Back-to-School Story Ideas

As the summer months come to an end, the fall season can bring about a sense of excitement as we embrace the crisp morning air, beautiful colours and the structure that comes with the back-to-school timeframe. Below is a list of topical story ideas for you to consider when planning your fall media coverage.  

Overscheduled – recognizing signs of burnout in children and youth
After a summer of sleeping in, late bedtimes, and days spent with friends, heading back to the classroom and a more rigid schedule can be stressful for kids. But what happens when your child is also enrolled in a number of extra-curricular and afterschool activities? Is it reasonable to expect youth and children to be high performers/achievers in a number of areas without any repercussions to their mental and physical wellbeing? Dr. Michael Ungar, professor in the School of Social Work and founder and director of the  Resilience Research Centre at Dalhousie University can discuss what happens when children are overscheduled and how to recognize the warning signs. 

Prioritizing mental wellness as a parent
Parents often find their schedules become a bit more chaotic in the fall as they try to manage getting their children to and from school, extracurricular activities, heading back to the office, balancing household finances and daily chores. Dr. Vincent Agyapong, a professor in Dal’s Department of Psychiatry, can speak to how parents can best prioritize their own mental wellness, while managing the day-to-day responsibilities that come with the back-to-school timeframe, and also managing everyday life stressors.  

Active commuting and empowering children and youth to create healthy school communities
With children and youth heading back to school, it’s an opportunity to think about ways to move around our communities in a manner that supports our physical and mental well-being, while also taking action to address climate change. Dr. Sara Kirk, professor in Dalhousie’s School of Health and Human Performance and the scientific director of the Healthy Populations Institute, can speak to the benefits of active travel, play and commuting, and the need for policies that support it. Dr. Kirk can also discuss how the Uplift Partnership empowers children and youth to take the lead in creating school communities that are healthy, vibrant, caring and connected.

Fostering online safety in children and youth
Now more than ever we are living in a world where children are not only permitted, but required, to maintain some form of online presence and use the internet to complete educational and extracurricular commitments. Dr. Nur Zincir-Heywood, distinguished research professor and associate dean of research in Dalhousie’s Faculty of Computer Science, can discuss how can parents and teachers can foster safe online practises amoungst their children and students.  

Please note – We ask that you please keep in mind that it is at the faculty member’s discretion as to whether they have the availability to accommodate your request.