Research and Trends in Student Health and Education; August 25, 2025
Most of the US has returned to school by now. My experience is likely similar to many others’: super relieved to have some space again, but super stressed while helping my kids transition.
And here’s what’s in the news these days.
Hope Starts With Us: Back to School Tips for Parents and Caregivers
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is highlighting resources and support systems for parents navigating their children’s back-to-school transitions and potential mental health challenges. In a podcast episode, child psychiatrist Dr. Christine Crawford and NAMI’s Barb Solish discuss the importance of understanding and addressing technology use, anxiety, and depression among youth, emphasizing the role of community, school resources, and professional help in managing these issues. This matters as it provides parents with strategies and access to resources essential for supporting children’s mental health, especially during periods of significant change like the return to school.
US pediatricians’ new COVID-19 shot recommendations differ from CDC advice
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued new COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for children that significantly diverge from U.S. government guidelines for the first time in 30 years. In contrast to U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s guidance, which does not recommend COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children, the AAP strongly advises that children aged 6 months to 2 years, who are at high risk for severe illness, receive the vaccine, and also supports vaccinations for older children if desired by parents. This discrepancy highlights ongoing challenges and confusion in public health guidance amidst a backdrop of increasing vaccine skepticism.
