A father and son inspecting their baked good through the glass of the oven.

Exploring Culinary Therapy

There are some people who may find cooking to be a daily chore that stresses them. At the same time, others not only enjoy preparing food, but feel it is therapeutic. Research has shown that these individuals are wise in noting therapeutic benefits. Culinary therapy is becoming more popular all over the country, including in our schools. What is culinary therapy, you ask? It is a form of therapy which includes cooking and related activities like gardening, meal planning, educational grocery shopping, and experience in restaurants. Programs are run by chefs and/or therapists.

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A group of patients in a joint therapy session.

Welcoming All Students to Therapy

Imagine going to a group therapy session at school and feeling alone. This may be the way that some students perceive their participation in the group. Why? For some, it may be that they are ethnically unique. Others may be from another country and not comfortable speaking English. Some other students may have a different gender identity or have special needs. Any, all, or other factors could make a tween or teen feel out of place when they are asked to participate in a group therapy session.

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A soccer team practicing together on the field.

The Importance of Extracurricular Activities for All Students

The demands of school have increased a lot in recent years. This means that there is a lot less downtime within the academic day for kids to socialize. Children of all ages need this to be able to interact with their peers outside of class. Due to the time restraints within the school day, it’s even more important for all children to be able to participate in extracurricular activities. This means finding a club or activity that is not only interesting to them, but work well for them. These opportunities help kids of all ages to use creativity, energy, and talk to one another about what is happening in their lives.

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A group of students gathered and smiling at the camera.

The Importance of Character Education

Schools across the country are struggling with an epidemic. This epidemic is nothing new, yet it seems to be intensifying in recent years. What is it? It’s bullying others within the school. This may be because a child looks different, acts different, or something else completely unrelated. Many times, it may be due to their cultural or religious beliefs, or perhaps their sexual identification. Whatever the reason, bullying is indeed an epidemic that teachers and other school professionals are witnessing more than ever before in US schools. Thanks to this, many students have a difficult time concentrating in the classrooms and many report feeling uncomfortable and even not welcomed because of the lack of support.

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A brother and sister signing to each other.

How Sign Language May Be Helpful for Children with Rare Speech Disorder

Researchers from Penn State’s College of Medicine have discovered that using sign language in conjunction with intensive speech therapy may provide better results for children with apraxia.

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