Having an 8th grade boy and a 7th grade girl who love their screen time for a variety of reasons, I've experienced plenty of anxiety over the amount of time they spend there.  Even the 3rd grader gets in on the screen time action.  But does the time count as "screen time" if it is also their tool for socialization?  It seems some tools are pretty close to what used to be the way I would talk on the phone with my friends.  Would I call talking on the phone "screen time"?  This article from the president of the Washington School Counselor Association offered a balanced perspective that I found helpful.  She mentions a helpful tool called Common Sense Media that seemed valuable as well.  I've often said these things are not going away, so our best bet is to teach responsible usage.  I'll need to learn more about the apps and games in order to do so, but I'm sure it will be worth it.  

Having a reliable group of friends is an important aspect of strong mental health, but group dynamics have the potential to go awry.  If you are concerned about what you are seeing with a friend group, this article Helping Kids Cope with Cliques may be helpful. 

When we share space, especially for extended periods of time like we do in a classroom, prosocial behaviors are a necessity.  Helping children understand how to make and keep friendships and how to have a positive school climate relies heavily on learning and using prosocial behaviors.  Here are some helpful articles:

8 Ways for Parents to Promote Prosocial Behavior in Early Childhood

Development of Prosocial Behavior

Here is a link to an article I found helpful in my efforts to understand the topic of meditation. The science behind positive outcomes of incorporating the practice into our daily lives is pretty compelling.  With a better understanding of the purpose or goal of meditation, many of our regular daily activities, such as running or folding laundry, could facilitate it.  Here is a quote from the article: 

"Some studies suggest that practicing mindfulness meditation can actually change the structures of the brain. While scientists are still working to understand the effects of this practice, it is generally believed that it correlates to improved emotional regulation."

When it comes to being successful in school and the workplace, emotion regulation is a really big deal.  It's no secret we live in a stressful time, so anything that has proven itself helpful in reducing it is worth our attention.  You'll find more helpful information in the article.