by providing empowering stories, coping strategies, and more. These resources will help children express themselves, better understand their feelings and emotions, and feel confident in their ability to understand their surroundings.”
Research has often pointed out the effectiveness of storytelling and reading as a vehicle to improve student health, mental fortitude, motivation, and positive self-esteem. According to the latest Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report™, frequent readers fare better in terms of their self-reported mental health (32%), while infrequent readers were more likely to say that their emotional or mental health is worse than before the pandemic (25%).
To learn more about the Scholastic Mental Health Toolkit, visit: scholastic.com/emotionalhealth and be sure to follow Scholastic on X @ScholasticEdu and on LinkedIn @Scholastic to keep up with more company happenings!
