Why aren't kids going to school?

TOP OF MIND

I don't wanna go to school today!
The number one challenge (aside from funding) for public K-12 education? Chronic student absenteeism. Before the pandemic, about 15% of U.S. students were chronically absent, which typically means they missed at least 18 days of school.

In 2021/22, the percentage jumped to an alarming 30% of students. Most believed this was due to lingering COVID-19 impacts, but in 2022/23, the number held strong at 26%.

And according to teachers, the problem is continuing this year.

The important bits
Data shows this dramatic rise in chronic absenteeism is targeting all school districts, no matter if they're rich, poor, big or small.

And while it might be easy to say, "Kids are simply missing more school because they're actually staying home when they're sick," experts aren't so sure the reason is that simple.

Katie Rosanbalm, a psychologist and associate research professor at Duke, believes there has been a fundamental shift in the value that families place on school. She says our "relationship with school became optional."

The data backs up her theory.

According to a Brookings study, just 8% of parents are "very concerned" about the frequency of their child's absences, and 82% of them do not think their child is missing too much school. And even among those parents who reported their child being chronically absent, the majority of them did not view it as a major problem.

But educators say it is a major problem.

Absenteeism is also closely linked to other challenges schools have faced since the pandemic, including a rise in anxiety and behavioral problems.

What's it all mean?
It means we have a problem. Thankfully, if we can all agree to acknowledge its existence, there are ways to fix it. Experts say chronic absenteeism can be addressed with preventative measures at the school level and with targeted approaches that meet families where they are.

This includes developing a more personal connection with parents. Some school districts have found success by simply reaching out more to families, sending them postcards, text messages and even giving them a call to check in.

Some schools are adding more bus stops, making breakfast free for all students, and even adding laundry rooms for kids who don't have access to a washer and dryer at home.

DID YOU HEAR

👵 Pregnancy increases your biological age
We've all blamed our gray hair on our kids, but now there might actually be science to back it up? According to a new study, pregnancy does indeed increase your biological age, but there is good news! Several months after giving birth, the chemical patterns can revert back to an earlier state, especially in moms who breastfed their babies. In some cases, their biological age actually dropped!

⚠️ Most sudden infant deaths involved unsafe sleep habits
A recent study published in the journal Pediatrics looked at over 7,500 sudden infant death cases between 2011 and 2020, and they discovered that more than three quarters of those cases involved unsafe sleep practices. The statistics revealed nearly 60% of the infants who died were sharing a sleep surface at the time. Click here to learn all about infant sleep safety.

🤖 Alexa, do you have feelings?
Ever snap at Alexa for playing the wrong song? Your kid might be judging you. A small study conducted in Scotland found that many elementary-age children believe AI assistants like Alexa and Siri have feelings or have the ability to make decisions independently. And get this, 68% of 8-year-olds said that if their Alexa breaks, it wouldn't be right to throw the device away. Yikes!

🤦 It pays to be a bully?
Research published by the U.K.'s Institute for Social and Economic Research found that children who exhibited certain kinds of behavioral problems in school, such as teasing and bullying classmates, had higher earnings later in life. Please don't share this information with your kids. 

🧊 How to keep your cool
... when your kids are being the absolute worst.

A DOSE OF GOOD

BITES WITH KIYAH

Prepping three meals a day (not to mention snacks … all the snacks), is a full time job. It used to leave me feeling overwhelmed and frustrated. But then I discovered the power of acknowledging small wins, which research shows can help keep you motivated.

kiyahduffey

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Dr. Kiyah Duffey has identified some small wins in her house… what are yours?

PRODUCTS THAT SOLVE PROBLEMS

Parenting and problems go together like peanut butter and jelly. Every single day, there seems to be a new problem that pops up.

And honestly, we're tired of it!

So here are a few clever products that might help some of those common problems go away forever.

This life-changing slide-away storage bag converts from a play mat to a storage container in less than 30 seconds. It has a near perfect rating on Amazon with over 2,000 reviews. No more stepping on LEGO blocks and Hot Wheels.

The BEST detangling brush on the market. It's only $12 and has nearly 60,000 5-star reviews. One father wrote in his review, "I'm a single dad of a 6-year-old girl, and combing her hair is the hardest part of taking care of her. This brush is the only thing that has ever worked."

Did your kid decide to use the wall as a canvas? You need the miracle cleaning paste known as The Pink Stuff. Seriously. If you have a toddler in your house, this stuff will save you so much time and frustration.

If your kid loves holding their own food pouches, but has yet to master the art of not making a mess, you probably need a pack of silicone pouch lids. The built in flow control valve prevents spills and they're made with durable silicone designed to protect tender gums!

PARENTING WIN/FAIL

What do you think? Parenting win or fail? 😂

confessionsandconfetti

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Do you have a parenting win/fail you'd like to share? Submit one using the button below to have it featured in a future edition!

HERE’S A QUESTION

Last week, we asked you what you wanted to be when you grew up, and around 40% of you answered "actor" with "chef" and "other" coming in second and third. Sadly, no one wanted to be a dragonslayer.

RECALLS

ICE CREAM BARS

Not ice cream! Over 5,000 boxes of Helados Mexico Mini Ice Cream bars have been recalled because they might be contaminated with salmonella. The boxes in question were the mini variety packs and were distributed in 16 states, including Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, and many more.

It appears it's the mango bars in particular causing the problem, but health professionals urge everyone to not chance it with the other flavors inside the variety pack.

Salmonella is not something you want to mess around with.

If you have these bars in your freezer, take them back to the store where you bought them for a full refund. If you have additional questions, you can call Tropicale Foods at 909-563-3090.